By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    photo of hands with blue veins
    8 Proven Tips on Finding Difficult Veins
    November 12, 2021
    tips for getting over the pandemic blues
    4 Proven Ways to Get Over the Pandemic Blues
    February 22, 2022
    medical industry innovations
    How is CNC Machining Transforming the Medical Industry?
    June 2, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Doctors on Google: Manhattan Research Survey 2012
    July 23, 2012
    HealthCare’s Need for Transparency Goes Far Beyond Pricing
    December 10, 2012
    Medicare Payments to Providers Are Carved, Sliced and Chopped by Sequestration
    March 25, 2013
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Promising Nursing Careers Beyond the Bedside
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > Promising Nursing Careers Beyond the Bedside
Hospital AdministrationMedical Education

Promising Nursing Careers Beyond the Bedside

Frankie X Rendón
Last updated: February 6, 2014 9:00 am
Frankie X Rendón
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

nursing careerTell people that you are pursuing a nursing degree and most of them will conjure up an image of you, in your scrubs, happily caring for patients at the bedside. Yes, this is still the core of the profession, and always will be. But the plentiful opportunities that come with a nursing degree are as unique as you are. The degree simply adds another layer of understanding to everything you already know.

nursing careerTell people that you are pursuing a nursing degree and most of them will conjure up an image of you, in your scrubs, happily caring for patients at the bedside. Yes, this is still the core of the profession, and always will be. But the plentiful opportunities that come with a nursing degree are as unique as you are. The degree simply adds another layer of understanding to everything you already know.

Michelle Katz, a graduate from Georgetown University’s integrated health systems management program, gained experience in a variety of different fields, from media and nursing to administration and public relations, and applied them to her current profession as a health care advocate.

“I really don’t think there is a typical career path. You can mold your career into what your interests are,” Michelle tells her fellow nurses and nursing students.

More Read

hospital management tips
11 Crucial Hospital Management Tips
Heart and Vascular Services Top Hospital Marketing Priorities for 2014
Just Like Any New, Burgeoning Shiny New Object, Healthcare CRM Has Its Own Challenges
Vaping Health Risks Raise Alarm About Educating Younger Generations
Herbal Supplements and Dentistry

What’s really exciting about modern nursing is that many of the jobs once restricted to physicians have opened up to RNs. It used to be that the career track to Chief Nursing Officer represented the only path available for moving up the ladder in a hospital setting. Today, RNs are working in administrative roles directing the overarching strategy for health care operations.

That’s just one example of where nurses are moving into non-traditional roles outside of unit-based patient care. Informatics is another area where the nerdy nurse can make a mark. If you love technology, this can be a lucrative path to follow. Data-driven, evidence-based nursing care is not only tied to patient outcomes, it’s also tied to profitability. Not to mention the mandates of health care reform.

Katz explains, “Right now with Obamacare, there are a lot of changes. The other thing is technology is changing at a rapid pace, so you have to stay on top of that as well.”

Health care reform has also created a cottage industry for consultants to work with businesses trying to figure out what they need to do to be in compliance with the new laws. The insurance industry is also a great place to put your nursing degree to work to helping patients, providers and employers with disease management, wellness initiatives, health assessments and more.

Nurses are in demand for opportunities in case management, utilization review, telephone consulting and patient advocacy as well. Take Katz as an example. She’s appeared on ABC TV segments with Diane Sawyer, helping real-life families reduce their medical bills and cut costs as much as possible.

Patient advocacy is a big deal, and your nursing degree can help pave the way for you to be a policy maker. If you’ve never thought of yourself as an agent of change, think again. Federal and state governments are struggling to get health care right. Nurses can play a role by looking out for the people on the receiving end of new laws and policies.

You can be an advocate for others by using your nursing expertise in other ways as well. Imagine yourself on the stand, working as a court-appointed expert for cases with health care ramifications. Or maybe you belong out in the community, supporting outreach initiatives. This can include working in a clinic for the under-served, participating in disease-specific education and support groups, or going into schools with a message about health care and health care careers.

If you like to teach, you could consider a role where you can help the next generation of nurses get a good education. Like to talk? Go on the speaking circuit, giving lectures and leading sessions at health care conferences. You could also consider a sales career, representing health care systems vendors, device makers or pharmaceutical firms.

Maybe your calling is not about personal profit, but to serve others along a spiritual path ministering to patients, families and health care employees. Or perhaps it’s excitement that you crave? Go be a travel nurse, work on cruise ship, or dedicate your skills to an international relief group that is working in war-torn areas or communities impacted by natural disasters.

The right path for you is totally up to you. Some nurses want to stay at the bedside for their entire careers. This is what they love. We can all be thankful for that, knowing that there will be a skilled clinician available when we need their caring, compassion and support. Other nurses want to spread their wings and fly to new places, literally and figuratively.

Now is the time to explore what nursing means to you, what you want to do with your knowledge, what you love to do outside of nursing, and where you see yourself making the greatest impact. Read about the areas that intrigue you most. Join professional associations. Attend conferences and lectures. Ask questions. Build your network.

“You can try out different internships until you find the right fit,” Katz reminds nursing students. “Don’t wait until you graduate. Start early!”

Interview courtesy of University of Cincinnati’s online MSN

Story originally appeared on Huffington Post

(a career in nursing / shutterstock)

TAGGED:nursing
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Health Insurance Card Doesn’t Mean You Have Healthcare

May 22, 2013

Using Telemedicine to Increase Hospital Revenue

July 20, 2013

Healthcare Leaders Must Batten Down the Hatches in 2013

January 16, 2013

Information-Based Careers for Lab Scientists

November 25, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?