Bedside nursing is a rewarding career. Most nurses love their jobs and are proud of their position. However, after years of working at the bedside, many nurses choose to transition to a different type of nursing. There are a variety of options available for nurses who want to seek opportunities for growth and development. These include becoming an advanced practice provider, a leader, an educator, or even device representation.
When making a decision, nurses should consider the type of work they enjoy, education requirements for the job, salary, and career outlook.
Related: Careers in Nursing: Academia, Leadership, and Practice
Advanced practice provider: Nurse practitioner
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice provider that has a master’s or doctorate degree in nursing. Nurse practitioners can specialize in family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, surgery, critical care, and many more areas.
Depending on the state they live in, nurse practitioners can prescribe medication and diagnose illness under the supervision of a practicing physician. The average salary for a nurse practitioner in the United States is $126,260 per year. This varies based on state, years of experience, and specialty area. The job outlook for nurse practitioners is fantastic, with an expected growth of 40% between 2023 and 2033.
To become a nurse practitioner, nurses should first earn their RN and get some clinical experience. While this isn’t a strict requirement, most schools will not admit students without some kind of patient care experience.
Then, nurses will need to choose a specialty and apply for a nurse practitioner program. Students can choose to earn either a master’s or doctorate degree. They should keep in mind that the American Nurses Association has been pushing to require all nurse practitioners to have a doctorate degree.
After completing school, aspiring nurse practitioners must pass a certification exam in their chosen area of specialty. There are several different nurse practitioner certifications. These include:
- Family nurse practitioner
- Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNPs)
- Acute care nurse practitioners
- Emergency nurse practitioners
Advanced practice provider: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
CRNAs are a type of advanced practice provider who work in operating rooms and intensive care units. They provide sedation and anesthesia to patients undergoing invasive procedures or surgeries. The average salary for a CRNA is $214,200 per year, and they are the highest-paid nursing specialty.
To become a CRNA, nurses will need experience as a registered nurse in a critical-care area, usually an intensive care unit. Then, candidates can apply to a DNP-CRNA program. CRNA schools are quite competitive, with an average acceptance rate of 24%. CRNA.
After you complete your degree, students must take and pass the CRNA National Certification Exam (NCE) from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.
Device representative
Nurses who do not want to spend years in school to become an advanced practice provider but do want to step away from the bedside might consider becoming device representatives. Representatives are hired by medical device companies to guide providers on the use of complex medical equipment. These may include mechanical circulatory support devices, medication dispensing systems, and patient care items.
These nurses are also considered sales representatives for the company. They often have opportunities to travel around the country or teach courses to other nurses and earn around $80,000 per year in addition to incentives.
Nurse leader
Nursing leaders can work in many different positions such as unit managers or hospital CNO’s. Leadership positions typically require that someone has several years of experience as a registered nurse as well as exposure to leadership opportunities such as working as a charge nurse or as part of a quality improvement team.
Nursing leaders often have a master’s or doctorate in nurse management in addition to a leadership certification. According to the BLS, healthcare managers earn an average of $110,680 per year and have a positive job outlook of 29% between 2023 and 2033.
Nurse management can be a stressful but rewarding job. While being away from the bedside improves symptoms of burnout in some situations, nurse leaders must remain diligent in maintaining a healthy work life balance and delegating responsibilities as appropriate.
Nurse educator
Nursing education is a popular choice for nurses who have multiple years of bedside experience and are ready for a change. Becoming a nurse educator allows nurses to keep up on their knowledge and skills while working a more regular schedule. In addition, they get to make a difference by preparing the next generation of nurses for the bedside.
There is a great need for more nursing instructors across the United States. According to the American Nurses Association, there were 1,965 open faculty jobs for nursing schools in 2021. The shortage is expected to continue.
One reason for this shortage may be the relatively low pay for nursing instructors compared to other jobs with similar education requirements. The average salary for a nursing instructor is $80,780 per year, which is similar to what nurses with only an associate or bachelor’s degree can earn working at the bedside.
Nursing education requires a master’s or doctorate degree and multiple years of work experience. Educators can also choose to become a Certified Nurse Educator or earn more specialized teaching certifications. Nursing instructors have many opportunities for growth and may eventually choose to become more involved in creating policies and taking on leadership positions within nursing schools and universities.
