8 Jobs For Nurses Who Don’t Want To Be Nurses Anymore

*May contain affiliate links/ Updated from the original post on 11/21/19

Jobs For Nurses Who Don’t Want To Be Nurses Anymore

Once a nurse, always a nurse. But what if you have concluded that you don’t want to work as a nurse anymore?

So, you are among the many nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore. Even though you don’t want to work nursing jobs at the bedside anymore, it doesn’t mean that you lose the RN title after your name.

After all, you struggled through nursing school. You worked your tail off as a new grad to learn challenging nursing skills alongside your peers.

You may have already spent many years in the profession, working different nursing jobs on several different units while adding new specialties and certifications to your resume along the way.

Most importantly, you have helped humankind and even saved lives.

But now you are starting to feel it’s time to move on. And it really shouldn’t be a surprise. Nurses are burning out at a rate unparalleled to any other profession – especially bedside nurses.

For me, it started after having my children and realizing that I wanted more flexibility in my life that a traditional nursing career couldn’t offer me at the time. I speak with mothers all the time who are looking for alternative ways to practice nursing so that they can be more present for their children at home… and finally stop working 12-hour shifts!

You will always be an RN.  And the best part of having a nursing degree with years of direct patient care experience: your skills are highly transferable. There are many different ways for registered nurses to practice.  What will your next nursing pathway be?

Signs That It May Be Time to Leave Your Nursing Job

Sometimes it’s hard to know when it’s time to leave a job you’ve become accustomed to. However, it’s important to recognize when staying in your current nursing job no longer serves you well.

Here are a few signs for registered nurses that may indicate it’s time for you to move into a non-bedside nursing career:

• You feel physically and emotionally drained after work.
• You dread going to work.
• You lack support from your colleagues and management.
• You find yourself making more mistakes than usual.
• You have a strong desire to change career paths and explore new career opportunities.
• You aren’t getting paid what you deserve.
• You are bored and don’t feel you are growing anymore.
• The thought of looking at other bedside nursing jobs sounds unappealing.

“I’m among the nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore. What else can I do?”

One aspect of the nursing profession appealed to me when I was considering becoming a second-career nurse: career flexibility. Nurses can work in so many non-bedside nursing jobs outside of the hospital setting. Now it’s time to take those nursing skills and apply them towards alternative careers!

After all, nurses are lifelong learners by nature. Taking on a new job away from the bedside can be exciting. Where will you end up next? Have you ever considered looking for a way to use your nursing degree working for a corporation or as a nurse entrepreneur?

If the answer is YES, you may be ready to embark on a new non-bedside nursing career journey – no matter what nursing degree you hold!

Awesome Nursing Jobs Away From The Bedside

You may not know that there are a lot of exciting non-bedside nursing jobs out there that can leverage your nursing expertise in various unique and fulfilling ways! Whether you’re looking to transition out of direct patient care or simply want to explore new avenues adjacent to the nursing field, these jobs offer a lot of potential for growth and professional development.

Whether you have an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree or higher, take a look at these exciting alternative nurse careers and see if there is one for you!

#1. Medical Device Sales Representative

Medical device sales representatives are sales experts who sell medical equipment to hospitals, surgery centers, physician offices, and other institutions. Their job is to detail their products’ unique features and benefits and work as a liaison between the device company and the client.

Many medical device sales representatives spend time in hospital operating rooms teaching physicians and staff how to use their company’s products. However, many sales reps sell products directly to hospital units as well.

If you have an outgoing personality and think you would enjoy meeting hospital and office staff around your city, this may be an excellent fit for you! It’s a lot of hard work, but medical device reps often make a higher average salary to match the stress.

Also, many medical device companies hire Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) to work as educators for specific products. A CNS travels to healthcare facilities to train healthcare professionals about new medical devices. That is a great way to get your foot in the door as a medical device sales representative when you have a clinical background as a nurse.

