While people might often think of nursing as a career that takes place primarily by patient’s bedside within hospitals or clinics, nursing education can lead to a variety of careers outside of health care facilities.

Kate Payne, Chad Priest, and William Mannion share how they’re using their nursing education in non-traditional careers to highlight the range of professional opportunities available to nurses today.

 

Medical Ethics

Kate Payne , JD, RN, NC-BC, Nurse Attorney and Associate Professor of Nursing at the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

I have worked as a medical ethicist for 22 years, and have been an Associate Professor of Nursing at the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University Medical Center since July 2015. My primary role is to support the entire network of affiliate hospitals within our center as an ethics consultant.

I help patients, family, and staff deal with medical and ethical issues that may arise. Common issues may include: Who makes the decisions for a patient? How aggressive should the patient’s medical care be? Is this care appropriate for the patient?

Background

I started with my undergraduate in anatomy, then switched to nursing school. After completing my nursing degree, I went to work in critical care and became interested in how decisions were being made for patients.

In 1986, there wasn’t a specific training program for what I’m doing now as a medical ethicist. People interested in medical ethics might choose to go through philosophy programs, but I chose to go to law school. After completing law school, the job market was terrible, and I went back to work as a nurse in the hospital at the University of Chicago. Even more than before, I realized how law and nursing are a great combination for the medical ethics issues I wanted to tackle.

Transitioning from Traditional Nursing

As a nurse in the spine trauma unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, I saw many cases where patients were unable to make their own decisions about life and care. They would say things such as, “I don’t want to live like this,” and our policy was to give these patients a year of care before we could determine they were really ready to refuse treatment.

I had many questions of my own about the ethical basis of these policies and health care decision making in general. The field of medical ethics was just starting to form, and with my background in nursing and law, I saw an opportunity to contribute in a new way.

Educational Path

Today, individuals interested in pursuing ethics in nursing and the medical field have many more resources available to them, including plenty of online courses, continuing education articles, ethics committees, and more. Typically this path will require a terminal degree at doctoral level with specific training in ethics consultation. I have found my work in medical ethics to be challenging and meaningful, and I recommend it to anyone interested in wrestling with some of the hardest questions in health care today.

 

Public Health

Chad Priest, RN, JD and Chief Executive Officer of the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross

I am currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross, and also serve as Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where I direct the Fellowship in Disaster Medicine.

My daily responsibilities include the leadership of all Red Cross humanitarian operations throughout the state, as well as serving as the representative of the American Red Cross with state and municipal elected officials and appointees. I have been with the Red Cross for just about a year.

Background

I have a BSN and MSN degree from the Indiana University School of Nursing and a law degree from the George Washington University Law School. Prior to attending nursing school, I worked in a variety of settings, including as an intern in the U.S. Senate and as an Emergency Medical Technician. I went to nursing school after completing several years of a liberal arts degree because I wanted an education that would allow me to engage in direct patient care.

As a nursing student, I also entered the U.S. Air Force ROTC program and was commissioned as an officer upon graduation. While serving as a nurse on active duty, I decided to attend law school at night. I later returned to nursing school to study community health. A strong grounding in the liberal arts, coupled with my nursing degree, turned out to be an excellent platform for my professional work.

Transitioning from Traditional Nursing

One of the great things about the nursing profession is that it affords opportunities to work in so many arenas. I worked very briefly as a nurse on a medical-surgical ward, which at the time I thought was about as “normal” a nursing job as one can have. From there I worked in a family practice residency clinic where I had my first exposure to alternate care delivery models. I’ve also worked in a state mental health facility and a juvenile correctional facility.

Through my military service I had the opportunity to receive advanced training in the treatment of biological and chemical weapons casualties. I’ve responded to major disasters across the U.S. and worked in Liberia building resilient health care systems that can withstand crises like the Ebola outbreak. As a lawyer, I’ve represented hospitals, health departments, governmental agencies and NGOs on issues impacting the health of the public. As a CEO, I’ve directed emergency management and humanitarian organizations.

What is so interesting about my career is that I never really felt like I was “making a change” away from nursing. I was always nursing, and I’m still nursing. What I do—responding to crises and helping build resilient communities—is the core of nursing.

Educational Path

I’m a huge proponent of nurses working in public health. As a member of the leadership of the Public Health Nursing Section of the American Public Health Association, I spend a lot of time encouraging students to consider careers in public health. Working in the public health sector provides an opportunity for nurses to impact millions of people.

It is not necessary for public health nurses to have advanced degrees to work in health departments. However, a Master of Public Health or a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in community health is a good foundation for senior roles in public health nursing.

 

Health Communication and Advocacy

William Mannion, RN, BSN, Senior Consultant with Prochilo Health, Inc, a health and advocacy communications agency

I have served as a senior consultant with health and advocacy communications agency Prochilo Health, Inc. for five years. We provide support to the pharmaceutical industry on disease awareness education and advocacy engagement.

My daily responsibilities relate to two disease areas, HIV and HCV. I provide clients the latest news and data, develop disease awareness presentations, recommend potential conference speakers, and coordinate pharmaceutical company’s collaboration with disease-specific advocacy groups.

Background

I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Rush University College of Nursing. I entered nursing in the late 1970s at a time when three educational paths were available – diploma programs, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. I chose a BSN program for the academic experience and science-based education.

Transitioning from Traditional Nursing

I worked in “traditional” nursing from graduation in 1981 until 1998, including many roles related to HIV and AIDS. From 1986 to 1998, I managed HIV patient care programs for hospitals in Los Angeles and was also very active as a volunteer with HIV organizations, including board service at the Los Angeles Free Clinic.

Following the advent of combination antiviral treatment for HIV, fewer individuals were hospitalized and the hospital-based HIV programs began to close down. I had been very active as a community educator and an opportunity arose to serve as a community relations manager for a pharmaceutical company. In that role, I forged relations with community-based organizations and provided education to patients and allied health care professionals. I stayed in the pharmaceutical industry for 13 years in a variety of roles from medical affairs to philanthropy to working on access to medicines for developing countries.

When I left the pharmaceutical industry, Prochilo Health presented me with an opportunity to continue to support disease awareness and patient advocacy. I am able to work from home with flexible hours; I can work from anywhere as long as I have my computer and a phone. I enjoy the diversity of projects yet my focus on science and health remains the core of my work.

As for other non-traditional paths for nurses, I’ve been interested in the roles nurses play with insurance companies, particularly comprehensive case managers who work by phone with patients with complex diseases. Also, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are of increasing importance in the delivery of primary and urgent health care, and nurses have a large role in identifying local community needs and developing FQHC services.

Educational Path

My experience has shown me that expertise is as essential as formal advanced education. Certainly there are roles that require advanced degrees; however, a BSN-prepared nurse has many non-traditional career options. I think a key requirement is willingness to try something new and not be constrained by past experience.

 

 

 

Capella University’s online nursing degrees prepare learners for nursing profession in a variety of settings.

See graduation rates, median student debt, and other information at Capella Results.