11 Jobs for Nurses Who Don’t Want To Be Nurses Anymore
Sometimes it feels really freaking easy to hate being a nurse — trust me, I know this to be true from my own personal experience. 😅
But, maybe you’re also like me in that you just don’t realize being a nurse makes you a genuine jack of all trades, and there is so much space for you to reinvent your career however you dream.
There are plenty of unconventional jobs out there for nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore — you just miiight have to get a little creative and redefine what “nurse” really means to you. 🤔
So, buckle up, nurse friend, because we’re about to go on the hunt for the unconventional non-bedside nurse job perfectly aligned with you and your dream life.
Let’s Dive Into These Unconventional Jobs for Nurses Who Don’t Want To Be Nurses Anymore
1 | Comedian
If you have a good sense of humor and enjoy making people laugh, becoming a comedian may be the perfect unconventional, non-bedside nurse job for you. And we all know crazy sh*t happens in bedside nursing that sometimes you can’t help but laugh at, so you’ll have endless material to work with.
Nurse Blake and Nurse John are two of the best examples of how to reinvent your nursing career into something that brings you (and others), laughter, joy, and fulfillment. If you’re unfamiliar with Blake Lynch or John Dela Cruz, I’m just going to assume you’ve been living in the dark ages for the last couple of years — no phone, no social media, and no internet. 😵💫
But if you’re like me and you’re pretty much the opposite of funny, this job might not be the best fit for you. 😆 But let’s keep going and see what other unconventional jobs are out there for nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore.
2 | Artist
If you’re interested in art and feeling trapped in your nursing role, why not just try creating in your free time and not worrying about scaling a business until later? Pursuing art as a nurse can be so fulfilling, allowing you to express yourself creatively and find balance in your busy life.
Start by exploring different art forms, such as painting, drawing, sculpting, or even writing. You can attend art classes and workshops and practice regularly to develop your skills. Finding a creative outlet is important for nurses because it helps to de-stress and unwind after a long, crazy day.
Two nurses adding a little color to the world are Nicole Cromwell, who creates beautiful landscape paintings of coastal California, and Melanie Van Sistine, creator of Mel’s Crafty Corner, who makes all sorts of cute and trendy gifts for nurses and healthcare workers.
For those nurses who really don’t want to be nurses anymore, becoming an artist might just be the furthest from an actual nursing role on this list and could be the perfect way for you to leave the bedside for good!
3 | Podcaster
A podcast could be the perfect transition job for full-time nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore and are looking to ease their way from bedside to business, instead of hard launching into business with no backup (which isn’t for the faint of heart).
It isn’t easy to give up your full-time position and guaranteed income for a side hustle, but podcasting really is something you don’t have to set aside a whole lot of time to dedicate to its growth. You can do it on the side of your full-time position, scale it to a business that can support you, and successfully transition to this role when you’re ready.
The podcasts by nurses I am loving lately cover various aspects of healthcare, including mental health, nursing education, and career advancement.
The Squeeze with Taylor and Taylor Lautner is a podcast focusing on the importance of self-care and mental health. Their connections allow them to bring on big-name guests to their chair for interviews and honest conversations about mental health struggles, showcasing that we’re all a little more similar than we think.
The Successful Nurse Coaches with Laura Minard and Shelby Kurz is a podcast that provides tips and strategies for nurses who want to advance their careers and transition into a nurse coach role. They have a wealth of knowledge from experiencing it all firsthand.
So, if you have a talent for storytelling, you can interview healthcare professionals, share your experiences as a nurse, discuss current healthcare-related topics, or, you know, just talk about whatever lights you up. Whatever it is, I promise you have a wealth of knowledge you can pull from to create an incredibly popular and impactful podcast.
4 | Public Speaker
Becoming a public speaker can be a great career move and job for nurses who don’t want to be nurses because it allows you to share your knowledge and expertise with a broader audience. You can even use your speaking engagements to help move the needle forward in making the policy changes you want to see in healthcare.