Why Medical Sales is a Great Non-Bedside Nursing Career Alternative

Medical sales is a great alternative career for nurses because it offers a unique opportunity to apply their clinical knowledge and expertise in a business setting.

Reasons why medical sales rep is a great job for nurses:

Transferrable skills

Nurses possess many of the skills required for a career in medical sales, including strong communication skills, clinical expertise, and excellent organizational skills.

High demand

Medical sales is a growing industry with a high demand for qualified sales representatives who can communicate with doctors, clinicians and other medical professionals.

Competitive salary

Medical sales representatives are often offered competitive salaries, benefits packages, and the potential for bonuses and commissions.

Flexibility

Medical sales jobs often offer flexibility around work schedules, including the ability to work from home, travel and work independently.

Making a difference

Medical sales representatives can have a positive impact on the healthcare industry by providing valuable medical equipment, devices, and products to healthcare providers and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Typical daily responsibilities of a medical device sales representative include:

• Develop and execute sales strategies to achieve sales targets
• Build and maintain strong relationships with healthcare providers, decision-makers, and stakeholders in their designated territory
• Deliver product presentations and demonstrations to healthcare professionals
• Provide product training and support to healthcare professionals and staff
• Attend conferences, events, and trade shows to network and promote their products

How to Get a Job in Medical Device Sales:

• Try MedReps.com – A career resource platform for medical device and pharmaceutical sales employers and employees
• Work with a medical device headhunter
• Network on Linkedin
• Polish up your resume and upload it online to job boards

Additional Tips

Leverage Your Nursing Experience

Use your nursing experience and knowledge to demonstrate an understanding of the clinical applications of medical devices.

Pursue Additional Education or Certifications

Earn additional certifications or education in sales can make nurses more attractive candidates to medical device companies.

Network with Medical Device Sales Professionals in Your Workplace

Networking with people who are already working in medical device sales can give nurses valuable insights into the industry and help them build connections with potential employers.

#2. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmaceutical sales careers are very similar to medical device sales careers. However, pharmaceutical reps sell drugs, not devices. (Although some companies have reps that sell both).

Pharma reps provide drug information and product samples to physicians. Also, pharmaceutical reps monitor physicians’ prescribing patterns within a specific geographical territory.

Pharma reps go door-to-door and meet physicians who work in specialties that may be interested in prescribing their products. For example, a drug rep who sells a medication for atrial fibrillation would focus on selling drugs to cardiologists.

To be successful in pharmaceutical sales (much like medical device sales), you need to have a go-get-em attitude and an outgoing personality. There is a lot of talking involved in pharmaceutical sales for educational events, in-services, and in-servicing to clients.

Why Pharmaceutical Sales is a Great Non-Bedside Nursing Career Alternative

Pharmaceutical sales is a great job for nurses because it offers the opportunity for nurses to use their clinical knowledge and experience to promote and sell pharmaceutical products to healthcare providers. Nurses are widely recognized for having strong communication skills, great attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the healthcare industry.

Reasons why pharmaceutical sales rep is a great job for nurses:

Transferrable skills

Registered nurses already possess many of the skills required for a career in pharmaceutical sales, including knowledge of clinical protocols, effective communication, and excellent organizational skills.

Income potential

Pharmaceutical sales representatives are generally offered a higher average salary. They also receive benefits packages, along with performance bonuses, commissions, and other incentives.

Work-life balance

This field typically offers flexible work schedules, including the ability to work from home, travel and work independently.

Professional growth

Pharmaceutical sales careers offer opportunities for professional growth and advancement within the industry.

The ability to make a difference

Nurses who work in pharmaceutical sales can play an important role in improving healthcare outcomes by promoting and selling products that provide much-needed benefits to patients.

