3 Well-Paid Pathways You Can Get Into with a Nursing Degree

Long back, having a nursing degree meant working in a hospital seven days a week until you retired and finally got some time off. However, times are changing and so are careers.

With some countries even adopting the 4-day work week, people are slowly starting to realize that they need to choose professions that will give them time to focus on other things – like personal growth, family, hobbies, side-hustles, and whatnot.

Similarly, there are now different career paths for nurses who don’t wish to go down the traditional path and work in a hospital.

All these professions are currently growing in demand each day, so you might be able to find a suitable profession that fits both your professional and personal preferences. Without further ado, let’s get started!

Travel nursing

In 2020, the world saw a rise in the need for medical professionals due to the increase in patients, and that demand has steadily grown ever since. Travel nursing is a profession that most nurses are opting to go for these days, simply because of the benefits and flexibility that come with it.

To explain the role better, a travel nurse is a nurse who works on a contract in different hospitals or clinics around the world. They also get to pick which schedule they’ll prefer working in, and won’t be expected to work 7 days a week for 15-18 hours a day.

Additionally, if they do decide to work overtime, they’ll be compensated for it since the pay is hourly in most companies. The cherry on top is that they’ll get to pursue their career while traveling to different countries and states, and will also have time to explore the region during their time off. Most Millennial nurses see this as a huge plus point in their career path.

If this seems appealing to you, you could look for suitable job listings on the Medical Solutions travel nursing site, which specializes in helping nurses find jobs in the location of their preference.

Legal nurse consultant

This may seem surprising to some people, but nurses can pursue a career in law as a consultant. Their expertise is used to give consultations on medical lawsuits, and also to offer detailed information about the healthcare system in the country where they reside.

To become a legal consultant, nurses will have to get an RN license before they can begin practising as one.

They’re well-compensated, and the work hours depend on the company they’re working for. Additionally, once they’ve gained experience, they may choose to practice as freelance consultants, or even take it up as a part-time job.

This could be a good career path for nurses who no longer wish to work in hospitals or clinics or those who want to take some time off from rigorous physical labor.

Nurse educator

Sometimes, people enjoy the profession they’ve been trained in, but at their heart, they enjoy teaching and passing on the knowledge they’ve acquired to someone else.

And that’s exactly why some people choose to become nurse educators – where they can not only teach but also mentor and inspire the next generation of nurses.

Not only do they get a chance to stay up-to-date with everything that’s going on in the medical field, but they also help in shaping the future of nursing by finding new ways to teach their students efficiently, and preparing them for the uncertain future that lies ahead.

Like any professor, a nurse educator will have the flexibility to choose their hours (in most cases), and will also get time off on the weekends.

Featured image:Karolina Grabowska, Pexels.