Going to school for a nursing degree will open many doors for you. There are countless specialties available to nurses such as: pediatrics, labor and delivery, ICU, and neurology, just to name a few. Due to the high rate of burn out in bedside nursing, it is important to know that there are many nursing degree options. The benefits of finding a job that is not bedside are a lower likelihood of being understaffed, becoming an important link between patients and healthcare providers, and a potentially more stable working schedule. However, there may be fewer opportunities to advance, limited staff relationships, and less assistance from agencies/staff in an emergency, so keep this in mind.
You may need to think outside of the box, but there are countless options to consider besides bed-side nursing, i.e. camp nurse, educator, correctional nurse, flight nurse, forensic nurse, hospice nurse, informatics nurse, nurse administrator, case manager, or nurse researcher. Keep in mind that some of these may require additional education or certification, depending on the title, but offer a wide variety of options for those who are looking to get away from bedside nursing. These types of roles allow a nurse to work with diverse groups of people, demonstrate problem solving, and work in an environment that does not adhere to the stereotypical nursing roles.
Understanding all the options one has when pursuing a degree is very important for maximizing its full potential. Bedside nursing is a very labor-intensive job, both mentally and physically. It is good to realize the full potential of the job availability in order to maximize the degree that was earned. If you have ever wondered, “What would it be like to have a non-bedside job?”, maybe it would be worth looking into these non-traditional options for nursing positions that use your knowledge and expertise, while taking care of yourself as well.
Colleges, like our partner Rasmussen College, offer online degree programs that you can complete while still working. You’re able to transfer in credits from other schools and their program is CCNE accredited. You can get details on Rasmussen’s program here.
For more information on specialties check out our BSN page here