One great example of a nurse who has successfully transitioned into a career as a public speaker and change-maker is Rebecca Love. Love is a registered nurse who has become a sought-after public speaker in the healthcare industry. She has delivered keynotes and workshops on patient engagement, nursing innovation, healthcare technology, and more.
Love is also a co-founder of the Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, and Leaders (SONSIEL), which empowers nurses to become healthcare leaders. Her success as a public speaker (and so much more) demonstrates that a nurse can build a successful career in a non-bedside nursing role with hard work, dedication, and a little creativity.
5 | Activist
Activism creates an incredible opportunity for nurses to step away from their bedside roles while still making positive changes in people’s lives on a larger scale. By advocating for better working conditions, fair pay, and improved patient care, you can significantly impact the healthcare system, fellow healthcare workers, and the lives of your patients.
One example is Sarah Warren, who co-founded a non-profit organization called “Don’t Clock Out” with the aim of addressing the issue of mental health among nurses and healthcare workers. Through her organization, Warren has been working to raise awareness about the physical and emotional tolls of nursing and advocating for policies that promote safety, wellness, and self-care.
Becoming an activist for the nursing industry can be a powerful way to make a difference and improve the healthcare system for everyone involved. You can work with organizations that promote reform, advocate for patients’ rights, and fight for better working conditions for our fellow healthcare workers.
6 | Author
Nurses have the knowledge, skills, and experience to become successful published authors. You are uniquely qualified to communicate complex medical concepts in a way that is easy for the average person to understand. You can write articles, blogs, and books that provide valuable insights into healthcare policy, patient care, and technology.
Mary Ghazarian’s book, “Nursing Wisely,” is an excellent example of a nurse who has successfully become a published author. “Nursing Wisely” is a comprehensive guide that covers various aspects of nursing, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and patient care. Ghazarian draws on her experience as a nurse and a healthcare administrator to provide practical advice and insights on navigating the healthcare system.
Your unique perspective on patient care allows you to share real-life stories and experiences that help readers gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and rewards of working in healthcare. You can write to educate, to inspire, or to motivate readers on healthcare-related topics, or write about whatever you’re passionate about!
7 | Educator
If you’re totally over bedside nursing but still want to use all that healthcare knowledge and experience you've built up, becoming an educator could be your next big move. Teaching lets you leave direct patient care behind while still making a positive impact in your community while sharing your expertise in places like hospitals, schools, and community programs. It’s a great way to keep making a difference — without being tied to the looong 12-hour shifts!
And you don’t have to be an educator in the traditional sense, either, because you can start your own education business, like Stephanee Beggs, the nurse who banked millions with her side hustle, created RNExplained where they sell easily digestible notes and educational materials for nursing students and healthcare professionals.
Other non-traditional nurse educators are: Mel Cortez, a nurse who now provides self-defense education for the workplace, which teaches healthcare workers how to stay safe and protect themselves while on the job, and Shawntay Harris, who created a CPR education agency called Eminent CPR, which helps healthcare workers remain updated on their CPR certification.
All three of these nurses have leveraged their knowledge in different ways, and I know you can do the same! Becoming an educator allows you to share your expertise and positively impact your community in a different way than being at the bedside.
8 | Coach
Coaching is all about helping people crush their goals and step into their best selves. Whether it's about their health, career, or personal growth, as a coach, you’ll be the one offering guidance, support, and that gentle nudge they need to level up. You’ll work with clients to unlock their potential and make those big, positive changes in their lives, providing guidance, accountability, and support every step of the way.
For nurses who don’t want to be a nurse anymore and are looking to leave the traditional bedside role, coaching can be an ideal fit because it still draws on your core strengths: empathy, listening, and problem-solving. Whether you become a health coach, a career coach, or even a life coach, your experience as a nurse gives you unique insight into helping others navigate challenges and create lasting change.
Sara Fung, founder of TheRNResume, is an example of a nurse who has dedicated her coaching career to helping other nurses write resumes and prepare for interviews. She has an in-depth understanding of the nuances of the nursing profession and can provide tailored advice to suit the needs of her clients.
