4 best non-bedside nursing jobs

Nursing offers nurses loads of opportunities to work on the bedside or elsewhere. Non-bedside nursing work can allow nurses to make use of their skills and knowledge outside of traditional clinical environments.

Although many nurses begin their careers with the intention of providing direct patient care on the bedside, there are a lot of alternative profession paths that allow nurses to make a major impact in health care, research, education, policy and technology.

While these roles may require additional education, training or certification, they provide opportunities for skilled development and advancement. Let’s take a take a look at a few of the hottest and exciting nursing roles that are not performed on the bedside.

Nursing informatics

Nurse informaticians bridge the gap between health care and technology through the use of their clinical knowledge to make use of electronic health records, health information systems and other digital tools. In this role, nurse informaticists make sure that technology is effectively integrated into clinical practice, ultimately improving patient care, safety and efficiency.

This non-traditional nurse role requires a deep understanding of each clinical processes and healthcare technology. The duties of nurse informaticians include:

• Design, implementation and evaluation of health information systems and applications
• Developing and maintaining standards, policies and procedures for collecting, storing, analyzing and reporting data
• Providing training, education and support to nurses and other healthcare staff within the effective use of technology
• Conducting research and quality improvement projects that leverage data and technology to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction

Nurse education

Nurse educators work at universities, community colleges, health care organizations, or community settings to coach and mentor the following generation of nurses. They can influence the standard of care and patient safety by imparting their knowledge, skills and values ​​to aspiring and experienced nurses.

Nurse educators also contribute to the advancement of nursing science and practice by conducting research, disseminating evidence-based practices, and advocating for policy changes that support the nursing occupation and public health. The responsibilities of nurse educators include:

• Design and implementation of programs and curricula
• Assessment of the effectiveness and effects of educational interventions
• I act as mentors for nursing students and novice nurses
• Provide clinical supervision and guidance to nursing students
• Engaging in scholarly activities corresponding to conducting research, publishing articles, and speaking at conferences

Nursing research

Research nursing offers a non-bedside profession path for nurses who’re captivated with contributing to the advancement of healthcare through research. Research nurses work in clinical trials, academic institutions, pharmaceutical corporations, and health care organizations to conduct and coordinate research studies.

They collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to gather data, monitor patient safety, and ensure compliance with research protocols. Research nurses play a key role in advancing medical knowledge, developing recent treatments and therapies, and improving the standard of patient care through evidence-based practices.

The responsibilities of a research nurse include:

• Recruitment and collection of participants for clinical trials
• Educating participants about study procedures, risks and advantages
• Administering interventions, medications, or therapies in line with the study protocol
• Collecting and recording data from participants using various tools and methods
• Assessment of the consequences and effectiveness of studies
• Assist in data evaluation and dissemination of clinical results

Virtual care

Virtual nursing is a growing field that has revolutionized the best way healthcare is delivered by enabling nurses to offer care and support to patients through virtual platforms. This area has turn out to be particularly essential within the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic because it enables nurses to offer patient care, minimize face-to-face contact and increase access to healthcare services for underserved patient groups.

Virtual nurses use telecommunications technologies to remotely provide health care services to patients. Some of the features of a virtual nurse include:

• Conducting virtual assessments
• Patient education
• Coordination of care with medical teams
• Medication management

Nurses in these positions also use their clinical expertise to design and implement virtual care programs, integrate telehealth platforms into health care systems, and make sure the seamless delivery of virtual care services.

These non-bedside nurse roles represent only a fraction of the profession opportunities available to nurses outside of traditional clinical environments. Whether contributing to health care technology, education, or research, non-bedside nursing roles allow nurses to make a major impact on patient care, health care delivery, and the advancement of the nursing occupation.