Add'l jobs for RN's other than bedside

I am just getting ready to graduate and am looking for a job right now. Presently I am interviewing in different hospitals, however, I don't think the bedside is where I want to be long term. Other than hospitals, doctors offices, schools and HMO's, what other jobs are out there for nurses? I know there are other types of positions out there for RN's that I'm sure I never even knew about and I would REALLY appreciate any of you who are doing an "unconventional" job as a nurse to share your experience with me. Thank you!!
ah! you sound just like me! i just graduated and am looking for something that isnt bedside nursing! keep me posted if you find anything and i'll do the same!

There are jobs reviewing charts such as MedAssurant.There are jobs doing coding of diagnosis for home health companies,etc.There are jobs doing care plans for Nursing homes to meet state regulations.These are basically jobs involving chart review, computer work.These are a few that I know about and have done some of them.

There are hospice positions where the nurse acts as the case manager for various terminally ill patients. There are management positions where the nurse is in charge of floor nurses, aides, and nurse supervisors. There are occupational health positions where the nurse works at a large factory or plant, doing annual and quarterly screenings on the employees.Some nurses are employed in blood banks. Other nurses work as intake assessors for psychiatric facilities. And many nurses work as admissions representatives for skilled nursing facilities who attempt to keep the census up. Other nurses work for the state, doing annual Medicare and Medicaid surveys.

Thanks for this thread! One thing I am wondering and I ask of those of you who do *not* do bedside nursing: do you think you HAVE to do some bedside nursing first before you go to any of those alternative positions? Or can you jump from NS to something other than bedside nursing? I would love to hear others' experiences!

Quote from LoriSThanks for this thread! One thing I am wondering and I ask of those of you who do *not* do bedside nursing: do you think you HAVE to do some bedside nursing first before you go to any of those alternative positions? Or can you jump from NS to something other than bedside nursing? I would love to hear others' experiences!

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Quote from tk3100I have done case management, and I cannot see how one can work in these positions without prior med-surg experience. So much of what you learn in nursing is learned after graduation and on the job. This experience is what you draw on for the "alternative jobs" to bedside hospital nursing.

czyja - i see where you are coming from but bedside nursing isnt the only nursing job out there. i know from personal experience that bedside nursing isn't for me, something about it just isnt for me, i want more of the business side of things which is why im looking for something away from the bedside. thats the great thing about nursing, there are so many places to go, and people like different things. i love working with patients, am a huge people person, but when someone isnt happy at their job, it effects the job. i can tell a huge difference because i'm just not happy at work. my pts. still get good care, but if you work somewhere and dont enjoy your job, its going to take a toll on your health so working somewhere and "man-ing" up wont help because pt. care will go down and i would rather remove myself from that environment than provide anything but my best care which is why i'm looking for a different job.

I now have a job in infection control, but I spent a year and a half working at the bedside in order to gain the nursing experience necessary for this job. My five years of experience as a medical technologist played a crucial role in getting this position- If I had been a first-degree nurse with that amount of experience there is no way they would have even given me an interview...The basic "bench experience" in the lab and "bedside experience" in nursing is what prepared me for this position. Even though it was difficult and the hours weren't always desirable, I know that this experience will guide me in my future career.Physicians have to do a residency, lawyers have to work the least desirable cases at their firms and pharmacists have to either do a residency or put in some time at CVS, RiteAid, etc. We all have to "pay our dues" at the beginning of our careers by doing undesirable tasks, bad shifts, lots of weekends, etc. Even if you don't want to do bedside nursing, I suggest that you try to get the most out of it that you can You might find that you enjoy your co-workers, the atmosphere, etc even if you do not like the actual job. You will be building your resume and learning a lot in the process, and you will be done before you know it

Quote from D&Ggirlczyja - i see where you are coming from but bedside nursing isnt the only nursing job out there. i know from personal experience that bedside nursing isn't for me, something about it just isnt for me, i want more of the business side of things which is why im looking for something away from the bedside. thats the great thing about nursing, there are so many places to go, and people like different things. i love working with patients, am a huge people person, but when someone isnt happy at their job, it effects the job. i can tell a huge difference because i'm just not happy at work. my pts. still get good care, but if you work somewhere and dont enjoy your job, its going to take a toll on your health so working somewhere and "man-ing" up wont help because pt. care will go down and i would rather remove myself from that environment than provide anything but my best care which is why i'm looking for a different job.

Quote from tk3100I have done case management, and I cannot see how one can work in these positions without prior med-surg experience. So much of what you learn in nursing is learned after graduation and on the job. This experience is what you draw on for the "alternative jobs" to bedside hospital nursing.

I am from Pakistan and I also have chosen working in the areas other than bedside. In our hospital the available options other than bedside are listed below however, I am not sure whether it is applicable in your area or not.Vaccination Nurse.Acute and chronic pain management nurse.Quality Assurance Nurse (Currently I am working on this position. Nurse conducts hospital's internal quality audits as per JCIA and ISO standards, checks medical records documentation as per JCIA documentation standards and its rectifications and some other quality projects)Nurse Case Manager (For this you must have an experience of bedside).Community Health Nurse (If it suits with your interest area as I have worked in a research project for 2.5 years and it was a very good experience).We also have specialized nurses who update the hospital's policies and procedures, nursing documentation forms that are being used at bedsides by nurses etc.You can join school of nursing as a faculty but here they send for 1year bedside experience before hiring.Outpatient areas i.e. clinics are also preferred by nurses other than bedside.Good luck!