Typical daily responsibilities of a pharmaceutical device sales representative include:

• Develop and follow a sales plan
• Conduct sales calls with physicians in healthcare facilities to demonstrate and discuss the features of their pharmaceutical products
• Build and maintain relationships with healthcare providers, including c physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in their territory
• Attend conferences and trade shows
• Provide support and training to healthcare providers who use their company’s products
• Stay on top of industry trends and regulatory changes that may affect their business

How to get a job in pharmaceutical sales:

• Try MedReps.com: a career board for medical and pharmaceutical employers and employees
• Work with a pharmaceutical headhunter
• Network on Linkedin
• Polish up your resume and upload it online

Additional tips include:

Conduct Thorough Research About Pharmaceutical Sales Positions

Learn as much as possible about the job requirements, industry regulations, and companies that hire pharmaceutical sales reps.

Develop A Strong Resume

Highlight your clinical nursing skills and experience in your resume. This will demonstrate your ability to understand and discuss medical products with healthcare professionals.

Build a professional network

Network with pharmaceutical sales representatives, recruiters, and other professionals in the industry to learn about potential job openings and gain valuable insights into the hiring process.

Apply for relevant job openings

Search and apply for relevant job openings – and always make sure you follow up!

#3. Nurse Freelance Writer

Do you enjoy writing? Nurse freelance writers write about healthcare topics and work on a self-employed basis. Most nurse freelance writers are independent business owners who manage their work right out of their own homes.

As a freelancer, your clients hire you to write articles, and you are generally paid per writing assignment or a group of writing assignments. Nurse freelance writers often have clients with recurring projects that they pay on a per diem basis.

There are many different types of nurse freelance writing, including:

• Healthcare content creation: Writing about healthcare-related topics such as medical news, medical breakthroughs, and patient education materials.
• Medical journalism: Writing articles or features for medical journals and other publications about current health issues in the news or trends in the healthcare industry.
• Copywriting for healthcare companies: Creating copy for brochures, websites, press releases, newsletters, and other materials for companies in the healthcare industry.
• Creative writing: Writing short stories, poems, and light features on health-related topics.
• Technical writing: Editing documents and manuals related to medicine or creating reports on research studies conducted by medical professionals.
• Ghostwriting books or articles written by healthcare professionals: Writing articles or books under another person’s name that are based on their expertise in the field of medicine.
• Blogging: write blog posts for other healthcare bloggers or even start your own blog (like me!)

Why Nurse Freelance Writing is a Great Non-Bedside Nursing Career

Nurse freelance writing is a great alternative career for nurses who have a passion for writing and want to leverage their clinical knowledge and expertise in the healthcare industry.

Reasons why freelance writing is a great job for nurses:

Schedule flexibility

Freelance writing offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing nurses to work from home, set their own schedules, and take on as much or as little work as they want.

Opportunity to use clinical knowledge

Nurses possess extensive clinical knowledge and expertise in the healthcare industry, which they can apply to write informative and engaging content that can benefit a wider audience.

Career diversity

Freelance writing can encompass a wide range of topics and subject areas, allowing nurses to write on topics they are passionate about and develop expertise in new areas.

Income potential

Freelance writing offers the opportunity to earn a competitive income through a combination of steady work, high-paying assignments, and repeat clients.

Creative outlet

Freelance writing can allow nurses to exercise their creativity and explore their passion for writing while still applying their expertise in medicine.

Personal growth

Freelance writing allows nurses to expand their skill sets and explore new opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Some of the typical daily responsibilities of a nurse freelance writer include the following:

• Research topics related to health and medicine to ensure the accuracy and credibility of written materials
• Develop content outlines based on client briefs or requests
• Write engaging and informative articles, blog posts, press releases, newsletters, and other materials as requested by clients
• Ensure that all written materials meet the standards of quality, clarity, and style established by the client
• Meet deadlines for assignments set by clients
• Make revisions to written materials upon request from clients

How to Become a Nurse Freelance Writer:

• Start a blog or write for free to practice your writing skills
• Take courses or workshops related to healthcare writing or healthcare communications to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of writing for the healthcare industry
• Build up a portfolio of published work, and establish a website to showcase your work and skills
• Network with editors and other freelance writers in the healthcare field to increase your exposure and assignment opportunities.
• Reach out to medical publications and healthcare organizations directly to inquire about available freelance opportunities

PRO TIP: the most important tip on the list is to take courses aimed at teaching nurses to become writers. Check out one of my mentors, Beth Haines, at RN2Writer!

