by Tammy L Mahan

Created on: June 30, 2007   Last Updated: August 21, 2009

There are several possible career paths for nurses. While the majority of nurses work in hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing homes and the home health care field. There are many options for nurses outside of the daily patient care realms.

* Education *

A nurse may choose to teach student nurses, at the local community college or university. A nurse may choose a specific course such as Anatomy and Physiology.Or teach clinical nursing. Nursing students must go to a hospital and "work" while being supervised by the instructor and a register nurse, as part of their training.

Many nurses decide to become clinical nurse specialists. Their job is to educate staff and patients on various health and disease related topics. Such as: A lactating specialists, Diabetes Specialist, Infection Control specialist and Skin and wound care specialist for the immobile or elderly.

There are numerous types of specialty situations that nurses and patients need to be educated about or updated about. This is an ideal job, for a nurse who no longer wishes to practice nursing in the day to day care environment.

* Public Health Nursing *

A public health nurse visits patients once they have been released from the hospital, to make sure they are doing well and taking they medications properly. This is seen most often with elderly patients, who live alone or with an elderly spouse. With new parents and children, who have been severely injured or a diagnosed with a terminal disease. As all of these events can take a severe emotional and physical toil on a person.

* Forensic Nurse *

Works with the police and medical examiner, to help determine cause and time of death.

* Clinical Licensed Nurse Consultant *

This career combines the medical and legal fields. A CLNC reviews cases for attorneys, usually malpractice cases, using their medical knowledge to determine if the attorney has a case.

* Adult Home for the Elderly or Handicap *

A nurse may choose to open their own business by owning and operating a home for elderly people, who are unable to live alone but are not ready for a nursing home. A home for handicap residents, who can not live alone or if the family can no longer care for them.

* Expert Witness *

A nurse may also find a job testifying at malpractice trials.

These are just a few career paths a nurse can follow, if she/he is looking to use there skills, to do something different than caring for the everyday health needs of people.

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