Although working in a healthcare facility or practice is a common path for many Nurse Practitioners, it isn’t the only career opportunity available. In addition to privately-owned physician or NP practice and nurse consulting jobs, there are many alternative paths outside of clinical settings that certified Nurse Practitioners can pursue. Whether your interest is in autonomous clinical work, research, administration, or education, we’ll explore some ways you can use your education and expertise in a non-traditional role.
Related: NP Professional Series Episode: Starting Your Own Practice
What are the benefits of opening an independently owned practice as a Nurse Practitioner?
Moving to an independently owned practice can be incredibly fulfilling for Nurse Practitioners. It provides a lot of autonomy and can be more profitable than some of the other traditional career paths. It can also allow you to make a significant difference to the patients in your local area.
Perhaps you live in a rural part of the country where the nearest healthcare center is an hour’s drive away. Or maybe you want to work specifically on health issues within an underserved community. Assess the need in your area and consider where your interests and expertise lie. Picking the right niche for your privately-owned practice can make it both rewarding and profitable.
What are the financial costs of starting an independently owned practice?
When starting an NP-owed practice, keep in mind the upfront costs. In addition to securing office space and getting equipment, one of the biggest costs for any practice is staffing and electronic health records (EHR). Employees need salaries, health insurance, retirement benefits, and more. You may also have fees from a medical coding and billing service if you are not doing the billing yourself. Additionally, if you are in a state where you are required to have a collaborating physician, this is an immediate monthly or annual expense you will need to consider. There is also the challenge of securing a collaborating physician in your area to fulfill the practice requirements for your state.
Technology can also be a major cost in starting an independently owned practice. Getting set up with an EHR system is key to ensuring smooth operations of your practice. It’s important to invest in a well-established system that will continue to meet your needs five years down the line.
A third essential cost consideration is insurance and licensing. Opening a practice has the same business start-up costs as any other business, including filing with the state and working with a lawyer and accountant to get your business legally in order. As with any healthcare practice, malpractice coverage can be a considerable but necessary expense when deciding to open a practice.
All these costs make starting a practice a financially risky endeavor without the appropriate guidance, regardless of whether you finance it yourself or via a start-up business loan.
What types of nurse consulting jobs are there for Nurse Practitioners?
You don’t have to open an independently owned practice to enjoy the benefits of working for yourself. Nurse consulting jobs can be a great way to use your NP skills that may afford the flexibility to work from home and make your own schedule. There are nurse consultant roles in all sectors of healthcare.
What does a clinical nurse consultant do?
A clinical nurse consultant can work on behalf of patients, helping them navigate care opportunities within their insurance plan and coordinating care with various facilities. This is a great option for Nurse Practitioners who are passionate about patient care and want to continue working with patients outside of a traditional clinical setting.
What does a legal nurse consultant do?
A legal nurse consultant works with legal firms to provide clinical expertise regarding insurance claims, medical malpractice issues, or disability cases. Working as a legal nurse consultant is a unique opportunity for Nurse Practitioners to work in the legal field while continuing to utilize their nursing background and expertise.
What does an operational nurse consultant do?
An operational nurse consultant works with a healthcare facility such as a hospital or other healthcare institutions. They provide strategic support to leadership regarding administrative, financial issues, and human resources within the organization. This may be a good opportunity for Nurse Practitioners who enjoy medical administrative roles, supervision, and issues such as compliance and quality of care standards.
Where can Nurse Practitioners take on leadership opportunities?
Administration and leadership are two other alternate paths for Nurse Practitioners. While outside hands-on patient or clinical care, leadership roles positively impact patient care. If you are interested in getting more involved in the broader healthcare discussion, you can look for leadership opportunities in an organization or even consider a political position.
What can Nurse Practitioners do in organizational leadership positions?
Supervisory positions are the best way to get started on the career track toward leadership. Becoming a supervisor is a great first step in moving from a clinical position to an administrative position. In a supervisory role, Nurse Practitioners can train and influence the next generation of healthcare professionals within their organization.
In a leadership role at a healthcare company, Nurse Practitioners can advocate for changes within the organization from patient care to employee benefits. You will be able to influence the future of healthcare delivery within an organization and improve outcomes for countless patients.
Can Nurse Practitioners work in political roles?
Another non-traditional path for a Nurse Practitioner could be a leadership role within their community. There are countless ways in which Nurse Practitioners can get involved in their local communities and make a difference. Some elected positions to consider could be City Council, a Board of Directors, or commission such as a school board.
Nurse practitioners can also run for elected state positions, such as a representative or legislator on a public health committee. Nurse Practitioners have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in public and population health topics. They possess a unique and essential perspective in the conversations and decisions made by local elected leaders.
Can Nurse Practitioners work in research?
While you may need to pursue further education to work as a clinical nurse researcher, there are roles available to Nurse Practitioners looking to get started in research. Common research work for Nurse Practitioners includes a literature review or administration of a survey or a needs assessment. Nurse Practitioners can find research positions in health institutes, non-profits, government health organizations, and more.
What nurse consulting jobs are there for NPs in professional associations?
Another place to look for research-based work is in a professional association, where Nurse Practitioners can find elected leadership positions or positions on policy advocacy boards. Professional associations develop and publish policy briefs and position papers on trending health topics. These roles typically include reviewing the literature of existing research, discussing with other board members, and making policy recommendations. With a seat on such a board, you could be part of the national conversation regarding a specific condition and advance healthcare delivery on this topic.
How can Nurse Practitioners find roles in education?
Finally, if helping train or onboard new staff is your favorite part of the job, you might consider a position in education. Nurse Educators help educate undergraduate and graduate nursing students and can work as mentors to newly licensed Nurse Practitioners getting started in the field. Some larger healthcare companies may have such staff positions. You could also consider working for an education company or consider starting a freelance tutoring business.
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