Alternative Nursing Careers Outside the Hospital
Today, there are more than 3 million registered nurses in the United States, making nursing one of the nation’s largest professions. Although most nurses work in hospitals — in several areas including the emergency department, maternity, medical-surgical, oncology/hematology, pediatrics, and trauma — there are a variety of additional full- and part-time nursing opportunities available in alternative settings such as clinics, public health and home health agencies.
![smiling UIW nursing student](https://res.cloudinary.com/orbis-education/image/fetch/f_avif,q_auto:eco/w_1000,c_limit/dpr_auto/https://absn.uiw.edu/app/uploads/2024/12/smiling-UIW-nursing-student-in-sim-lab.jpg)
Diverse Nursing Career Opportunities
Although you may need to gain some experience working in a hospital setting first, a BSN degree from the University of the Incarnate Word puts a variety of alternative nursing careers within reach (especially if you have a previous degree in a relevant field). You may elect to pursue any one of these roles, for example:
- Clinical nurse instructor
- Community center clinical nurse
- Cruise ship nurse
- Health coach
- Home health nurse
- Forensic nurse
- Public health nurse
- Nurse recruiter
- Nurse risk manager
- Nursing case manager
- Hospice nurse
- Informatics nurse
- Legal nurse consultant
- Medical sales representative
- Nurse navigator
- Nurse writer
- Nursing home caregiver
- Occupational nurse
- School nurse
![close up of a nurse with a mask on](https://res.cloudinary.com/orbis-education/image/fetch/f_avif,q_auto:eco/w_1000,c_limit/dpr_auto/https://absn.uiw.edu/app/uploads/2022/12/12-Nursing-Specialties-in-Demand.jpeg)
Do More with a BSN
If you are thinking about earning a BSN, there is even more to be excited about beyond the wealth of alternative career options. Because of their depth and breadth of knowledge, BSN-prepared nurses are uniquely positioned to earn higher salaries, take on leadership roles, pursue graduate study and choose specialized areas of practice.
![UIW nursing student in black scrubs working on a lab manikin](https://res.cloudinary.com/orbis-education/image/fetch/f_avif,q_auto:eco/w_1000,c_limit/dpr_auto/https://absn.uiw.edu/app/uploads/2023/05/uiw_san_antonio_20220208_finals_-0701.png)
For More Information
Contact us to find out more about how our 16-month ABSN track will prepare you to work in hospital settings, as well as in a number of alternative nursing careers.