“Where do nurses work” is a common question students and professionals ask.
Notably, there are numerous places nurses work besides hospitals and clinics.
According to the AACN, only 58% of RNs work in general medical and surgical hospitals.
As a result, many registered nurses operate in careers outside of hospital environments.
These diverse environments allow nurses to provide care in different capacities and fulfill unique roles depending on their setting.
It also allows nurses to transition jobs if they become exhausted from their current position and need a career change.
The following section covers each job to provide hard-working nurses with different career paths and opportunities.
1. Blood Banks
A blood bank is a lab/facility where blood is collected and stored for medical purposes.
These establishments allow donors to contribute blood for patients requiring transfusions and are vital for providing life-saving care.
At blood banks, nurses answer donor questions, draw and manage blood, maintain records, supervise phlebotomists,and ensure a safe/sanitary work environment.
They also provide medical care when a patient/donor has an adverse reaction during a blood draw or experiences other complications.
Finally, nurses help immunize staff, prevent transfusion-transmitted diseases and work with lab technicians to keep the facility running optimally.
2. Summer Camps
Summer camp nurses work in fun outdoor settings with camp staff and students.
Nevertheless, most summer camp nursing positions are seasonal assignments open during school breaks.
These healthcare professionals maintain a safe environment, monitor staff/student health, and provide first aid.
They also manage medications, collect paperwork/documentation, answer common health questions and work with other nurses/physicians for more specialized care.
3. Correctional Facilities
Correctional facilities require adequate healthcare departments to care for inmates and staff.
As a result, correctional establishments comprise registered nurses, physicians, and other necessary medical specialists.
Nurses work in numerous jails, prisons, and sheriff’s departments.
While working at these facilities, nurses monitor inmate/staff health, provide medical care and first aid, manage medications and handle documentation.
They also ensure a safe, sanitary, and hazard-free environment to minimize injuries and health risks.
Finally, those seeking correctional facility work can find jobs through state/county sites under public health department listings.
4. Clinics
Registered nurses operate at outpatient clinics providing medical treatment and advice to patients who need medical care.
Some nurses work for a privately owned clinic operated by a nurse practitioner or physician.
However, publically owned/managed companies also hire nurses to ensure adequate patient care.
Clinics allow patients to receive necessary treatment when visiting a hospital is unnecessary, costly, or time-consuming.
It also reduces travel and insurance costs because clinics are typically closer, have lower operational costs, and negotiate insurance rates.
Finally, clinics reduce hospital overload by treating patients who do not require a hospital visit.
5. Community Health Centers
Community healthcare nurses provide medical care at community health centers to serve populations with limited access to healthcare.
These centers provide various services, including healthcare advice, routine health checks, preventative care, and diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases.
As a result, they ensure individuals with limited financial capacity and medical support receive affordable, necessary care to maintain a healthy and productive life.
Overall, community health nurses play a vital role in advocating for and supporting communities requiring access to affordable healthcare.
6. Corporate Companies
Industrial nurses work for corporate companies to assess workplace health and safety.
These specialists specify workplace safety issues and provide proper advice and procedures to reduce hazards.
They also provide medical aid to injured workers and staff requiring medical care.
The duties required of industrial nurses vary depending on the company’s needs and the nurse’s scope of practice.
However, there are everyday responsibilities most industrial nurses must perform, which I’ll list below.
Common Responsibilities Include:
- Identifying workplace hazards and safety issues
- Promoting workplace safety
- Providing medical assistance and first aid
- Responding to job-related emergencies
- Preparing accident reports
- Managing medical/legal documentation
7. Courts of Law
Numerous registered nurses work in different courts of law, providing medical advice and support.
These specialists focus on medical-related legal cases and lawful matters requiring medical expertise.
This profession includes legal nurse consultants, nurse paralegals, forensic nurses, and other skilled experts.
Each occupation has specific skills to provide medical advice and insights to solve legal-medical cases and related claims.
Nurses in Courts of Law
- Legal nurse consultants
- Nurse paralegals
- Forensic nurses
8. Home Health Nursing
Home health nurses provide one-to-one medical care for a client/patient at their home.
This line of work helps patients and the healthcare system in numerous ways.
Firstly, home health nurses ensure clients/patients have adequate care in a familiar and comfortable environment.