Additional recommended reading: 5 Non-Bedside Nurse Jobs Your May Not Know About 

#4. Nurse Blogger

Nurse bloggers generally create and manage a website with a specific nursing niche they write about. For example, I am a nurse mom blogger who writes about working moms & nurse lifestyle topics – things I have directly dealt with myself as a working mother. Over time you can grow an audience interested in the topics you like to write about.

Advertising, affiliate links, and creating & selling products are a few ways that bloggers make money. In general, bloggers have to start their work as a side hustle for many months or years before making an income. It’s more of a long game – you can start it as a side hustle or work as a per-diem nurse until you get things moving along.

Personal Benifits of Nurse Blogging

From personal experience, being a nurse blogger is a lot of fun. It is a great way to stay connected with colleagues, share knowledge and resources related to nursing, and have an impact on the profession. You can become an authority in your field by researching topics of interest to you and providing information that is valuable to your readers.

One of my favorite things about writing as a nurse is that I can share stories about patient experiences that have inspired me and as well as talk about nurses doing incredible things!

Why Nurse Blogging is a Great Non-Bedside Nursing Career

Nurse blogging is a great alternative career option for nurses who want to continue their professional development and stay connected with the healthcare community.

Reasons why healthcare blogging is a great job for nurses:

Transferrable Writing Skills

You can write about topics that you’re passionate about, such as patient care, health policy, or nursing education

You can share your knowledge

You can share your insights and knowledge with a worldwide audience

Connection with other healthcare professionals and companies

You can use your blog to make connections with other nurses, healthcare organizations, and medical companies

Creative content creation

You can create content that can be used in other settings aside from your blog, such as eBooks, webinars, or conferences

Use your platform for advocacy

You can use your blog as a platform for nurse and patient advocacy

Multiple revenue streams

You have the potential to make money from ads placed on your blog or through sponsored content opportunities with companies related to nursing or healthcare in general

Typical daily responsibilities of a nurse blogger include the following:

• Researching topics related to nursing
• Writing and editing engaging blog content that is informative and entertaining
• Promoting the blog on social media channels
• Responding to comments and questions from readers
• Monitoring website analytics
• Attending networking events
• Collaborating with other healthcare professionals

How to Start a Nurse Blog:

• Choose an appropriate domain name and hosting provider for your blog.
• Set up an appealing website design and customize it to fit your brand
• Select topics you’d like to write about and plan out content for the first few months of blogging.
• Brainstorm ways to promote your blog, such as through social media channels or by collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
• Regularly post content on the blog and monitor website analytics to gauge success metrics such as page views or unique visitors over time.
• Develop relationships with other bloggers or influencers in the nursing industry in order to create opportunities for collaborations or guest posts that could further expand the reach of your blog’s messages.

PRO TIP: Check out Health Media Academy

Two very experienced nurse influencers started Health Media Academy: Brittany Wilson and Kati Kleber. They help nurses harness the power of social media, blogging, and other methods of online influence to create an audience of their own as a nurse blogger.

Health Media Academy aims to promote wealth-building strategies and business focus for healthcare influencers while maintaining their profession’s dignity and integrity.

Check out their Nurse Blogger 101 Course!

#5. Legal Nurse Consultant

Legal nurse consulting is an excellent job for nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore – but still want to utilize the knowledge they have learned while working in patient care.

