Have you been considering a change of career? Nursing can be an incredibly stressful job. After the onset of Covid-19 and the struggles of dealing with constant low staffing, nurses are burned out and looking to reinvent themselves. Many nurses eventually decide to switch careers later in life. But what are your options for doing this? What job opportunities are accessible to people who come from a nursing background?
Believe it or not, you do have options — and you don’t necessarily have to take a massive pay cut, either. If you’re not happy with your job, and you’re ready for something else, making a career transition could be very good for your happiness and your health.
Independent Ear Piercing Specialist
Many nurses, NPs, and healthcare professionals are using Blomdahl Ear Piercing to start up their own business as Independent Ear Piercing Specialist. The start- up kit costs $349 and includes free training. Nurses can earn $50,000 per year with just two piercings, 5 days per week. Blomdahl has a 20-year history working with healthcare professionals to provide a safe ear piercing alternative for American families. After signing up, nurses receive a starter kit which includes everything needed to kick off their business. Additionally, nurses get training that includes practice materials, instructional videos and a live virtual coaching session. Best part is nurses can set their own schedule and only pierce when it works for them. There’s no office, no boss and 100% of profit made from the ear piercing is kept by the nurse.
Med Spa Nurse Specialist
The rise of the med spa industry coincides with the current exodus of nurses from bedside care. Many nurses are finding work in the cosmetic industry, performing Botox injections and other cosmetic treatments at medical spas. The pay is comparable to working in a hospital – minus the stress and anxiety of working in a traditional healthcare setting.
Onsite Screening
There are many opportunities for nurses to work independently to provide point-of-care testing. From Flu and COVID testing to drug and alcohol testing, onsite screening provides customers with rapid turnaround of results and can help people start treatments as soon as possible or determine if an employee is drug free.
Healthcare Education
Interested in moving away from a nursing role, but not quite ready to give up clinical work completely? Healthcare education could be the perfect new career path for you. When you teach, you’ll still stay up to date with your nursing skills, but you won’t spend the majority of your time caring for patients. It’s also a leadership role, where you can provide mentorship and guidance for the next generation of nurses.
Nurses Have Surprising Career Flexibility
Being a nurse, per se, is far from the only thing you can do when you’re an RN. Whether you move into an administrative role or leave healthcare for a career in medical device sales or corporate consulting, there are plenty of options that you can consider if you’re feeling lost and stuck in your current career path.
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
I’m a pacu RN and soon retiring. Just started my own consulting business
I’m available to talk to any and all of you on what I do. Feel free to reach out. 702-592-0365
As a recovering alcoholic i worked in treatment units for many years. Ive recently gotten certified as a peer recovery coach
That are some nice tips. One thing I will do for sure is keep wearing my scrubs.
I’ve been a nurse for over 50 year.I broken my back in July 2023 at work.what kind of work can I do at home,because I’m taking care of my son with RMS
Ambulatory triage. Telehealth. Call center. nurse consultant.
After 26 years on the telemetry/stroke floor, I think when my nursing career is over, my blood pressure will go down and I’ll feel a massive weight off my shoulders. I have plenty of hobbies that will keep me busy.
I have been in the trenches in the ED for 38 years. Several prior to that as a paramedic. As I get older, and a bit tried physically and emotionally I am looking to move away a bit from the physicality of the bedside. I am within a couple years of retirement age but want to stay productive and use my experience to continue to help people while also taking care of myself and my family more. I am looking into a remote, or desk type position but do not want to do management. Will stay at the bedside at lease PRN when I find a transition position.
Getting older myself and still working full time! Just had my first children’s book published “ Mommi I Want to Be a Nurse” by LA Fridlington, and am doing a second book! Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and where books are sold! E- book will be out soon! Want to leave my legacy for nursing by reaching out to the young people of today!
Feel free to email me at [email protected] for more info!
Nursing will always be in my heart!
I did RN case management for a few years before I retired and really enjoyed that. The pay was a little less than the OR, where I had worked for many years, but not significant for me.
Cartwheels!
I WOULD LOVE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW!
There is definite prejudice with a nurse over 65 years.With all my experience no one wants to hire me. I am like the elephant in the room.
Just dump the older nurse.
I am 65 as well and plan on retiring the end of the year at 66. I can’t find anything thus far even with 44 years OB, 3 specialty certifications and experience as a nursing manager and director. I want a remote job with my own hours after 44 years if getting up at 5 AM.
IBX health coach
I’m 64 and just started a Staff RN position, transitioning from Travel nurse! No problem getting a job with all my experience!! Also Travel Nursing is an option!!
I am 65 also. They can hire 3 brand new grads for what they pay me. Getting ready to retire, was hoping to find something Prn. ER, PACU, and ICU. I think they see my age, and pen, and just skip my application and resume.
I’m right there with ya!
I would just love spending more time with my grands and elders in my Family, Volunteer to teach life skills to young girls ages 12 and up to 17 at a local Community Center.
medical coding
I volunteer for our local VNA. This is not as a nurse, but I see things differently. The ‘clients’ I see have no idea I’m a nurse. IF I see anything amiss health wise I notify the office. I really enjoy just visiting with the various patients.
Health education and on-site testing would be nice.
Nursing education requires a masters degree even in most hospital and healthcare settings. Plus the pay is way less than working in an inpatient setting
These are all great ideas!
I’ve spent approximately 39 yrs of acute hospital nursing @ the bedside. Thanks presenting different opportunities to me. I’m a BSN RN, & I’m searching for transitioning my acute skill sets to an area(s) away from the bedside(Clinical Patient Educator, Clinical Nurse Educator, Corporate Nurse(Novice Leadership Role), Patient Navigator, Nursing Mentor/Leader, Health Care Coach), just to name a few😋
Chauntel BSN RN
11/02/2022 @ 1:42PM/Arizona