It reduces hospital visits and waiting times for patients by providing timely treatment for those requiring emergency care.
It also reduces nursing home and long-term healthcare facility occupancy.
As a result, patients receive adequate supervision in existing nursing homes and long-term healthcare facilities.
Finally, home health nurses ensure ongoing care for those requiring numerous visits over weeks, months, or years.
9. Hospitals
Hospitals are the most prominent location for working registered nurses and medical staff.
Around 58% of RNs operate in general medical and surgical hospitals, according to the AACN.
Nurses provide care in various departments to treat patients with distinct medical conditions in hospital settings.
It includes administration, general care, emergency departments, intensive care units, neonatal care, cardiology, and radiology.
Besides that, some nurses work in the pharmacy, neurology, oncology, and outpatient departments, among other divisions.
Each specialty provides unique procedures, practices, and medical treatments to accommodate specific needs.
10. Insurance Companies
Insurance companies hire nurses to provide different services depending on the organization’s needs.
For instance, some companies hire case managers, telehealth nurses, clinical appeals nurses, or legal consultants.
Some nurse specialists work with insurance companies to determine the legitimacy and severity of claims they receive.
It allows companies to identify the cause of an injury, offer proper payments, and identify false claims to prevent fraud.
Telephone triage nurses perform virtual assessments, provide education, manage staff, and perform other nursing duties.
Lastly, case management nurses develop, implement and review healthcare plans.
It ensures adequate treatment, recovery, and injury/illness management.
Numerous other nurses work with insurance companies to provide services depending on their needs.
Insurance company nurses
- Case management nurses
- Telehealth nurses
- Clinical appeals nurses
- Legal nurse consultants
11. Military Bases
Numerous registered nurses work on military bases at detention centers and veteran affairs.
These specialists provide various services for military and veterans to ensure they receive timely medical care.
Responsibilities include health monitoring, medical care/first aid, healthcare guidance, and managing documentation.
They also perform typical nursing duties like identifying workplace hazards, improving safety, and providing preventative care.
Nurses working at military bases work alongside physicians and medical staff to ensure adequate care and medical support at all levels.
12. Publication Companies
Publications hire nurses to research, write, proofread and edit healthcare-focused articles.
These nurses work for academic publicans, medical journals, Magazines, education-based papers, and other institutions.
Notably, the responsibilities of nurses working for publication companies vary depending on the organization’s needs.
For instance, nurses working as medical writers will research, write, edit and publish articles requested by the company.
Alternatively, proofreaders or editors read previously written content and ensure it’s medically and grammatically correct.
These specialists aren’t responsible for the original content production.
However, they are accountable for ensuring its accuracy before being published.
The pay for nurses working for publications also varies depending on their role.
For instance, medical writers may earn more because they are in charge of everything from writing to publishing.
They may also earn special bonuses based on readership or visitors.
Proofreaders and editors may earn a specific rate based on the article’s length and time to proofread and edit the content.
13. Schools
Numerous registered nurses work at public/county school districts, private schools, colleges, and universities.
These medical professionals ensure schools/universities deliver adequate healthcare for students and faculty.
Responsibilities include health monitoring, first aid, managing medical documentation, and school/workplace safety.
Nurses sometimes work remotely, providing telehealth services for those not requiring direct care.
Besides that, nurses operate as instructors, helping students understand the nursing field and pass nursing school.
The educational foundation and degree nurses must obtain to teach students depends on the coursework and institution.
For instance, community colleges may hire nurses with an ADN or BSN for primary education.
However, universities may require nurses with an MSN or DNP to perform lectures and advanced instruction/training.
14. Work From Home Jobs
Numerous work-from-home jobs exist for nurses who prefer to avoid travel and office/hospital environments.
It includes telehealth nursing, medical writing, legal nurse consulting, entrepreneurship, and other occupations.
Those who work from home provide various services depending on their skill set.
They also have benefits in terms of no commute time, a relaxed dress code, and home amenities (food, bathroom, etc.).
However, nurses who enjoy interacting directly with others and providing in-person care may find work from home dull or unfulfilling.
It’s an excellent career for those raising kids, caring for family, or having a strong desire to work from home.
That said, working from home has several downsides for socialites who want to leave work at the office.