5 Non-Clinical Career Ideas for you to consider!

I wanted to give you some inspiration to consider and to help propel you forward a little to taking that step. 

So here goes: 

1. Clinical Leadership. 

Leadership isn’t for everyone, but if you have the leadership spark, this path may be worth exploring. Although this role has a clinical element, it will provide you with some of the “benefits” that come from having a “predominantly” non-clinical role. 

Essential requirements: Experience within the area. 

Desirable requirements: Masters in Leadership/Masters of Business Administration/Health Administration. 

2. Public Health and Prevention

Do you want to make a positive impact on the broader healthcare system? If yes, there are a lot of roles within public health and prevention open for you. You can explore your local health department, and state and federal government agencies. You can also check private health-focused organizations and charities. Also, you can check on, most recently, COVID-19-focused roles.

Essential requirements: Nursing experience

Desirable requirements: Masters (but not essential for applying)

3. Clinical Facilitation/Marking for Universities 

Do you have a passion for educating the future workforce? Are you someone who wants to shape and mold our future nursing colleagues? This is a great career route path for those who are into education but don't want to be "pulled" onto the floor when staffing is bad. This is possible via TAFE/Universities. 

Grading college assignments is a very lucrative way to help students grow and develop while earning extra income! You can mark from home, take on as much or as little work as you desire, and pay can be around $40-60 p/h depending on the organization. 

Top Tip: Explore this with a local nursing agency. HCA and NNA are two main agencies that offer this work on a casual basis with pay from $50-60 p/h. Working with the University/TAFE often results in higher pay upwards of $70 p/h!

Essential requirements: Depends on the organisation. Typically, Masters & CERT IV TAE. 

Desirable requirements: Previous education experience. 

4. Digital Health & Tech

Digital Health and Tech industries are booming globally. They always look for nurses who will work in content creation roles and public health project roles! A great space to marry your passion for health and digital tech. 

Essential requirements: Honestly, a passion for the industry. Maybe some primary care/public health experience. 

Desirable requirements: Masters/Tech-related qualifications. 

5. Health Project Focused roles – Quality and Safety, Work Health and Safety/Occupation Health

There are SOOO many roles in helping organizations achieve their accreditation requirements. Think national standards for safety and quality. You could work for organizations such as Agency for Clinical Innovation NSW or your state's counterpart. If you have a passion for improving the quality and safety of patient care, this could be a path for you to explore. 

Essential requirements: Few years of experience. Quality and Safety involvement/Projects/Improvement projects. 

Desirable requirements: Masters of Nursing/Quality & Safety qualification. 

DISCLAIMER: Pay rates are averaged across my personal experiences and those of others. These do not reflect a specific organization's rates. Also, don’t be put off by the “Masters” requirement. Don’t ever let a job requirement stop you from expressing interest. Calling the manager and exploring the role further is the key. You never know what might happen!