Nursing – New Innovations

Nurses have more career options than perhaps ever before. Here are the top Jobs on the Rise
Article written by Path to Recovery, a newsletter that delivers weekly conversations on how the health care profession will recover from one of the most significant crises of our time.
This week, I’m covering some of the data from our annual Jobs on the Rise report. Check out our full coverage here.
Sharonda Davis never expected to leave nursing. But when the pandemic hit, her job working in intensive care and progressive care units in a South Florida hospital became untenable.
“I had never dealt with that much death in my career,” she said. “I didn’t realize I was becoming severely depressed. I lost interest in my husband; I lost interest in my children. And one day, I just quit.”
Davis, however, didn’t go far from the hospital. Today, she uses many of the same skills she developed as a nurse in her work as a chest pain coordinator, a job that involves working with doctors and paramedics to develop protocols for managing chest pain patients. The role makes good use of her patient care skills as well as her background in communication and data science.
“It was a role that I didn’t even know existed, but I really love,” she said.
Davis is among the 18% of U.S. health care workers who are estimated to have quit during the pandemic, according to Morning Consult, a research and data firm. In specialties that work directly with covid patients, the numbers might be even higher; the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses found that as many as two-thirds of nurses have considered leaving. The situation is similar in Canada, where last summer the health care industry saw year-over-year increases in job vacancies that outpaced other sectors.
Nurses are in high demand, and there are opportunities to move not only across specialties but away from the bedside altogether. A nursing degree offers an advantage, nurses say, because it’s often easier to supplement health care training with communication or technical skills, rather than vice versa.
“A lot of nurses have awakened to the power of the position,” said Alice Benjamin, who is both an advanced-practice nurse as well as a podcast host and media contributor. And while those roles might sound very different, Benjamin points out that they all involve patient education.
“What are you passionate about?” she said, when asked about the advice she’d give nurses looking for a change. “Find what else you’re good at and marry that with your nursing license.”
When LinkedIn crunched the data on the fastest-growing job titles, it wasn’t surprising to see health care functions on the list. Two roles that made it to the top could be related to the pandemic: vaccine specialist and molecular biologist. But we’re also seeing rapid growth in nursing fields, particularly for surgical intensive care and postpartum nurses. And these two opportunities allow nurses to move beyond the pandemic crunch.
To calculate the fastest-growing jobs, we examined the increase in the number of professionals who added those job titles from Jan. 1, 2017 through July 31, 2021.
Health care jobs also featured prominently in the data we gathered for Canada, where our Jobs on the Rise include vaccine specialist, public health nurse, public health specialist and clinical data manager. The global public health space was gaining momentum even before the pandemic due to growing awareness of how societal and socioeconomic factors affect our health and contribute to rising rates of chronic diseases.
Jobs in public health also provide better hours than typical nursing jobs, said Toronto-based Sara Fung, CEO and founder of the RN Resume, who added that nurses are trying to transition into not only public health, but teaching or doctor’s offices.
“I’ve seen a big surge in nurses wanting to leave the bedside,” she said. “Most people, to be honest, are looking beyond hospitals.”
Burnout hasn’t been the only factor prompting nurses to make a change. Surgical specialties like perioperative care “took a body blow,” said Phyllis Quinlan, an executive coach for nurses, as hospitals canceled elective procedures during covid surges. Some nurses were redeployed to critical care; others were furloughed and still others retired.
At the same time, many countries are facing a critical nursing shortage, and nurses are realizing that they have more clout than perhaps ever before. There’s also hiring interest coming from outside of the health care industry, as non-traditional players like tech companies seek to enter the space.
“The new challenge for leadership is to understand that things are never going to be the same,” Quinlan said. “It’s not going to take a lot [for nurses] to say, ‘That’s enough, we’re done.’”
To keep up with changes in the industry, Rita Wise, director of the masters in nursing education and nursing administration program at the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, encourages nurses to seek out opportunities that build leadership skills, like serving on committees or training nursing students.
“You absolutely, as a nurse, have to keep evolving,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean going back to school, but it definitely means increasing your skill set all the time.”
Like others, Wise suggests that nurses think first and foremost about their interests and passions before deciding on a career move — rather than jumping on the latest bandwagon. She also predicts continued demand for nurse educators as the field continues to add new specialties and technologies. And getting back into a classroom, Wise adds, could also help counteract burnout.
Toronto-based Marida Etherington is among the nurses who have made a career shift due to the pandemic. Etherington has a background in acute-care mental health, and she made a transition away from working in a hospital by first volunteering to provide online therapy to frontline workers. From there, she began offering psychotherapy to adult and pediatric clients as well as coaching services for nurses who want to make a career change.
While she misses her former colleagues and the camaraderie that comes from working night shifts together, it was clear to her that working in a hospital was too risky, especially with an immunocompromised husband and three children at home. Overall, she says she’s happy with the move.
“It really fuels me and I feel like I am giving back to the community,” she said. “I’m doing exactly what I want to do, so you can’t put a price tag on that.”
Looking for a change?
Sara Fung and Amie Archibald-Varley, co-directors of The Gritty Nurse podcast, offer these tips to nurses:
- Put yourself out there: don’t be afraid to apply for jobs even when you don’t meet 100% of the requirements
- Don’t overload your resume with irrelevant experience, but call out areas where you can show hard numbers that speak to the impact you’ve had
- Focus on translatable skills like information technology, certifications, critical thinking and communication
- Seek out opportunities to join workgroups, particularly around quality or process improvement
- Don’t forget about networking, especially in the small world of nursing
Shared from Linked In News – Image credit Linked In
Sumner College Phlebotomy graduates are thriving in Arizona. Are you next?
