You are a nurse who’s been in the healthcare field for a while and you’re looking for a more suitable job. In my career, I’ve found that those high-stress jobs in hospitals where you’re running around for 12-hour shifts are pretty challenging the older you get.
Thankfully, there are some other job options out there. One of the amazing things about a nursing degree is its flexibility. You might as well leverage it as best you can for yourself and whatever season of life you’re in because you can always go back and get a new job in a hospital as there is always an opening for nurses.
Best Jobs for Older Nurses
Today, I’m going to share some of the best jobs for older nurses that are out there for people who want to work fewer hours, have more time off, or have a different career in general.
Telehealth
Telehealth is the delivery of health care services via remote technologies. This can include video conferencing, telephone calls, email, and text messaging. Telehealth allows providers and patients to connect without being in the same physical location.
Research has shown that the telephone triage nurse can improve access to care, decrease costs, and improve outcomes.
For example, a study by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that patients who used telehealth had lower hospitalization and emergency care department visits rates than those who did not. The patients also had complete care satisfaction.
This is an emerging specialty in the healthcare field. And this is definitely a job for people who want to ease into retirement or just have a more flexible job in general.
One of the best things about telehealth nursing is that it’s growing, so there’s a lot of opportunity for advancement, and you can really create your own schedule.
Primary Duties of Telehealth Nurses
- Providing support to individual patients and their families
- Promoting health and wellness
- Educating patients about their conditions
- Coordinating care with other providers
- Guiding self-care
- Maintaining communication between patient and provider
- Ordering diagnostic tests to determine the condition of patients and conducting physical examinations
- Identifying the best treatment based on scientific knowledge of the body and its responses to treatment
- Provide treatment recommendations to physicians and other health care nurses based on the diagnosis
Telehealth Nurse Salary & Outlook
The salary scale of telehealth nurses varies depending on experience, country, and state. Payscale.com reports that the median salary for telehealth nurses is $31.30 per hour, which means $62,925 annually.
- An early career Telehealth Nurse with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $29.50 based on 10 salaries.
- A mid-career Telehealth Nurse with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $30.75 based on 9 salaries.
- An experienced Telehealth Nurse with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $29.49 based on 8 salaries.
- In their late career (20 years or higher), employees earn an average compensation of $37.
Procedural Centers
Procedural centers, also known as Infusion centers, are places where people with chronic diseases can go to get their treatments. These centers are usually located in hospital settings or clinics, providing care to patients with conditions such as cancer, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Procedural nurses work in procedural centers, and their duties include preparing patients for procedures, monitoring patients during procedures, and providing post-procedure care. The best part is you will be using your skills like giving medication, starting IVs, and drawing blood on a regular basis.
But you don’t have to worry about the stress of working in a hospital. You don’t have to run anywhere, you don’t have to be on your feet for 12 hours, and you don’t have to deal with some of the more challenging aspects of nursing.
Primary Duties of Procedural Nurses
- Preparing patients for procedures
- Monitoring patients during procedures
- Providing post-procedure care
- Administering medication
- Starting IVs
- Drawing blood for tests
- Create a care plan for patients
- Maintaining patient records, such as medical charts and files, for the purpose of documenting, patient care activities and services
Procedural Nurse Salary & Outlook
According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a Procedural RN is $99,001 per year in the United States, with an average salary of $72,628 per year.
These numbers represent the median, the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $26,373 per year.
Additional pay could include cash bonuses, commission, tips, and profit-sharing. The “Most Likely Range” represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
Utilization Review Nurse
When it comes to working as a utilization review nurse, you will be working with insurance companies to help them determine if the care that patients are receiving is necessary and if their insurance covers it.
You will also be working with patients to ensure they get the care they need and that their insurance will cover it. And the best part is you can even work remotely from home.
Utilization review professionals play an important role in the health care system. They also play an important role in helping to control health care costs by ensuring unnecessary tests and procedures are not being performed.
Primary Duties of Utilization Review Nurses
- Working with insurance companies to determine if the care patients are receiving is necessary and if their insurance covers it
- Working with patients to make sure they are getting the care they need and that their insurance will cover it
- Reviewing patient records to ensure that the care being provided is appropriate
- Making recommendations to physicians and other health care providers on how to improve the quality of care for their patients
- Checking charts of patients to make sure that the care being provided is in line with the standards of care set by the insurance company
Utilization Review Nurse Salary & Outlook
According to Payscale, the median annual salary for utilization review nurses is $73,903, which is around $34.21 per hour.
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- An entry-level Utilization Review Nurse with less than 1-year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $70,142 based on 17 salaries.
- An early career Utilization Review Nurse with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $69,040 based on 94 salaries.
- A mid-career Utilization Review Nurse with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $73,856 based on 113 salaries.
- An experienced Utilization Review Nurse with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $74,321 based on 103 salaries.
- In their late career (20 years and higher), employees earn an average total compensation of $76,235.
Outpatient Nursing
In outpatient nursing, you are responsible for the overall medical care of patients seeking treatment after medical procedures and surgery. In this job, you will work with patients to help them heal and recover from their procedures.
