Non-Bedside Nursing Jobs: What You Need to Know

Feeling burned out in your bedside nursing role? You’re not alone. In fact, according to a 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey by the National Council State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), over half of RNs (57.4%) report feeling burned out at least a few times a month – with only 15% of RNs saying they never experience feelings of nurse burnout. Many nurses surveyed have attributed their departure from bedside nursing to such factors as schedule constraints and burnout.

If these bedside challenges resonate with you, it may be time to consider a nursing career change or pivot into a non-clinical role. The good news? There may be more opportunities out there than you think.

Read on to learn more about some non-bedside nursing career options in healthcare, education and research, public health, and beyond. Or, if you’re looking to advance your education as you prepare to move on from your bedside role, check out Bryant & Stratton College’s wide range of nursing programs to suit your needs.

Most Nurses Work at the Bedside, and That’s Not Going to Change

Before we dive into our list of nursing jobs without bedside care, it’s important to note that many of these roles do require some bedside care experience as a prerequisite. In other words, these typically aren’t jobs that you’ll be able to secure straight out of an undergraduate nursing program, nor are they necessarily a guarantee that you’ll avoid any clinical work for the rest of your career. 

Still, for many nurses, these nursing careers outside the hospital offer an opportunity to step away from bedside and evolve as professionals.

Non-Bedside Nursing Roles in Healthcare Settings

Ready to leave bedside, but still want to work in a healthcare setting? There are a number of non-clinical jobs to explore in such healthcare settings as hospitals and outpatient clinics.

1. Case Manager

These professionals are typically RNs who are responsible for coordinating long-term or complex healthcare plans on behalf of patients, essentially serving as liaisons between patients, doctors, and even health insurance companies.

Typical education: ADN or BSN, with Certified Case Manager (CCM) certification preferred by many employers.

Availability: Relatively high. Case managers account for one of the most common non-bedside roles in the field.

Typical experience required: 1–2 years of clinical nursing experience preferred.

2. Utilization Review Nurse

Utilization review (UR) nurses are RNs who are responsible for reviewing patient medical records, ensuring that recommended treatments are aligned with a patient’s insurance coverage and are medically necessary.

Typical education: ADN or BSN, with experience in acute care strongly preferred.

Availability: Moderate to high, especially since many of these positions are fully remote.

Typical experience required: 2–3 years of clinical experience, including strong knowledge of medical criteria and insurance coding/billing practices.

3. Nurse Care Coordinator

Nurse care coordinators play an important role in serving as a bridge between patients, families, and providers to plan care, help patients understand their diagnoses, and ensure they have access to the resources they need.

Typical education: BSN preferred by many employers, although some positions may accept an ADN with enough relevant experience.

Availability: Moderate to high, with positions becoming more readily available as value-based care models expand.

Typical experience required: Two or more years of clinical nursing experience ideal.

4. Telehealth Nurse / Telephone Triage Nurse

Telehealth or telephone triage nurses are RNs who connect with patients via telephone or video call to provide basic triage, monitoring, and care without physically seeing patients in-person.

Typical education: ADN or BSN.

Availability: Growing significantly with many remote positions available, especially as access to digital health services expands and demand increases.

Typical experience required: Two or more years of clinical experience, strong clinical judgment, and communication skills essential.

5. Infection Control Nurse

Infection control nurses specialize in the tracking, prevention, and management of infectious diseases. They’re often responsible for tracking infection rates and leading containment responses in the event of disease outbreaks.

Typical education: BSN and Certified in Infection Control (CIC) designation are considered the standard for most employers.

Availability: Moderate, as most large healthcare systems have at least one dedicated infection control nursing position.

Typical experience required: Strong clinical background in medical-surgical, ICU, or public health settings.

Non-Bedside Nursing Roles in Education and Research

As the healthcare field continues to grow and change, there’s an ongoing need for skilled educators and research coordinators to drive innovation and prepare future generations of nurses for the demands of the field.

6. Nurse Educator (Academic)

In academic settings, such as nursing schools, nurse educators are responsible for delivering lectures, designing curricula, and leading clinical rotations while preparing future generations of students to enter the field.

Typical education: MSN typically required for college-level teaching roles. However, a BSN may be sufficient for some vocational or simulation lab positions.

Availability: Moderate, with demand growing as nursing faculty shortages persist.

Typical experience required: Clinical nursing experience is a plus, as well as a passion for teaching. 

7. Clinical Nurse Educator / Staff Development Specialist

In clinical settings, such as hospitals and other facilities, clinical nurse educators are responsible for providing ongoing training and professional development to nurses — ensuring that they are informed on the latest standards and best practices for care.

Typical education: BSN, although an MSN may be preferred for senior roles.

Availability: Moderate to high, with most hospitals, health systems, and long-term care facilities employing at least one clinical nurse educator.

Typical experience required: Clinical nursing background preferred, as well as a strong attention to detail and comfort with documentation and compliance requirements.

8. Clinical Research Nurse / Research Coordinator

Research coordinators and clinical research nurses (CRNs) play an important role in advancing healthcare knowledge by administering experimental treatments, monitoring patients, and conducting medical studies with regulatory compliance and safety standards at the forefront.

Typical education: BSN preferred, and research-specific certifications (such as Certified Clinical Research Coordinator) may be required for advancement.

Availability: Moderate, though often concentrated in metropolitan areas and academic health systems.

Typical experience required: Clinical nursing background with strong attention to detail and knowledge of compliance requirements/documentation practices.

