8 Career Alternatives for Nurses: Part 2

8 Career Alternatives for Nurses: Part 2

by | Sep 9, 2023 | Nursing

8 Career Alternatives for Nurses: Part 2

Our previous post tackled the eight career alternatives for nurses that you can choose to work in if you are looking for a career change. In this second part, we have added other nursing career options that you might enjoy doing in this second part. 

 

What are Your Choices?

If you want to boost your career as a nurse, trying these alternatives may work out for you. Here are eight choices to choose from:

 

1. Academic Nurse Writer

Have you heard about this position? An academic nurse writer is a job where nurses work outside of patient care. Nurse writers often enjoy a lucrative career in healthcare-related companies like pharmaceutical, insurance, and other patient care services. 

What they do is create nursing-related content for websites, like training manuals or textbooks which tailors the information to the general public or other nursing professionals. 

It is an excellent opportunity for nurses with a good background in research, writing, communication, and health services. And the best part of this is that all you need is a BSN to qualify. The average income for an academic nurse writer is $73,500 each year. 

 

2. Nurse Health Coach

Do you have an interest in working with one client or patient at a time? How about helping people achieve their health goals? If yes, becoming a nurse health coach is one of the career alternatives for nurses to pursue. 

A nurse health coach is a nurse who works one-on-one with clients to help them keep a healthy lifestyle and prevent health conditions from happening. They usually work in healthcare facilities, insurance companies, and social services.

Nurses in this job often create a diet plan, monitor clients, and establish safe exercise routines. It is also part of their work to help motivate clients to be in their best health. 

To qualify for the position, you should have a BSN. However, some employers don’t mind. Nurses with an associate degree can also be eligible for this position. If you want to earn more, it would be best to have a BSN degree instead. The average income for this position is $49,000 per year.

 

3. Public Health Nurse

Another exciting career alternative for nurses is to work as a public health nurse. This job addresses community health care, and nurses who choose to work in this area have the opportunity to be in social service agencies. They can also work in schools and nonprofit groups. 

The main job of nurses in this profession is to identify at-risk groups and individuals and develop preventive care programs. These programs have also been proven helpful, especially now that we are experiencing the stress of this pandemic. 

For a nurse to qualify for this job, one must have a Master of Science in Nursing degree in addition to their RN license. Both degrees are needed to earn more in this nursing field. The average income for public health nurses is $59,500 per year. 

 

4. Hospice Nurse

If you are interested in taking care of patients with Alzheimer’s, and terminally ill patients, and providing assistance to their families, being a hospice nurse is the ideal job for you. As a hospice nurse, your job is to administer pain medication, provide nursing care, and monitor the patient’s vital signs. 

If your patient is at the end stage of life, maintaining comfort is also an essential part of your job. The hospice nurse also must provide emotional and educational support to the patient’s family. 

A BSN degree is needed for a nurse to qualify for this job. Additional hospice care and palliative nurse certifications are also helpful for nurses seeking employment. The average salary for a hospice nurse is $70,000 each year or more, depending on the certificate and training. 

 

5. Dialysis Nurse

One of the most in-demand jobs for nurses belongs to this area. Usually, dialysis nurses work for nursing facilities, hospitals, clinics, or private dialysis nurses. They care for patients who have kidney-related illnesses, where they develop treatment plans and conduct dialysis procedures for the patients. 

It would be best if you had at least a BSN and RN to qualify for the job. Other employers may also require candidates to be certified nephrology nurses or have nurse dialysis credentials to further allow for the position. The average salary for dialysis nurses is $71,100 per year. 

 

6. Legal Nurse Consultant

A legal nurse consultant is a nurse who specializes in researching medical and disability cases, employment records, and other legal documents. They also make recommendations that give legal proceedings. Insurance cases and law enforcement investigations the information they need. 

Interested nurses must be licensed RNs who have completed an associate degree in this field. You can also be a legal nurse consultant if you have a BSN with clinical and case management experience, specialized legal certification, and paralegal training. 