You will also be responsible for educating patients on how to care for themselves after they leave the hospital.
With that, you will also talk to other health care providers to coordinate the care patients receive. And you can work in several settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices.
Primary Duties of Outpatient Nurses
- Working with patients to help them heal and recover from their procedures
- Providing education to patients on how to care for themselves after they leave the hospital
- Coordinating the care that patients receive with other health care providers
- Checking vital signs to make sure that patients are stable
- Supplying patients with medication and instructions on how to take it
- Do weekly calls or visits to patients in their homes
Outpatient Nurse Salary & Outlook
According to Payscale, the median annual salary for outpatient nurses is $67,168, which is around $31.75 per hour.
- An entry-level Outpatient Nurse with less than 1-year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $60,000 based on 20 salaries.
- An early career Outpatient Nurse with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $65,000 based on 92 salaries.
- A mid-career Outpatient Nurse with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $68,000 based on 114 salaries.
- An experienced Outpatient Nurse with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $70,000 based on 106 salaries.
- In their late career (20 years and higher), employees earn an average total compensation of $72,000.
Dialysis Nurses
Dialysis nurses, also known as renal nurses, work with patients who have kidney problems. In this job, you will be responsible for caring for patients on dialysis.
You will also be responsible for educating patients on how to take care of their kidneys and what they can do to prevent further damage to their kidneys.
You will also work with a team of other health care providers to coordinate patients’ care. And you can work in many settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices.
Primary Duties of Dialysis Nurses
- Working with patients who are on dialysis
- Educating patients on how to take care of their kidneys
- Coordinating the care that patients receive with a team of other health care providers
- Preparing and updating nursing care plans
- Administering medication and monitoring patients for side effects
- Maintaining the correct administration of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis treatments.
- Provide the medications prescribed by their doctors to the patients
Dialysis Nurse Salary & Outlook
According to Payscale, the median annual salary for dialysis nurses is $$77,379, which is around $35.34 per hour.
- An entry-level Dialysis Nurse with less than 1-year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $62,000 based on 20 salaries.
- An early career Dialysis Nurse with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $70,000 based on 92 salaries.
- A mid-career Dialysis Nurse with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $73,000 based on 114 salaries.
- An experienced Dialysis Nurse with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $75,000 based on 106 salaries.
- In their late career (20 years and higher), employees earn an average total compensation of $77,000.
Start Your New Career
So above are the 5 best nursing jobs for experienced nurses. These nursing careers have great outlooks and salaries, so you don’t have to worry about finding a job or making ends meet. And if you’re looking for a change of pace, all of these positions offer opportunities for growth and advancement.
So what are you waiting for? Start your new career today!
Video on Best Jobs for Older Nurses:
FAQ’s
At What Age Do Most Nurses Retire?
Most nurses retire between 55 and 58 years of age. Although many continue to work past that age, the majority tend to retire by that time. Nursing is a physically and emotionally demanding profession, and many healthcare professionals choose to retire while they are still relatively young to enjoy their retirement years guilt-free. That said, some nurses choose to continue working well into their 60s or even 70s. Retirement is ultimately a personal decision, and there is no right or wrong answer regarding when a nurse should retire. Some nurses simply want to enjoy their retirement years without worrying about work, while others find fulfillment in continuing to help others during their golden years.
What Are the Most Stressful Nursing Jobs?
Working in an ICU or emergency department is the most stressful nursing job and requires physical demands. Nurses in these areas constantly deal with life-and-death situations and are under great pressure to provide quality care for patients. They must also be able to think on their feet and make quick decisions when things get hectic. Other stressful nursing jobs include oncology, labor and delivery, and critical care units. Nurses in these areas often deal with difficult patients and challenging work schedules. They also need to handle stress well since things can often go wrong at any time.
What are the Easiest Nursing Jobs?
There are a variety of jobs for nurses that are considered to be the easiest. These include travel nursing, occupational health nursing, school nursing, summer camp, and public health nurses. Each of these positions has its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks.
What Is the Average Pension for a Nurse?
As of Jun 29, 2022, the average annual pay of a retired nurse in the USA is $54,521. This figure may vary depending on location, years of experience, and other factors. However, with an aging population and increasing demand for future nurses, the average pension for a retired nurse is likely to continue to grow in the years to come.
Why Do Nurses Retire Early?
Nurses often retire early because they want more freedom to spend time with their families and friends, enjoy life, live healthy lifestyles, and travel. Nurse work schedules are demanding, and many nurses feel they don’t have enough time for themselves or their loved ones. Additionally, nurses are often exposed to difficult life events (such as death) that can take a toll emotionally. Many nurses also feel like they’ve worked long enough, and it’s time to enjoy their retirement. Nursing can be a very rewarding career, but it’s also physically and emotionally demanding. Retirement is a chance for nurses to relax and recharge their batteries finally. There is always a nursing shortage, and the shortage of nurses fills the gap when fresh nurses join the nursing path.
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