Legal Nurse Consultants as Nurse Experts

Legal nurse consultants analyze and evaluate the facts and testimony in legal cases related to the delivery of nursing and other healthcare services. Often, LNCs analyze cases involving injuries and other medical-legal situations. These nurse experts must have strong experience and education in the healthcare setting and act as expert witnesses in legal matters.

LNCs clinically analyze and evaluate facts and testimony related to the delivery of nursing and other healthcare services and outcomes. They also analyze and review the nature and cause of injuries in legal cases.

Many legal nurse consultants are entrepreneurs and start their own legal nurse consulting businesses. This means you should have a self-starter attitude and be willing to hustle to get your business up and running.

Why Nurse Legal Consulting is a Great Alternative Career For Nurses

Nurse legal consulting is an increasingly popular career choice for nurses who are looking to leverage their extensive experience in the healthcare field.

Reasons why nurse legal consulting is a great job for nurses:

Work when you want

Being an LNC offers flexibility and autonomy

Transferable nursing and healthcare knowledge

You can leverage your nursing knowledge and expertise to help organizations navigate complex legal issues related to healthcare

Earn more money

Enjoy increased job satisfaction and higher potential earnings than traditional nursing jobs

Work where you want

Work from any location, allowing you to make your own schedule and have a better work-life balance

Typical daily responsibilities of nurse legal consultants include the following:

• Attending medical reviews by independent medical exams
• Testifying in court as an expert witness
• Reviewing cases to identify strengths and weaknesses
• Preparing chronologies or timelines for medical records
• Working with lawyers to plan healthcare litigation
• Drafting legal documents in medical cases under the guidance of an attorney
• Educating attorneys and paralegals about healthcare issues and nurses as it relates to legal situations

How to Start A Career as a Legal Nurse Consultant:

• Research and reach out to organizations that offer legal nurse consulting services
• Take online LNC certification courses or workshops to gain knowledge in the field
• Update your resume with relevant skills and experience, including any recent courses you have taken in healthcare law or other related fields.
• Network with other professionals in the field, such as lawyers, medical experts, or fellow nurses.
• Keep up to date on changes in healthcare regulations and laws

NOTE: Although certification isn’t necessarily a requirement for working as a legal nurse consultant, many employers prefer to work with nurses who hold a certification from the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCC).

#6. Lactation Consultant

If you believe that breastfeeding is an essential start to babies’ lives and want to help develop the bond between mothers and babies, then becoming a lactation consultant might be a great next career step for you!

If you’ve had your own experiences with breastfeeding and want to share both your clinical knowledge and personal experience as a breastfeeding mother, lactation consulting might be a great fit for you. Breastfeeding can be a highly personal and emotional experience – helping new babies get a positive start in life could be a fulfilling and exciting career path!

Lactation consultant’s work can work in medical facilities, for private businesses, and even for themselves. They do both individual appointments and classes for larger groups.

Why Becoming a Lactation Consultant is a Great Alternative Career For Nurses

Becoming a lactation consultant is an excellent career choice for nurses looking to utilize their experience and expertise in a different setting. RN Lactation consultants are nurse educators who specialize in breastfeeding and developing the initial baby-mama bond.

Here are some of the reasons why lactating consulting is a great job for nurses:

You can still provide patient care

You will be able to help families learn how to properly feed their babies, giving them potential lifelong health benefits.

Improve the lives of mothers and infants

You will work as a nurse educator to improve the lives of mothers, infants, and children by helping to educate them on proper nutrition, breastfeeding techniques, and other care methods.