If you desire an collaborative career, phlebotomy is the occupation for you. Not only is the profession’s abilities regularly expanding, but phlebotomists are able to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
#HealthcareCareer in Phlebotomy – Enroll Today at Sumner College Arizona
Sumner College Arizona provides unique opportunities for our students to learn and develop practical experiences before they begin their career. Phlebotomy continues to grow as…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing Assisting Median Annual Wages
Sumner College offers a Nursing Assistant Program on the Arizona Campus. If you’re looking for a career where you can make a difference in the…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
CNA – Job Projected Outlook 2020-2030
Job Outlook Nursing Assistants and Orderlies Percent change in employment, projected 2020-30 Home health and personal care aides; and nursing assistants, orderlies, and psychiatric aides…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
CNA – Job Summary – What does a CNA Do?
Now is a great time to pursue a career as a Nursing Assistant. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Nursing Assistants Job…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Now Hiring – Financial Aid Officer
Financial Aid Officer Within a centralized financial aid services environment, evaluates, approves, and awards financial aid to students in accordance with federal, state, and college…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Joanna Russell visits with CW’s Nicole DeCosta about the RN to BSN Program at Sumner College
RN's that already have their Associates Degree have so many more options for continuing education. Joanna Russell, President, Sumner College talks with Nicole DeCosta, CW's…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Interview with Joanna Russell and CW’s Nicole DeCosta
Right now is a great time to enter the healthcare field interview with Joanna Russell, President, Sumner College. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwtLsLKZKZc[/embed]…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Informational Sessions – Seats Available June 15th
Sumner College has a few remaining seats open for the June 15th Nursing Informational Session with President, Joanna Russell. It's all online! Sign up now…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing Assistant Types
UCNA, CNA, and LNA Note: As of July 1, 2016, Arizona offers two types of nursing assistant credentials in Arizona: Certified Nursing Assistant, designated as…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Class of 2022 Entering the Best Job Market in Years
Great NBC News story highlighting the job search experience for recent grads like Aga Sophia Noel, an Occupational Therapy Assistance graduate from CECU member career…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Now Hiring – Dean of Students
Sumner College is hiring for a Dean of Students. Title: Dean of Students Supervisor: Vice President Job Summary: The Dean of Students is part of…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Joanna Russell visits with CW’s Everyday Northwest
President, Joanna Russell visited with Ashley Howard from CW's Everyday Northwest to discuss continuing education options in nursing. [embed]https://youtu.be/2lMNewz-GeY[/embed]…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Celebrating Sumner Graduates | Meet Tiffany
At Sumner College, we like to celebrate our graduates. Tiffany is a recent PN grad. She shares her story, "Working as a phlebotomist at a plasma…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Heartwarming Stories of Nurses Who Went Beyond Their Call of Duty
Article and Image Content shared from Readers Digest. When it comes to kindness, compassion, and caring for others, nurses have us all beat. They work…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Heartwarming Stories of Nurses Who Went Beyond Their Call of Duty
Article and Image Content shared from Readers Digest. When it comes to kindness, compassion, and caring for others, nurses have us all beat. They work…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Heartwarming Stories of Nurses Who Went Beyond Their Call of Duty
Article and Image Content shared from Readers Digest. Image credit: COURTESY MARK SHIPMAN When it comes to kindness, compassion, and caring for others, nurses have…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Heartwarming Stories of Nurses Who Went Beyond Their Call of Duty
Article and Image Content shared from Readers Digest. When it comes to kindness, compassion, and caring for others, nurses have us all beat. They work…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Heartwarming Stories of Nurses Who Went Above and Beyond Their Call of Duty
Article and Image Content shared from Readers Digest. When it comes to kindness, compassion, and caring for others, nurses have us all beat. They work…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Personal Finance – Here’s How Much Money Phlebotomists Make In Every State In 2022
Phlebotomists perform an invaluable role in the medical world and beyond. They draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, and research, not to mention explaining to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Blood Drive
Last week Sumner College held a blood drive. Here are some photos from the day.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Celebrating Sumner Graduates | Meet Sharon
At Sumner College, we like to celebrate our graduates. Sharon is a recent Medical Assisting grad. She shares her story, "Before enrolling in Sumner College’s…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Celebrating Sumner Graduates | Meet Patrick
At Sumner College, we like to celebrate our graduates. Patrick is a recent LPN grad. He shares his story, "Prior to enrolling at Sumner College,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
ALL IN: Johnson&Johnson WellBeing for Healthcare Campaign
ALL IN: WellBeing First for Healthcare is a call to action by #FirstRespondersFirst and The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation as a coalition of leading…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Celebrating Sumner Graduates | Meet Lyric
At Sumner College, we like to celebrate our graduates. Lyric is a recent LPN grad. She shares her story, "Prior to attending Sumner College, I…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
#Hiring a Clinical Coordinator – Nursing Programs
JOB DESCRIPTION Position: Clinical Coordinator for Nursing Programs Supervisor: College President Job Description of Clinical Coordinator: The Clinical Coordinator is responsible for acquiring and maintaining clinical sites…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sunday, May 7th is Mother’s Day
Happy Mother's Day from Sumner College!…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Celebrating Sumner Graduates | Meet Kaitlyn
At Sumner College, we like to celebrate our graduates. Kaitlyn is a recent LPN grad. She shares her story, "Wanting to expand my skills as…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Celebrating Sumner Graduates | Meet Julie
At Sumner College, we like to celebrate our graduates. Julie is a recent RN grad. She shares her story, "Prior to enrolling in Sumner College’s…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Now Hiring! Nurse Educator Associate Labs & Clinicals
Job Summary: The Nurse Educator Associate will teach, guide students in their labs and clinicals, along with enhancing the design of the curriculum. This person…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn