Five Different Nursing Jobs You May Have Never Heard Of
- Article by:Health Career Center
With over 3.5 million nurses in the US, the nursing profession provides a surprising amount of variety in potential job titles across many industries. While most may envision nurses working in a hospital or community health setting, there is a world of career opportunities for nurses looking to work in non-traditional environments. Many nursing jobs exist in atypical settings that you may have never heard of! Each of the following nurse specialties are real and employ thousands of American nurses per year.
1. Aerospace Nursing: Aerospace flight nurses are concerned with the evacuation and immediate treatment of critically ill or injured members of military and space aircraft. All nurses working in military settings are a member of the Air Force or are employed with the Air National Guard while Civilian aerospace nurses can have variable training experiences. These nurses serve a critical function in the planning and execution of emergency procedures within flying communities. Training for a career in aerospace nursing may include the Transport Nurse Advanced Trauma Course, the Certified Flight Registered Nurse Examination, and the Pre-Hospital Advanced Life Support Examination. There are communities dedicated to these nurses including the AeroSpace Medical Association and the Critical Care Transport Medicine Association. For deeper insight into the fundamentals of flight nursing, visit the Air Medical Journal.
2. Legal Nurse Consultant: A legal nurse consultant serves a medical role within the context of a legal team. They offer their medical expertise and serve as a consultant for attorneys deciphering medical language. Often times, these nurse consultants are utilized to interpret health records or offer input on healthcare-related topics. Settings in which legal nurse consultants often find work are: law firms, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and government agencies. Often times, these consultants work for themselves and are hired on a contract basis. The requirements needed to work in this field are a BSN, experience as a registered Nurse, and a Legal Nurse Consultant Certification (LNCC). A legal nurse consultant can be seen testifying as an expert witness in court proceedings!
3. Faith Community Nursing: Faith community nurses focus on the holistic care of a patient, starting with the intentional care of their spirit. These nurses focus their care practice within the context of a faith community and consider the spiritual contributors to a physiological ailment. These nurses often function in either paid or unpaid positions within a pastoral team in a variety of religious traditions. These are often a BSN with experience in clinical settings as well as some experience within a religious organization. This field has emerged as one of the fastest growing movements in nursing today and is recognized as a nursing specialty by the American Nurses Association.
4. Forensic Nursing: Forensic nurses are among the first on the scene to investigate crimes including homicides, sexual assault, and accidental death. These nurses have additional training in the collection of medical evidence and a background in criminal justice. Some of their responsibilities include taking blood/tissue samples, collecting vital evidence on a victim’s body, and providing support for victims. In order to become a forensic nurse you must get a BSN, work as an RN, and pass a Pediatric, or Adolescent/Adult Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner certification exam. These nurses can have the option to specialize in areas such as sexual assault nursing, nurse death investigation, or community education.
5. Medical Aesthetic Nursing: A medical aesthetic nurse is a registered nurse who specializes in supporting cosmetic procedures and patients recovering from them. Nurses within this field find work within plastic surgery offices and assist in procedures such as Botox injections, collagen replacement therapy, sclerotherapy, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. There is no additional training required for a licensed registered nurse to pursue this specialty outside of coursework in skincare and cosmetic procedures.
With so many nursing specialties to choose from, nurses have the unique opportunity to truly tailor their careers to their passions. Exploring these many and oftentimes unexpected career paths is a fundamental component of any nurses education!