Shorter work hours

This specialty requires fewer hours than working as a nurse in a traditional hospital or clinic setting

Some of the typical daily responsibilities of lactation consultants include the following:

• Helps mom and baby develop a healthy bond
• Shows mom what a good latch looks like
• Helps position the baby correctly for feeding
• Performs weight checks with the baby to assess sufficient intake
• Offers emotional support to breastfeeding mothers

How to Become A Lactation Consultant:

• Take courses to become certified as a lactation consultant with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE).
• Become familiar with relevant state laws and regulations related to practice as a lactation consultant in that region.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with physicians, nutritionists, and midwives, who may refer patients for lactation services.
• Continue your education by attending conferences offered by professional organizations such as the US Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA).
• Search online job boards for positions suited to your experience and qualifications.
• Create an up-to-date resume highlighting your education, work experience, and any relevant skills or certifications

Apply for lactation consultant nursing jobs at local hospitals, private practices, or public health agencies

#7. Nurse Health Coach

Nurse health coaches can actualize their patient’s healthcare goals outside of the hospital setting by helping them develop the healthiest version of themselves. By teaching patients how to take optimal care of themselves and holding them accountable, the nurse health coach can inspire clients to achieve even greater results.

These nursing professionals work with patients to provide guidance and resources to assist their patients in living a more healthy and balanced lifestyle. In terms of nursing experience, nurse health coaches generally have many years of direct patient care in the hospital setting and have the desire to have a more direct and positive health impact on their patients’ lives.

Many nurse health coaches are entrepreneurs who work in private practice, although some hospitals and doctor’s offices hire nurse health coaches as well. According to some surveys, nurse coaches can earn similar or even more income than they do working in hospitals.

Nurse health coaches can decrease healthcare spending by:

• Helping insurance companies reduce the cost of disease management, and
• Assisting patients to improve their overall health and well-being by decreasing the incidence of chronic illness and the healthcare costs associated with them.

Why Nurse Health Coaching is a Great Alternative Career For Nurses

Nurse health coaching offers the opportunity to work with people in a meaningful and impactful way. Nursing health coaches are more than just medical professionals – they help individuals to become empowered in their health and wellness journey by developing goals and strategies that promote whole-person health.

Reasons why nurse health coaching is a great job for nurses:

One-on-one care

Provides an opportunity to work as a one-on-one nurse educator for patients in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Work-life balance

Offers flexibility in hours and location of work, allowing for better work-life balance.

Adopt new skills

Allows nurses to develop skills related to health promotion and self-care strategies such as nutrition, lifestyle modifications, and stress management techniques.

Advanced learning opportunities

Offers opportunities for innovative learning and the chance to utilize evidence-based strategies in patient care.

Empower clients

Gives nurses the chance to help individuals become empowered in their own wellness journey while also improving patient outcomes across the board.

Typical daily responsibilities of a nurse health coach include the following:

• Understanding their patients’ unique healthcare dynamics
• Holding patients accountable for their pre-established goals
• Assessing patients’ readiness for change
• Identifying client opportunities and issues for improved health
• Identifying and setting goals to achieve optimal health
• Empowering patients to reach their goals
• Monitoring progress by providing follow-up assessments and adjusting plans accordingly.
• Facilitating communication with other healthcare professionals in order to ensure cohesive care for the patient.
• Serving as an advocate for the patient by helping them access resources such as community groups or online support networks.

How to Become a Nurse Health Coach:

Check out the Nurse Coach Collective!

The Nurse Coach Collective is a community of nurses who are dedicated to advancing the nurse health coaching profession. Through education and advocacy, they strive to create an environment where nurses can work with other healthcare professionals as registered nurse health coaches, engaging in collaborative practice and sharing best practices.

They offer certification programs, online forums, and continuing education opportunities to help nurses become better informed on the latest health and wellness trends.

#8. Nurse Recruiter

You don’t need to be a nurse to become a nurse recruiter. However, most employers prefer working with candidates with a nursing background. In fact, experienced nurses may have more career opportunities in this field than those without prior nursing experience. This is because nurses already understand the qualities needed to be great in the profession!

Why Becoming a Nurse Recruiter is a Great Non Bedside Nursing Career

Becoming a nurse recruiter allows nurses to stay connected to the healthcare field while taking on new challenges and opportunities.

