Burnout has been the leading cause of nurses, particularly those in primary care settings, to quit. The pandemic and the nursing shortage has resulted in many hospitals to run on a skeleton crew.
Nurses are on the front lines of care, are putting their lives at risk, and are more stressed than ever. The issue of the nursing shortage is only getting worse, and this issue is pervasive around the world.
The good news is that nurses who have burned out in primary care have options. Remaining in the sector but redirecting your role into a new field can help you care for yourself while still making a difference for future generations.
Rather than quit outright, consider these excellent career opportunities that will allow you to refresh your career and rediscover your passion for nursing and care.
Nurse Educator
There are huge barriers and logistical issues to increasing the population of nurses. One of those big barriers is the education requirements. These cannot be reduced, but education can be made more accessible. By becoming a nurse educator, you can dedicate your time to training the next generation of nurses by preparing them for the health sector of tomorrow.
There are a few ways that you can become a nurse educator. You could earn a Ph.D. or DNP, of course. Earning a doctorate-level degree is always an approach to education, though they don’t train you specifically to educate others. The good news is that if you specifically want to get into nurse education, you can instead earn a nurse educator master’s degree. This degree takes 8 consecutive semesters, so around two to three years.
Telehealth Nurse
Telehealth made leaps and bounds in terms of both technologies and in terms of policy and regulation thanks to the pandemic. Though just at the start, telehealth is set to completely change healthcare. It can decentralize healthcare, it can make it more accessible, and it can make it more effective. In order to successfully provide telehealth services, nurses are going to be essential. Getting in at the start can help you really customize your career, and in turn, you can care for patients from a distance.
Private Care Nurse
Working in the private sector can be daunting, but there is so much work available. You can work for specific clients, can work for private clinics, and can even work on health and safety teams that get hired by production companies and big event organizers.
Research Nurse
You can work in research as a nurse. In this role, you will typically be caring for patients, taking note of their health, and administering either real medication or placebo medication. Instead of working to save the lives of your individual patients, you will be part of a team that is trying to change the outcome for patients around the world.
Policy Maker
As a nurse, you will know the ins and outs of healthcare and what it needs to improve. Anyone can get started working in politics or policy-making, and as a nurse, you can use your background to advocate for better working conditions and can help improve patient care quality.