You might also consider becoming a nurse attorney if you are interested in pursuing a law degree if you already have a BSN. The average income for a legal nurse consultant is $79,000 to $80,000 per year. 

 

7. Disease Prevention Nurse

Nurses who want a career in the nursing field but does not require them to be in a hospital setting can work as disease prevention nurse. Their job is to research diseases and how it spreads to patients, the community, and healthcare workers. 

Once they have the data they need, disease prevention nurses will analyze it and decide how to contain it, prevent it from spreading, and more. Nurses in this area can work in nursing homes, hospitals, and even private practices. 

Before qualifying for the position, applicants must have nursing experience first. They are also required to have at least a BSN under their belt. The average income for disease prevention nurses is $85,000 or more, depending on the degree they hold and their nursing experience.  

 

8. Flight Nurse

Do you enjoy traveling? Are you a nurse who isn’t bothered by flying? If yes, then being a flight nurse is perfect! As one of the best nursing career jobs, this is a popular alternative for nurses who do not want to work in hospitals.
 
One of your primary duties as a flight nurse is to handle stressful situations while on the flight. It could be an emergency situation, too; for example, a passenger on board had a heart attack. It is your role to provide emergency aid.
 
Flight nurses can also work on rescue planes, where they help provide emergency care. It usually involves patients transported to hospitals via airlift.
 
Usually, flight nurses work in trauma centers, hospitals, fire departments, and many others. According to reports, this job will grow by 15% by 2026. Depending on their employers, flight nurses can earn $67,000 to $80,000 per year.

 

What is the Best Nursing Career Option?

All nursing fields offer unique experiences and may help increase your skills. The best ones are the ones you enjoy working as a nurse.

Whether you choose to be a legal consultant or a dialysis nurse, loving the job and providing the best nursing care to your patients matter most! 

To learn more about nursing career options, click here for the first part.

 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

 

 

Why Nurses Become Travel Nurses

Why Nurses Become Travel Nurses

by | Aug 26, 2023 | Travel Nursing

Why Nurses Become Travel Nurses

These days many nurses are leaving bedside nursing to pursue travel nursing. With the many perks and benefits of travel nursing, we can’t blame them too. Travel nursing allows nurses to explore and experience diverse practices and new environments.

It is also a great way to connect and work with nurses in different nursing communities. With great pay, free housing, and many more, it is no wonder nurses are packing up their bags to become travel nurses. 

As a travel nurse, you can work in all 50 states as your assignments vary and can be as long as 13 weeks. You also have the liberty to choose which assignment works for you based on many factors. These factors include:

  • Climate
  • Nursing opportunities
  • Payment and incentives
  • Location
  • Proximity to friends and family
  • Activities to do
  • Compensation

Besides having this option, there are also many pros to travel nursing, which makes it more favorable. Among these include:

  • There are fewer nursing responsibilities.
  • Many assignments have higher pay.
  • You have free housing or housing options with bigger discounts.
  • There is flexibility to work as much or as little as you want.
  • You get to explore different work cultures.
  • All your travel expenses are reimbursed when moving from one contract to another. 
  • You get to explore different places. 
  • There are work bonuses. 

So Many Reasons Why

Another good reason why many nurses pack up and leave the bedside is stress. There are many reasons why nurses are stressed at work. It could be due to nursing shortages, unfair nurse-to-patient ratios, workplace politics, and exhaustion. If you are a nurse yearning for better pay and a less stressful environment, this could be a great opportunity to grab. 

The idea of working in a different place is also awesome. You get to explore new places, and if you’re the adventurous type, you can explore so many places as a travel nurse. Activities like hiking, camping, trekking, and even going to the beach are only among the recreation you can do as a travel nurse. Depending on where you are assigned, adventure awaits many travel nurses! 

You can also choose the nursing specialty or unit you want to work as a travel nurse. There are many special areas that you can apply to. If you have experience as an ICU nurse, you can look for assignments that allow travel nurses to work in ICU. The same goes for those with experience in PICU, ER, and many others. 