Reasons why nursing recruiting is a great job for nurses:

With a nurse recruiter role, nurses can step outside of their comfort zone and take on exciting new challenges.

Nurse recruiters can build meaningful relationships with organizations in their community and beyond.

The job offers competitive salaries, professional development opportunities, and flexible work schedules.

It allows nurses to stay connected with the healthcare field while gaining valuable experience in marketing and human resources.

Some of the typical daily responsibilities of nurse recruiters include:

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to identify qualified candidates for open nursing positions.
• Screening and interviewing applicants to determine their qualifications for the position.
• Collaborating with departments to fill job vacancies quickly
• Facilitating onboarding processes, such as orientation and paperwork completion.
• Arranging job offers and negotiating salaries.
• Keeping up-to-date on industry trends and regulations.
• Utilizing social media, networking events, job boards, etc., to actively advertise open positions.

How to Become a Nurse Health Coach:

Apply for entry-level nurse recruiter positions. Employers list job openings through their websites and on Internet job boards. Increase your chances of getting an interview by applying for as many nurse recruiter positions as you can find.

It Might Feel Scary to Realize You Don’t Want to be a Nurse at the Beside Anymore

Realizing that you no longer want to be a nurse at the bedside can be a confusing and scary experience. Nursing is often seen as a calling, and many people enter the profession with a deep desire to care for others.

However, as time goes on, some nurses may find themselves feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or unhappy with their current job. These feelings can lead to doubt and uncertainty about their future in nursing.

The decision to leave a job that has been an important part of one’s identity and career can be difficult and emotional. It’s important to take the time to reflect on what’s causing the unhappiness and explore other nursing opportunities that may better suit your needs and interests.

Nurses Must Prioritize Thier Needs and Health

Prioritizing your own happiness and well-being as a nurse is essential for leading a fulfilling and satisfying life. When we focus on taking care of our own needs and desires, we are better able to manage stress, feel more positive emotions, and have a greater sense of purpose.

Here are some reasons why it’s important to prioritize your own happiness and well-being:

It Prevents Burnout

Taking time to engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment can help to prevent burnout and reduce stress.

It Increases Productivity

When we feel happy and content, we are more likely to stay motivated and focused, which can increase our productivity levels

It Improves Our Relationships

Prioritizing our own well-being can help us become more present and supportive of our loved ones, which in turn strengthens our relationships.

It Promotes Physical Health

Engaging in physical activities, eating healthy foods, and making sure you get enough rest and sleep are all important factors that contribute to our overall physical health.

It Enhances Self-Esteem

When we prioritize our own happiness and well-being, we are showing ourselves that we are worthy of love and care. This can boost our self-esteem and help us feel more confident in our abilities.

Overall, prioritizing your own happiness and well-being is important for leading a fulfilling life, achieving your goals, and building strong relationships with yourself and others.

Conclusion

There are alternative careers for nurses who don’t want to be bedside nurses anymore.  The great news is that you have learned valuable career skills both in nursing school and while working as a nurse in patient care.

So, take these critical thinking and time management skills and abundant clinical knowledge that you have gained as a bedside nurse and apply them to a new endeavor.

Good luck!

Additional recommended reading: 

• Alternative Nursing: Unique Careers Within Nursing
• Nurse Health: Self-Care For 12-Hour Shifts
• How Adopting A New Specialty Reignited My Passion For Nursing
• 3 Reasons Why Nurses Quit

If none of the alternative careers listed in this article interest you, have no fear! There is a wide range of non beside nursing jobs to check out that were not mentioned in this article, including:

• Nurse Educators
• Public Health Nurses
• Forensic Nurses
• Nurse Researchers
• Nurse Case Managers
• Camp Nurses
• Infection Control Nurses
• Correctional Facilities Nurses
• Nurse Lobbyists
• Insurance Nurses
• School Nurses
• Disease Prevention Nurse
• Telemedicine Nurse
• Nursing Informatics RN
• Certified Diabetes Educator