Career Change for Nurses: Key Steps and Alternative Careers
Nurses are invaluable to patient care, serving on the front lines as a patient’s primary advocate. Given the demanding nature of the job, it’s no surprise that 91% of nurses suffer from high levels of burnout. If long hours, high stress, and lack of support are causing you to question your future as a nurse, explore our guide on career change for nurses.
Pros and Cons of Nursing
A career change from nursing requires careful consideration. Take time to evaluate your skills, interests, and career goals. To understand whether you’re ready to start a new career, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of nursing.
PROS
- Make a difference: Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. A nurse’s superior patient care, compassion, and attention to detail make a difference in people’s lives. Their impact is felt through the well-being of patients in their care and extends to their loved ones. A knowledgeable nurse makes a difference every shift.
- Flexible schedule: Nurses can take advantage of a flexible schedule. In hospital settings, nurses typically work three 12-hour shifts weekly, freeing up the remainder of their time. They can switch from a full-time role to a part-time position relatively quickly, and if you prefer a traditional schedule, working at a clinic is an option.
- High-demand field: Registered nurses are in high demand, with employment expected to grow 9% by 2030. With a median age of 52, nearly 20% of nurses are set to retire in the coming years, creating a wealth of opportunities and strong job security for them.
CONS
- Physical demands: Nurses work long shifts, spend extended periods on their feet, and do strenuous tasks like lifting patients. These physical demands can lead to exhaustion or injury.
- Emotional toll: Nurses often face high-stress situations, witness suffering, and deal with loss, which can be detrimental to their mental health.
- High stress: The combination of the physical and emotional demands on nurses increases stress. Prolonged exposure to stress can lead to mental and physical health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
- Exposure to illness: Because of their role, nurses can be exposed to infectious diseases and hazardous substances. Following stringent safety protocols is crucial.
Opportunities for a Career Change for Nurses
If the cons of traditional nursing outweigh why you chose it as a career, it’s time to redefine your future and learn some of the most common career changes for nurses. There are many healthcare-adjacent roles you can tackle that allow you to use your expertise and reduce bedside responsibilities. Here are our top five career changes for nurses:
- Healthcare administration: Your nursing background can be an asset for healthcare management roles. Having experience with medical protocols and patient care enables you to make informed administrative decisions that put the patient first.
- Medical sales or consulting: As a nurse, you can take advantage of built-in credibility with other healthcare professionals. Your ability to explain medical jargon to patients translates to showcasing new products effectively, increasing sales.
- Health and wellness coaching: Your skill at patient education transfers well to a less demanding role as a health and wellness coach. As people continue to prioritize their well-being, businesses offering these services are thriving. Revenue in the health and wellness coaching market is on track to reach nearly $4.4 billion in 2025.
- Senior care services: The U.S. population is aging. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of people reaching 100 is projected to quadruple over the next 30 years. Businesses offering senior care services are in high demand as families help their loved ones navigate their twilight years.
- Franchise owner: Your customer service mindset and organizational skills make you a good candidate for franchise ownership. As a franchisee, you’ll get to be your own boss with a turnkey business, training, and tools you need to be successful. You can create your own schedule and have unlimited earnings potential.
Launch a Senior Care Franchise
Retool your career path with A Place At Home. Our franchise enables you to own a business, combining your passion for patient care with high-demand services. A Place At Home offers comprehensive training and support to give you the tools you need to help seniors in your community age gracefully.
Our senior-focused care model features multiple revenue streams, allowing you to provide ongoing consistent, and reliable services. Taking a holistic approach helps us create personalized care plans for every senior in our care. We meet seniors where they are on their aging journey. Our locations provide in-home senior care, care coordination, and senior living alternatives. We also offer staffing services, which can help assisted living facilities, memory care units, rehab centers, and other long-term care communities keep the employee census they need to maintain compliance and provide adequate care to residents.
“I spent 30 years as a nurse before launching my business. A Place At Home allows me to continue to use my nursing skills in a different way,” said Rebecca Barerra, a franchise owner in Katy, Texas. “It’s exciting to work with seniors, families, and others in our community.”
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re ready to use your nursing skills to chart a new course as a business owner, fill out our franchise inquiry form to learn how you can make A Place At Home work for you.