It is no secret that many travel nurses are paid more than staff nurses. Most of your travel nurse salary is tax-free simply because you travel more than 50 miles from home. However, hourly wages are usually non-negotiable. But you will be given bonuses and benefits as it fits. 

Conclusion

We can’t blame nurses who are packing up to become travel nurses. Many reasons may affect their decisions too. Whether for their clinical experience, money, or adventure, it is a good way for nurses to get some weight off their backs and see the world.

Travel nursing offers adventures, reliable income, and flexibility; as a nurse, this sounds like the freedom you’d want to get your hands on. 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

Travel Nurse Contracts: Crisis vs. Rapid Response

Travel Nurse Contracts: Crisis vs. Rapid Response

by | Aug 12, 2023 | Travel Nursing

Travel Nurse Contracts: Crisis vs. Rapid Response

As a travel nurse, you will find yourself in different places and scenarios all the time. It is why learning about travel nurse contracts is essential.

While it is part of your job as a travel nurse to be assigned to different parts of the country, there will come a time when you need to answer a crisis or rapid response call.

That said, you must know the difference between a crisis and a rapid response contract so you can choose which one works well for you.

The Difference Between Crisis and Rapid Response Travel Nurse Contract

A contract is vital in a travel nurse’s job, but a few differences exist between a crisis and a rapid response contract. Knowing them both can help you identify which one is more favorable for you.

What is a Crisis Contract?

Travel nurses are usually the first people who respond to any crises across the country. A crisis contract is given to nurses when a geographical location or hospital is confirmed to be under an emergency. 

As a nurse, you must understand that this contract will put you in high-risk conditions, so reading it thoroughly is necessary.

If the crisis is urgent, this contract may also become a rapid response contract. If the problem is urgent, you may get higher wages for both contracts.

A crisis can be anything alarming or overwhelming. The best example of this case is the Covid-19 pandemic that we are experiencing right now. Another good example is when the crisis is an isolated case.

It means the issue is only specific to a particular hospital or area. For example, when natural disasters like hurricanes, flooding, etc., hits a location, travel nurses are given crisis contracts to answer the call for help.

The payment of a crisis contract varies depending on the nature of the crisis at hand [1]. The amount may also differ according to these factors:

  • The hospital’s budget.
  • The agency’s ability to negotiate the terms and conditions of your work.
  • Your skills as a nurse – if you have skills in specialized areas like ICU, OR, DR, and others, the better the pay you will get.

As you go through your contract, you will see that it outlines the specifics of your crisis pay. It may include both a higher base wage, additional stipends, and your bonuses, and overtime pay.

A crisis contract may also be shorter than a regular travel nurse contract. Your assignments are often short-term, while the standard travel nurse contract is around 16 weeks.

Many hospitals opt to hire nurses under this contract on shorter terms because they’re paid higher than others. So it would be wise to hire them for a short period than hire them for a long time and pay at higher rates.

What is  Rapid Response Contract?

A rapid response contract is when a healthcare facility hires travel nurses to fill in the job. The situation may not always be a crisis. But nurses are needed if there is a:

  • New software upgrade
  • An internal occurrence
  • An influx of non-emergency patients
Travel nurses must stay close to the facility and be ready if the hospital calls them on short notice.
 
As a rapid response nurse, you may also receive bonuses, higher base wages, and more stipends [2]. It will also depend on the following:
 
  • Education and certifications.
  • The number of years you are working as a rapid response nurse.
  • Nursing skills that you have.
 
Housing stipends are also included in your compensation. It is because finding housing near the facility on short notice is difficult.
 
Expect to work right away when you accept this kind of contract. It means you don’t have to go through lengthy briefings. 
 
In case you find yourself in this situation, being ready is always a good thing. Be sure to work with your agency in every step, so you have everything you need before working.
 

Choose the Right Contract

Whether you work as a crisis or rapid response nurse, be sure to choose the work where you will be happy working as one. Both positions are well compensated and need you to travel. If this makes you happy, go ahead and take the offer. Make sure to read your travel nurse contracts well for your security and safety.