All in all, transitioning into coaching allows you to build a flexible career that leverages your nursing background while giving you the freedom to connect with clients in a more empowering, proactive way. It's an unconventional nursing role but one that still fulfills the core mission of caring for others. 💗
9 | Financial Advisor
Becoming a financial advisor is another job for nurses who don’t want to be nurses where your basic nursing knowledge won’t necessarily be enough to be fully successful. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn the skills you need to be successful.
You’ll just have to start by gaining financial knowledge and expertise through courses, certifications, or programs. You can also network with other financial professionals and seek mentorship to gain practical experience and build your client base.
Nurses like Savannah Arroyo and Ky Arnold, founders of InvestHealth, and April Waddell, founder of NursesMoneyDate, created their financial advisory firms by identifying a need for financial education and guidance among nurses. They leveraged their nursing background and experience to develop businesses catering to healthcare professionals’ unique needs.
If you’re interested in finance, you can become a financial advisor and specialize in working with healthcare professionals where you can be the expert they go to and trust for retirement planning, investment strategies, and other financial-related topics. You can help them achieve financial stability, better plan their futures, and pour back into a community who tirelessly dedicates themselves to caring for others.
10 | Quality Consultant
If you want to improve healthcare quality, you can become a quality consultant and work with healthcare organizations to improve their processes and procedures. A bonus for this job for nurses who don’t want to be nurses is that you don’t necessarily have to create a side hustle to do this one because many hospitals offer this role as a full-time position. 🤯
A bedside nurse can successfully transition to a role as a quality consultant for several reasons. First and foremost, bedside nurses have a comprehensive understanding of patient care and the healthcare industry. They have firsthand experience working with patients and are familiar with the challenges and opportunities that arise in clinical settings. This experience can be invaluable in a quality consulting role, where a deep understanding of patient care is essential to ensuring regulatory compliance and quality improvement.
Irene Soirassot-Joseph, founder of HHSurveyReady, created an organization focused on helping home health and hospice agencies navigate the intricate landscape of regulatory compliance. To achieve this, HHSurveyReady employs a combination of expertise, compassion, and tailored solutions rooted in safety, partnership, and ethical practice.
Stay up-to-date with the latest industry standards, regulations, and protocols to ensure that you provide your clients with the most effective solutions possible. By doing so, they can help hospitals and other healthcare organizations maintain the highest standards of patient care and safety.
11 | Legal consultant
Legal nurse consulting is a job for nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore to apply their medical knowledge and expertise in malpractice lawsuits. It involves consultation services to attorneys, insurance companies, and other organizations requiring medical expertise in legal cases. Legal nurse consultants are responsible for reviewing medical records, interpreting medical terminology, and providing expert opinions on medical-related cases.
Lakeisha Falwell, founder of Next Level Nurse Consulting, is an example of a nurse who has successfully transitioned from clinical nursing to legal nurse consulting. Through her business, she helps attorneys and healthcare organizations navigate complex legal cases while applying her nursing knowledge and expertise.
If you’re interested in breaking into this industry, search for other legal nurse consultants on LinkedIn and connect with them there. They’re a wealth of knowledge, and some have resources they can direct you toward as you start your journey to this non-bedside nursing role.
So, What’s It Going To Be?
Believe it or not, there are plenty of jobs for nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore, you just have to be a liiittle creative and might have to think way outside the box. But when you do, you’ll be on your way to redefining what it means to be a nurse, impacting communities you’re passionate about, and building the life you’ve always dreamed of living.
And just FYI, every single one of the examples above of these jobs for nurses who don’t want to be nurses anymore could benefit from a website that is both personal and professional while expertly capturing the voice of its customers.
I know you’re a DIY queen, can learn the basics on your own, and maybe even can’t afford to hire a copywriter right now, but if you don’t want to fumble through the basics and stress about doing it yourself, then you know where to find me. 😉