Being a senior nurse is not always easy; nursing is a much more physically demanding job than many people imagine. Maybe you fee like you are not able to perform to the best of your abilities anymore, or maybe you simply need a change of air. The good news is that nursing is very diverse and there is a quasi-infinite number of fields and positions you can fill. Many of them will allow you to benefit from your experience and still feel like you’re making a difference. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Clinic Nurse
One of the best positions for a senior nurse is in a clinic setting, as you will be working during office hours only. You can decide to work in a medical-surgical, pediatric, OB, or general clinic. Or, if you crave having a close relationship with your patients and making a true difference in their lives, you could consider going for an FNP degree. There are plenty of great accredited online family nurse practitioner programs you can find that will allow you to get your qualifications fast and work in one of the most fulfilling fields in nursing.
Working in a family clinic is much less hectic than many positions too. Not only that, but you could even have the chance to run your own clinic. This would be a great option if you feel like you still have a lot to give. At the time of writing, there are 28 states in addition to the District of Columbia that give nurses full practice authority. That would be a huge step up from your current position if you’re an RN.
Nurse Educator
The country is in great need of experienced nurses to join faculty and this could be a great option if you have the qualifications needed. Even though the number of nursing school applications is through the roof, the national vacancy rate in faculty was at around 7.2% in 2019.
There are many reasons why this is a great job for an older nurse. For one, it is nowhere near as physically demanding as working on the floor. Also, you will be able to come from actual personal experience. If you’re naturally good with people, this is a great option if you’re looking for a change of pace. Not only that, but you’ll enjoy a more stable schedule as well.
Administrative Positions
Now would also be a good time to start looking at some administrative roles. If you’re worried about qualifications, know that many accelerated programs will allow you to get your master’s or doctorate from your bachelor’s or associates much faster.
You could become a nurse manager, for instance, or a case manager. As a case manager, you will be responsible for working with patients and checking what kind of care would be required for their situation as well as how it should be dispensed. These work as advocates for patients and this is the type of position that requires someone with significant experience and a real desire to help patients. Your years of experience in the field will be very beneficial there as you’ll be familiar with all sorts of different treatments.
Sales Rep
This is a great option if you want to break away from the field but still be connected to it. Pharmaceutical companies love working with nurses and you’ll enjoy much more freedom in this role. Again, this is a field where your experience will allow you to shine. You’re familiar with tons of different medications and also know the difference in their effects, side-effects, route of administration, dosage, etc. These are all things that will allow you to understand new medications more and know what you’re selling. Prospects will take you much more seriously if you come across as genuine.
School Nurse
This is another great option for senior nurses. The pace will be much easier and you’ll have the chance to work with children. If you already have a family, then this will come naturally to you. School nurses follow the same schedule as the school, so there is no overtime. You’ll also get to enjoy long vacations each year.
Nurse Blogger
Plenty of people would love to hear about your experiences as an older nurse. By becoming a nurse blogger, you could reach nurses who are in the same situation as you. You will also be able to reach nurses at every level. The trick with a nurse blog is finding a niche and understanding how to monetize and advertise your blog. One of the best ways to monetize a nursing blog is to partner up with a lead program. For instance, you could have a search engine on your site allowing people to look up programs and you’ll get paid every time a school gets a referral from you.
If you want to spread the word about your blog, it’s important to get involved in the community. Join nurse groups and channels and get active in comment sections. Try to get on other people’s blogs as well. After commenting on someone’s blog, after a while they will notice you and might be more inclined to let you post on their blog as a guest.
Another thing you should do is use as many channels and media formats as you can. Videos are a great way to bring attention to your blog, and vice versa. Podcasts are also a great option.
Telephone Triage Nurse
This is one of the fields where your experience as a nurse will shine through the most. As a telephone triage nurse, you will be in charge of taking calls from concerned patients and assess whether they should get immediate assistance or wait for an appointment with their GP. This is a great job for someone in your position and one of the least physically challenging in the field.
These are all job options every senior nurse should consider. They will be less demanding on your body while allowing you to still be involved.
