Non-Traditional Job Positions for RNs Today

Contrary to popular belief, not all Registered Nurses (RNs) work in hospitals and other clinical settings. If you want to become an RN, but prefer to work away from a clinical setting, you can choose from many non-traditional RN job positions. Familiarize yourself with the most popular options to plan out your career path more effectively below.

1. School Nurse

If you would rather not work in a hospital, but still want to work regularly with patients, school nursing may be right for you. School nurses assist students with various physical and emotional health issues, and they provide emergency treatment for injuries too.

2. Occupational Health Nurse

Like school nurses, occupational health nurses take care of large groups of patients outside of hospitals. They are hired by organizations of all kinds, including corporations, government agencies, prisons, and factories.

3. Clinical Research Nurse

Pharmaceutical companies and other businesses that perform clinical research often rely on RNs to care for people who have volunteered as test subjects. For example, a clinical research nurse might collect samples from patients who are participating in drug trials for medications that are vying for FDA approval.

4. Nurse Navigator

RNs who have a knack for translating and understanding insurance policies sometimes pursue careers as nurse navigators. In this role, you will help patients obtain the care they need and ensure that it will be covered by their insurance.

5. Academic Nurse Writer

If you have your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - or plan to earn it - and have a knack for writing, this may be an ideal option for you. Academic nurse writers often contribute chapters in textbooks. Some write entire textbooks themselves. Most are self-employed, but some are employed by publishing companies.

6. Public Health Nurse

Assist in developing policies for the health of large populations and entire communities as a public health nurse. These professionals typically work for public, state, and government organizations. They help develop health policies and sometimes assist in disaster relief efforts.

7. Forensic Nurse Consultant

This unique RN job position entails not only assisting victims of violent crimes like battery and sexual assault, but also testifying in courts of law. Many forensic nurses work as independent consultants, and they typically contract with attorneys and law enforcement agencies.

8. Nurse Case Manager

Coordinate care for patients as a nurse case manager. These professionals are often independent consultants, and many are able to work from home. They assist patients in finding the resources they need to recover as quickly - and as affordably - as possible.

9. Nurse Educator

In addition to training and educating new generations of RNs at colleges and universities, nurse educators work for medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and other organizations. They provide education regarding health and related topics and are often charged with training individuals about such topics.

10. Concierge Nurse

If you'd like to be your own boss while enjoying superior flexibility and exceptional compensation, concierge nursing may be right for you. This means being on-call for clients and making house calls for them as needed.

Is a Non-Traditional Nursing Career Right for You?

Like many new and aspiring RNs, you may not know yet whether or not you will enjoy clinical, traditional nursing work. Most RNs who opt for non-traditional roles start out in clinical settings and branch out from there, so there's no need to decide right away.