Nursing is a profession that many people feel called to — they have a desire to make a difference and help others in need. After earning their license to practice, many nurses then get excited by the prospect of patient care. They start their careers in bustling hospital and ambulatory care settings, delivering bedside support, balancing caseloads, and coordinating treatment plans.
This is the epitome of a nursing role, caring for patients who are sick and injured. And there’s good reason for it. Of all the nurses employed throughout the U.S. today, 85 percent (2.9 million) have patient care responsibilities. Close to 60 percent work in hospitals. Even more start out in these settings.
However, it’s important to note that bedside care is not the only pathway for qualified RNs. Now, more than ever, there are a variety of unique and unconventional nursing jobs available. We explore some of our favorites below.
13 unique nursing jobs to consider
Nursing is a field that requires constant learning—and, with that, comes learning about yourself!
As nurses gain experience and exposure to different situations, they often uncover new talents and interests. For example, one nurse might find they have a secret love for records management. Another might find they have a real knack for analysis and laboratory testing. And, as a result, they explore alternative paths.
If this sounds familiar, and you feel ready to take your career to new and exciting heights, you are in the right place. Below we explore some of the many unique nursing jobs that go beyond hospital walls.
1. Forensic Nurse
Maybe you haven’t worked on the frontline of crime, but you have treated a few victims in your time as a nurse thus far. If these patients hold a special place in your heart, and you want to expand your work, you may consider becoming a forensic nurse. Forensic nurses work with victims of crime, often in emergency rooms or for law enforcement agencies. They collect evidence, treat injuries, and may testify in court regarding the medical aspects of a case.
2. Correctional Nurse
Forensic nursing isn’t the only unconventional nursing job available within the criminal justice system. You also have the option to become a correctional nurse. Correctional nurses work in prisons or in detention facilities, directly helping and providing care to inmates. They can be found treating injury and illness as well as managing chronic conditions, such as heart disease and mental illness.
3. Military Nurse
Another exciting and unconventional nursing career option is that of the military nurse. Whether in the Army, Navy, or Air Force, military nurses are responsible for providing care to active-duty military personnel. These nurses may also deliver care to veterans and military families, depending on where they work. Military nurses can be found in combat zones, military hospitals, military ships, military bases, and VA hospitals. They often specialize in mental health care (such as dealing with trauma) as well as severe injuries. Due to the nature of their work, military nurses must hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
Become an RN with your associate degree in Nursing from Goodwin University.
4. Flight Nurse
If you’re looking for a nursing job that’s truly out-of-the-box, becoming a flight nurse is a great option. Flight nurses provide critical care to patients being transported via helicopters or airplanes, such as LifeStar. Most often, this care is needed in response to emergencies or during airlifts from rural locations.
5. Telehealth Nurse
Perhaps you like the idea of working at a distance, but still keeping a hand in essential patient care. Well, you don’t have to go up in the air for that! (Well, maybe in the cloud.) Telehealth nursing is a unique nursing job that allows for flexibility. Telehealth nurses provide remote healthcare services to patients, offering consultations, advice, and follow-ups through video calls, phone calls, or online chats. Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of virtual care, this job has grown significantly in demand. And it’s no wonder why. Telehealth nurses get to work from home while still providing their support to others.
6. Travel Nurse
Another increasingly popular, yet still unique, nursing career is that of the travel nurse. As their name implies, travel nurses work where they are needed. They operate on short-term contracts with hospitals and medical facilities to fill staffing shortages and meet high demands for patient care. Travel nurses may travel to different states or even countries, delivering patient care in a variety of new and exciting healthcare environments. They often take assignments for a few months at a time.
7. Holistic Nurse
Research shows that more people are seeking integrative and holistic healthcare services, which embrace modalities beyond traditional medicine. Holistic nurses play a key role in delivering this type of care. Holistic nurses treat a patient’s physical, mental, and social health needs, by utilizing therapies like acupuncture, aromatherapy, and more. They can be found working in private practices, alternative medicine clinics, and wellness centers, as well as running their own businesses.
8. Nurse Entrepreneur
Speaking of running a business, another unconventional nursing job option is to start a biz of your own! Becoming an entrepreneur is a great way to take your nursing experience and values to new heights. Nurse entrepreneurs often start their own businesses in the form of wellness centers, healthcare consulting firms, and nurse staffing agencies. Many nurses also utilize their knowledge to develop products and solutions in healthcare.
9. Nurse Ethicist
Nurse ethicist is a unique nursing job that not many have heard of, but it carries great importance. Nurse ethicists work hard to help healthcare organizations, hospitals, and legal teams navigate complex ethical issues in patient care. For example, these professionals may help guide end-of-life decisions for patients or allocate resources to meet a staffing shortage.
10. Nurse Administrator
An advanced nursing career option, nurse administrators are responsible for managing healthcare operations, overseeing other nursing staff, monitoring budgets, and ensuring quality patient care. They often work in leadership roles, maintaining smooth operation of healthcare facilities, but are not actively or directly involved with patient care.
Registered nurses typically need a bachelor’s (BSN) or master’s (MSN) in Nursing in order to qualify for this position. However, many agree that the added investment is worth it. The nurse administrator role offers a clear path to leadership and high salary potential. Furthermore, it allows you to influence patient care indirectly through policy, management, and strategic planning.
11. Nurse Researcher
Many nurses find that what they love most about the medical field isn’t the patient care itself, but rather, uncovering the solutions and strategies that advance treatment and care. This is where nurse researchers come into play. Nurse researchers conduct studies to improve healthcare practices, treatments, and patient outcomes. For example, they often work on clinical trials, in higher education settings, or on public health research projects.
12. Nurse Auditor
For nurses who are interested in a behind-the-scenes profession, nurse auditing is a great career option. Nurse auditors are responsible for reviewing medical records and billing for accuracy, ensuring that the services annotated are correct. Specifically, nurse auditors confirm that services are properly documented and that healthcare providers receive appropriate reimbursement for their care. Nurse auditors may work in insurance companies, healthcare facilities, or auditing agencies.
13. Medical Writer
Nurses are great at communicating with patients and the larger care team. However, some nurses excel in written communication, too. If you have talents in writing, you can use this expertise (coupled with your nursing knowledge) to become a medical writer. Medical writers help to create educational content, medical journal articles, clinical study reports, and pharmaceutical documentation. They may work as part of a writing agency, as a freelance writer, or for pharmaceutical or research companies.
Go beyond the basics with an unconventional nursing job
While patient care is still the heartbeat of the nursing profession, it is not right for every nurse. Some RNs grow out of bedside care or have a desire to pave a new path. Fortunately, there is an incredible range of job opportunities in nursing beyond traditional healthcare settings. Each offers unique challenges, workplace environments, and everyday responsibilities. And, as with any nursing career choice, each will have its own requirements.
The above careers may require a unique blend of expertise, skill, and specialized training. However, the vast majority can be attained with a nursing degree in hand. If you are ready to get started, and take the road less traveled in the nursing field, Goodwin University can help you get there.
Goodwin is a leading nursing school in Connecticut, with a variety of associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs within the nursing field. We also have a comprehensive career services team for students who are unsure where to go with their job prospects.