 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

6 Travel Nursing Specialties That Are in Demand

6 Travel Nursing Specialties That Are in Demand

by | Jul 22, 2023 | Travel Nursing

6 Travel Nursing Specialties That Are in Demand

Do you know what travel nursing specialties you want to work in? Travel nursing is a nurse who travels for work, but did you know that there are many areas of nursing where travel nurses can thrive? If you have been considering working as a travel nurse, this is a sign to find a travel nurse recruiter and begin your journey to be one. 

Travel Nursing Specialties 

Working as a travel nurse is one of the best areas of nursing. You can work in different places where you can mix work and recreation. If this sounds like the kind of work you’d enjoy, here are six areas of travel nursing you will enjoy working in. 

1. ICU or Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse

One of the best unit travel nurses can work in is the ICU. It is one of the most requested assignments for travel nurses. ICU nurses care for high-acuity, high-risk patients with the skills to monitor them closely.

As an ICU nurse, you are responsible for patients with life-threatening diseases or injuries. You must be able to communicate with your patients, their families, and physicians. 

If you like challenges, then this particular area is for you. Here you will handle frequent changes and must be able to manage stress and use your critical thinking skills to resolve issues within the ICU.

Travel nurses specializing in ICU must know how to adapt quickly to a new environment and be familiar with the hospital’s electronic medical record system. 

2. ER or Emergency Room Travel Nurse 

Another travel nurse specialty that is in high demand is ER nursing. These nurses work in a fast-paced environment where they care for critically ill patients and patients who have experienced trauma.

An emergency nurse must provide emergency care to various patients with different injuries, illnesses, and mental health issues. 

Travel nurses working in this unit must have good communication skills, diffuse tensions, and quickly assess any volatile situations.

It is also crucial that travel nurses who want to work in this position can start working with minimal orientation. 

3. Telemetry Travel Nurses

A telemetry nurse’s job is to monitor their patient’s vital signs, and heart rhythms, closely in an intermediate care unit. One of the best examples is when a patient is placed on an electrocardiogram.

Telemetry nurses monitor patients with cardiovascular abnormalities or complications and those recovering from cardiac surgery. They also help and assist doctors in administering medications and procedures as needed. 

One of the specialties of telemetry nurses is they are trained to use and interpret technological devices.

They also monitor a patient’s internal functions and vital signs. You can quickly secure this position if you already have certifications in telemetry. 

4. PCU or Progressive Care Unit Travel Nurse

PCU is another nurse specialty unit that is often in demand for travel nurses. Among their responsibilities include monitoring patients who don’t need intensive-level care but are not ready to move into a regular bed or be discharged from the hospital. 

A PCU is a unit that is sometimes called intermediate care unit or step-down unit. The patients who come to PCU often have chronic health conditions or are recovering from surgeries.

In many cases, these patients are on multiple medications and are at high risk for complications. Progressive care unit nurses monitor and assess these patients and communicate with members of the care team and patients to provide them with care toward recovery. 

5. L&D or Labor and Delivery Travel Nurses

Working in a Labor and Delivery unit will be a fun experience as a travel nurse if you’re a nurse with a specialty in the maternity unit. Nurses in this area help women through the birthing process and assist during Cesarean sections.

They also provide patients with antepartum care, especially women with high-risk pregnancies. Nurses also provide postpartum care, instructions, and how to care for their newborns. 

As a travel nurse in the L&D unit, your responsibilities include monitoring maternal and fetal health. They also provide encouragement and support to patients.

Travel nurses interested in this position must have basic or advanced life support and neonatal resuscitation program credentials to qualify for this area. 

6. Pediatric Travel Nurses

Pediatrics is one of the best travel nursing specialties you should also consider. Travel nurses working in pediatrics attend to patients from birth to 18 years of age. Working in pediatrics requires impeccable clinical skills paired with infinite amounts of compassion, patience, and the ability to have fun.

Remember that your patients are children, so having a playful quality is ideal. 

Pediatric travel nurses must also know how to communicate effectively with children, teens, and adults. One of your qualities is dispelling your patient’s fears, especially when dealing with different procedures.

You are also responsible for educating the patient’s families on managing their child’s special needs or chronic conditions. 

