Today, the field of nursing is more diverse than ever, with nurses taking on leading roles in patient care and advocacy and the additional growth of advanced practice nurses as an important element in our healthcare system. Northeastern University recognizes the huge array of professions that can be accessed through a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and has structured our curriculum with a focus on versatility. Students are able to learn skillsets including public health, leadership and ethical healthcare, setting themselves up for a strong career foundation.
By earning your nursing degree through the Accelerated BSN program at Northeastern University, you’ll be prepared to practice the profession almost anywhere you can imagine in as few as 16 months. Consider these 13 nursing jobs outside of the hospital.
1. Public Health Nurse
In most nursing careers, you will be administering care to one patient at a time. As a public health nurse, however, you can use your knowledge to help improve healthcare and outcomes for entire populations of people who are often part of disadvantaged or marginalized communities. As a public health nurse, you will inform people in how to protect their health through early detection of common diseases, improved nutritional knowledge and other healthy habits. Additionally, in a public health landscape so heavily impacted by COVID-19 and its variants, services like administering immunizations in underserved areas can make a world of difference to communities and save lives.
From senior communities, to low-income rural areas, to community centers, schools and beyond, public health nurses provide some of the essential knowledge and services that can create drastic change among patients. If you want to make a difference, public health nursing is among the best jobs for nurses outside the hospital.
2. Travel Nurse
If you’ve been reading the headlines recently, you’ve probably heard about the huge surge in demand, popularity and pay available as a travel nurse. Travel nurses are often hired to fill temporary nursing shortages in certain areas, or to visit remote locations where no healthcare facilities exist.
This career path allows you to use your nursing skills in order to secure positions within any number of healthcare settings, both conventional and unconventional. If you’re not one for daily routines, this could very well be your dream job. For the most part, there’s no such thing as a typical day for this nurse, and your skills can make the difference for people in need of quality care. However, gaining experience first as a nurse in another area of practice can help you access better travel nursing opportunities.
3. Clinical Research Nurse
Working with people from all walks of life and providing many forms of care, this nursing career focuses on patients participating in clinical trials for improved health, such as individuals trying out a new cancer treatment. Job responsibilities include planning and implementing daily clinical procedures, collecting samples and vitals, recruiting participants, and educating subjects. In addition to a BSN, this position typically requires several years of training in a research setting.
4. Cruise Ship Nurse
Taking to the high seas, this nurse works as part of small medical team comprising other nurses and physicians. From first aid to seasickness to cardiac arrest, cruise ship nurses deliver all types of patient care. In critical care situations, this nurse needs to stabilize the patient enough to be transferred to the nearest healthcare facility on land. In addition to a BSN, this position typically requires at least two years of working experience and advanced cardiac life support certification.
5. Flight Nurse
Following flight crew safety policies, this nurse works with other medical staff to provide patient care before and during air transport. Flight nurses work to keep patient vital signs steady during flight, while also helping the individual remain emotionally calm. Tasks often include dispensing medication, administering CPR, and treating wounds. In addition to a BSN, this position often requires critical care experience and special flight certification.
6. Hospice Nurse
This nursing job revolves around creating and implementing care plans that keep terminally ill and dying patients as comfortable as possible during their final days. While hospice care is often associated with pain control, it’s a compassionate, selfless profession that provides support to patients and their families at the time when it’s most needed.
7. Forensic Nurse
Perfect for RNs who enjoy investigative problem solving, this occupation assesses, screens, treats, and collects forensic evidence from victims, including those of sexual assault. Other job responsibilities for this nurse include testifying in court and assisting in death, trauma, and drug abuse investigations on an on-call basis.
8. Informatics Nurse
While this nursing job doesn’t involve treating patients directly, becoming an informatics nurse means you can still have a major impact on patient care by evaluating and selecting the technology used at a healthcare facility. Job responsibilities include determining end-user requirements, customizing functionality, and providing user training. The more efficient and intuitive the technology, the more time clinicians have to spend with patients.
9. Legal Nurse Consultant
Primarily employed by insurance companies, this nurse collects, organizes, audits, and maintains health records for legal use. Other responsibilities include advising on standards of care, potential causality, and risks. Job requirements tend to vary by company. For example, some companies may want an RN with emergency room experience, while others prefer RNs with paralegal training.
10. Military Nurse
Whether working on a ship, military base, or in a warzone, this nurse sets up triage, treats wounds, administers medication, and cares for military personnel all over the world. The military needs nurses who are trained in all specialties, from critical care to pediatrics to trauma.
11. Nurse Recruiter
Primarily working in the healthcare industry, nurse recruiters help companies find qualified applicants to fill registered nurse and licensed practical nurse job openings. With the growing nursing shortage in this country, these recruiters have their work cut out for them. Responsibilities include attending career fairs and meeting with nursing students at colleges and universities.
12. Office Nurse
Caring for patients in a private practice setting, this nurse works under the direction of a physician. Primary tasks involve assisting with patient examinations and performing routine procedures, such as throat cultures and vaccinations. Other responsibilities include obtaining patient medical records, ordering tests, and taking patient phone calls to determine the priority of treatment based on the severity of the condition.
13. School Nurse
Working within school system guidelines, this nurse implements strategies that promote student and staff health and safety. School nurse is also a leadership role, responsible for coordinating health programs that involve counseling, nutrition, physical activity, and the community. In addition to a BSN, the National Association of School Nurses recommends hiring RNs with School Nurse Certification.
Begin Your Dream Career
As you can tell, there’s really no limit as to what you can do with a BSN from Northeastern University. After all, our rigorous curriculum enables you to develop clinical and critical thinking skills transferable to all types of patient care situations.
Whether you prefer a traditional RN role or one of the many available nursing jobs outside of the hospital, let our 16-month ABSN program fast-track you into your ideal profession. Contact our admissions team today to get started.