Non-Bedside Nursing Roles in Policy, Public Health, and Community

Working as a non-bedside nurse in policy, public health, or community health could also be a great way to step away from clinical settings while continuing to make a difference in patients’ lives.

9. School Nurse

School nurses play a vital role in their communities, providing direct care to students while promoting physical and mental health within school systems.

Typical education: ADN or BSN, with state certification as a school nurse required in most states.

Availability: High, as many schools employ at least one nurse.

Typical experience required: Pediatric or community health experience often preferred, with a strong sense of independent judgment essential (as many school nurses work alone and have a great deal of autonomy).

10. Occupational Health Nurse

An occupational health nurse (OHN) specializes in workplace health and safety, working to prevent occupational injuries and treat injuries that may occur on-the-job while maintaining regulatory standards for workplace health and safety.

Typical education: ADN or BSN preferred, with Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) designation recognized by many employers.

Availability: Moderate, with jobs concentrated in industries with significant safety risk or large workforces.

Typical experience required: Emergency, occupational medicine, or primary care background/experience preferred.

11. Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses (PHNs) aim to improve the health and wellness of entire communities or populations by monitoring local health trends, providing education/outreach, and advocating for healthcare equity.

Typical education: A BSN is usually required, though an MPH may be advantageous for those seeking program leadership roles.

Availability: Moderate, with most positions found in government or nonprofit settings that may be affected by funding cycles. 

Typical experience required: Community health, maternal-child health, or primary care background ideal.

12. Forensic Nurse

These specialized nurses are responsible for collecting and preserving biological evidence for legal investigations, often providing victim support to those who have suffered abuse or neglect.

Typical education: BSN preferred, with Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) designation a common pathway.

Availability: Relatively limited, with most positions concentrated in hospital-based programs, advocacy centers, and urban areas.

Typical experience required: Emergency or women’s health nursing background most common, though specialized forensic training may also be required.

Non-Bedside Nursing Roles in Business and Industry

In addition to nursing jobs in public health, education, and healthcare, there are also roles in business and industry to explore.

13. Legal Nurse Consultant

A legal nurse consultant (LNC) is an RN who advises attorneys, government agencies, insurance companies, and other businesses on cases related to medical/healthcare issues, providing expert testimony in court when needed.

Typical education: ADN or BSN preferred. Some nurses may pursue Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) designation through the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants.

Availability: Moderate, with many legal nurse consultants working independently or part-time.

Typical experience required: Broad clinical experience and strong documentation/analytical skills required, though LNCC designation requires a minimum of five years practicing as an RN.

14. Pharmaceutical or Medical Device Sales Representative

Some clinical nurses go on to become pharmaceutical or medical device sales representatives, working to sell medical instruments, equipment, and technologies in different healthcare settings.

Typical education: ADN or BSN preferred by many employers.

Availability: Moderate but competitive, as these roles are usually well-compensated and attract candidates from diverse healthcare backgrounds.

Typical experience required: Some clinical nursing experience, as well as strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

15. Healthcare Administrator / Nurse Manager (Non-Clinical)

These professionals focus on the business and operational side of healthcare, tackling such responsibilities as staffing, financial management, and regulatory compliance.

Typical education: BSN to enter, with MSN or MHA increasingly preferred for director-level positions and above.

Availability: Moderate to high within healthcare organizations.

Typical experience required: Charge nurse or unit leadership experience strongly preferred. Management and/or leadership competencies a must.

16. Nurse Medical Writer or Health Content Specialist

A nurse medical writing or health content specialist is a licensed nurse who writes, edits, and researches healthcare content for publication or marketing copy.

Typical education: ADN or BSN, with Medical Writing Certified (MWC) designation preferred for regulatory writing roles.

Availability: Niche, with many positions either contract- or freelance-based. However, this area has seen some growth with the expansion of digital health content.

Typical experience required: Clinical background plus demonstrated writing ability, with an applicant portfolio typically preferred.

A Few Things to Know Before You Make the Move

Clearly, there are plenty of non-bedside roles in nursing that could be ideal for nurses looking to move away from purely clinical work. It’s important to note, however, that employers hiring for many of these roles give preference to candidates who do have extensive bedside experience under their belts. Meanwhile, because these kinds of roles are also fewer and farther between when compared to “traditional” nursing jobs, they tend to be quite competitive.

Despite being less common than bedside nursing roles, the expansion of digital healthcare has made some non-bedside roles more readily available. Specifically, remote opportunities in telehealth, nurse education, nursing informatics, and pharmaceutical sales may all be worth looking into as potential remote roles.

If you’re serious about moving into a non-bedside nursing role, you may want to explore ways to set yourself apart from other candidates. If you currently hold an ADN, for example, you might consider advancing your education with a BSN. In doing so, you can add formal education to your resume while expanding your relevant knowledge and skill set.

Build the Nursing Foundation That Could Take You Anywhere With Bryant & Stratton College

Whether you’re planning ahead for your future career in nursing or already a nurse ready for a change, it could be time to think about one of these non-clinical nursing roles.

If you’re thinking about pursuing any of the alternative nursing careers covered here, be sure that you’re prepared for the competitive job market with a solid education and strong skills. For many nurses, this may mean returning to school and/or exploring professional development/specialization opportunities.

At Bryant & Stratton College, we’re proud to offer a number of online and in-person nursing degrees that align with your interests and professional goals, including:

• RN to BSN (Online)
• BSN – Nursing Generalist (On-Campus in Ohio & Wisconsin)
• BSN – BS Degree in Nursing (On-Campus in New York)
• All other nursing programs – including associate, diplomas & certificates

Reach out to request information about any of our nursing programs or take the next step and apply now.