15 Alternative Careers for Registered Nurses

Nursing is a rewarding career. RNs get to provide compassionate patient care to the sick and injured while working alongside expert physicians in a variety of settings.

But despite the many upsides to this career, working as an RN can also bring challenges. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly 60% of registered nurses work in local, private, or state hospital settings. Work schedules are usually very rigorous with RNs often being asked to work weekends, nights, and holidays.

If you love nursing but want to try a new career path, plenty of options are available. Alternative jobs for nurses include roles as informaticists, educators, and anesthetists. Understanding what it takes to start your career change can make the switch easy.

Best Alternative Careers for Nurses

Moving on from a traditional registered nursing job is easier than you might think. Explore this list of 15 alternative nursing careers.

1. Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers plan and coordinate medical and health services. Also known as healthcare administrators, these managers may oversee workers, budgets, and operations in a healthcare facility or clinical setting. RNs often transition easily into administrator roles. In fact, nursing home administrators commonly have years of experience as registered nurses.

2. Nurse Anesthetist

A nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides direct patient care and administers anesthesia. Anesthetists discuss medications with patients and adjust anesthesia during procedures. To enter this role, individuals must have RN experience in a critical care setting and a master's degree in an advanced practice nursing field. Great communication and compassion make it easy for nurses to transition into this role.

3. Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses don't participate in direct patient care. Instead, they work with the health department and healthcare facilities to examine trends and risk factors to improve healthcare access. Public health nurses use the skills gained as RNs like clinical experience and communication skills to perform their jobs. An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is common for this role.

4. Flight Nurse

Flight nurses, also known as transport nurses, manage duties like checking vitals, giving medications, and performing procedures while in flight. Other responsibilities include assisting flight physicians, operating medical equipment, and keeping records. Flight nurses must be prepared to work under similar pressure to RNs in hospital settings.

5. Nurse Case Manager

A nurse case manager creates healthcare plans for chronically ill, seriously injured, and geriatric patients. They also advocate for personalized treatment plans, schedule patient appointments, and discuss health conditions with patients. While this is a form of non-bedside nursing, having great communication skills and compassion for patients helps managers succeed in this role.

6. Nurse Consultant

Nurse consultants are RNs who advise healthcare providers on ways to improve nursing and healthcare standards. Consultants provide legal, operations, or clinical assistance in hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing homes, or urgent care clinics. RNs interested in this role can benefit from earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or an advanced degree in public health.

7. Home Health Nurse

A home health nurse is an RN who provides one-on-one medical care in homes. Their duties typically mirror those of registered nurses in medical facilities and include administering medications, checking vital signs, and monitoring the patient's well-being. A nursing degree or diploma is a common requirement for this role. Home health nurses might take on a specialization like gerontology, community health, or pediatrics.

8. Forensic Nurse

Forensic nurses are registered nurses trained to help victims of human trafficking, abuse, and violence. Their duties might include taking photos of injuries, collecting evidence, working with law enforcement and medical examiners, and testifying in court. In addition to meeting the requirements to become an RN, forensic nurses might need a certification like SAFE, SANE, FNE, or SANC.

9. Nurse Educator

A nurse educator teaches nursing students the best ways to excel in various healthcare scenarios. They typically work for hospitals or nursing schools to teach clinical skills and guide students through rotations. Educators also design curriculum and conduct research. Nurse educators usually possess at least two years of RN clinical experience, have an advanced degree, and showcase quality administrative knowledge.

10. Telehealth Nurse

Telehealth nursing is a great career option for RNs interested in delivering patient care remotely. Telehealth nurses address health concerns, monitor chronic conditions, review patients' medical histories, and implement treatment plans. They might work for call centers, insurance companies, or hospitals. The requirements for becoming a telehealth nurse are the same as becoming an RN.

11. Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner (NP) is an APRN who provides primary or specialty patient care. They take medical histories, diagnose health problems, and determine how to improve a patient's health. Nurse practitioners need a master's degree in their specialty. Interpersonal, communication, leadership, and other nursing skills help RNs transition to this role.

12. Travel Nurse

Travel nurses fill in for registered nurses at clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities facing nursing staff shortages. They perform the day-to-day tasks of resident RNs. To fill this role, nurses must have standard nursing skills, quick learning capabilities, and a flexible mindset. Getting started typically requires signing up with a travel nurse staffing agency.

13. Healthcare Recruiter

A healthcare recruiter assists health organizations with finding healthcare professionals to fill open positions. They create and post job listings, screen and interview candidates, and verify credentials. A bachelor's degree is a common educational requirement for recruiters. Having a BSN and recruitment experience could help nurses qualify for this role.

14. Health Informaticist

Health informaticists organize and manage data in hospitals and medical facilities to improve efficiency. Day-to-day duties include safeguarding patient data and examining organizational performance through data trends. Nurses who transition into health informatics generally have a good understanding of business, healthcare, and technology. RNs might need coursework and experience in IT to qualify for this position.

15. Health Coach

Health coaches assist clients with achieving wellness goals. They identify roadblocks to achievement and come up with strategies to overcome them. Health coaches commonly assist clients with exercise, weight loss, nutrition, and sleep. Since nurses already have experience with healthcare and encouraging patients, the transition to health coaching would likely be seamless.

How To Start a Career Change as a Nurse

Leaving your current RN position is not a decision to be made in haste. Carefully planning your next steps is important.

First, explore nursing career opportunities to see which ones align with your passion and skillset. For instance, if you have OBGYN experience and love working with pregnant patients, you might consider a nurse midwife position.

Next, make educational plans. If you have your nursing diploma or ADN and need a bachelor's or master's degree for your desired role, research colleges and universities that offer the right program. There are even some online nursing programs that you an enroll in so that you don't have to stop working. If you need certification or licensure, plan to attain that too.

When you're ready to start your job search, check online job search sites for leads. Also, make connections through networking. Consider joining nursing and other healthcare organizations. Use social media platforms to get to know other healthcare professionals.