In addition, you may also be assigned to work in subspecialties like pediatric oncology nursing, pediatric ER, PICU, and many others. 

In Closing

Working as a travel nurse is a lifetime experience; honestly, we enjoy our time as travel nurses. If you love the idea of working as a nurse and traveling, then this is an opportunity you shouldn’t miss. Talk to a travel nurse recruiter today and find out where your assignment will be. 

 

Looking for more nursing and travel nursing information? Check out these helpful links!

7 Tips on How to Handle Difficult Patients

7 Tips on How to Handle Difficult Patients

by | Jul 8, 2023 | Nursing

7 Tips on How to Handle Difficult Patients

Working as a nurse means dealing with all kinds of patients, even rude ones. That said, you must know how to handle difficult patients if you wish to become an effective nurse. 

Why are some patients rude?

Several factors make a patient hard to handle. It could be due to the stress of the illness or the tensions they feel from being inside a hospital.

Sometimes, a patient can be distressed, angry, scared, demanding, or have unrealistic treatment expectations for their needs.

However, some of these behaviors may also be due to their past experiences in terms of medical treatment. 

 

How to Handle Difficult Patients

As a nurse, you cannot avoid patients that can test your nerves. However, you can also find ways to deal with them. Here’s how:

 

Tip 1. Don’t fight fire with fire.

One of the first things you must understand is that patients are sick and need your help, not the other way around. As a healthcare professional, you must try not to respond in anger.

A patient’s offense may not originate from when they were at the hospital but perhaps triggered by something that might have happened in their life. Try to be as patient and understanding as you can. Showing respect is still the right thing to do. 

 

Tip 2. Listen to them.

Sometimes, an angry patient will tell their story once they have calmed down. When they do, give them undivided attention and listen to what they are talking about. Be sure to collect your thoughts before speaking to them too.

Address them by their first name, acknowledge their concern, talk slowly, and maintain eye contact when talking to them.

Avoid mirroring their words; this could trigger them and may even turn defensive again. 

 

Tip 3. Take note of your body language.

Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. That said, be mindful of your body language when you are dealing with a difficult patient. When patients are angry, they will also find a way to push your buttons.

In return, you become mad yourself. Being mindful of how you react is crucial.

It will also help you choose the right words to say, use the tone of your voice, body language, and overall response. 

 

Tip 4. Acknowledge the situation at hand. 

Learn to acknowledge the situation. Most importantly, recognize how your patient feels. You can start by saying, “I understand how you feel,” or “I feel like we have a misunderstanding.”

As you do, be sure to keep your feelings aside and stay calm. Avoid using negative words that could escalate the situation. 

 

Tip 5. Setting the boundaries. 

Patients go to the hospital because they need attention, no doubt about that. However, if you keep giving in to their demands, how can you give attention to your other patients? Be clear with your boundaries.

Make sure to set a time limit, say 15 minutes, then tell them you will see them in the next 30. Inform them as well that you are working on the patient ratio and you are doing your best to help them out.

As you continue to practice this with them, they will soon realize that you have a busy schedule and empathize with your situation. 

 

Tip 6. Provide a Patient Satisfaction Survey

This survey will allow your patients to share any of their concerns. Tell them that you value their feedback seriously. It also prevents them from leaving bad reviews online. 

 

Tip 7. Stay proactive.

There is no use ignoring the problem. Avoiding a problematic patient won’t work either. So stay proactive, acknowledge your patient’s situation, identify the source of their anger, and be sure to implement steps to de-escalate the problem.

The more you understand the case, the better it is for you to understand the case and learn how to handle difficult patients. 

 

Your Takeaway

There will always be unruly patients wherever you go. They will come to you with various ailments, mood disorders, fears, and a mountain of other complications. You must also understand that they come from diverse backgrounds and live different lifestyles you may disagree with.

But it is part of the job, after all. As a nurse, stay professional; you were trained in this field, so use your nursing knowledge and abilities to provide them with the quality care they deserve. 

 

 

Looking for more student resources? Check out these helpful links!