What do nurses do when they quit nursing?

When nurses quit, they often transition to related healthcare roles like case management, informatics, or education, leveraging transferable skills; others move to completely different fields such as tech, writing, sales, or even creative pursuits, seeking better work-life balance, higher pay, or reduced stress, with options ranging from remote work to part-time or consulting roles.


Where do nurses go when they leave nursing?

The skills you learn as an RN translate well into many non-clinical or non-bedside positions, such as legal consultant, telehealth nurses, nurse educators, nurse administrators, or informatics specialists.

What is the number one reason nurses quit?

Across a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory care, planned retirement was the most cited reason nurses are leaving healthcare employment. Closely behind retirements, insufficient staffing, burnout, and poor work-life balance topped the list.


What careers can nurses transition to?

If you're considering a move away from bedside nursing but do enjoy working in a patient-facing role, you may consider transitioning into psychiatric health, psychology, human services, or social work.

What jobs can nurses do that are not nursing?

Below are some of the non-bedside nursing careers that BSN-prepared nurses can consider:
  • Nurse Educator. ...
  • Public Health Nurse. ...
  • Nurse Case Manager. ...
  • Nurse Informaticist. ...
  • Legal Nurse Consultant. ...
  • Occupational Health Nurse. ...
  • Nurse Health Coach. ...
  • Clinical Research Nurse.


What do nurses do when they quit nursing? WHAT I DO NOW AFTER QUITTING MY JOB AS A REGISTERED NURSE!



What should I do if I don't want to be a nurse anymore?

You can transition from nursing to many rewarding careers using your clinical skills in areas like Informatics, Sales, Education, Case Management, or Research, or leverage your transferable skills for completely new fields like Business Analysis, Health Coaching, Legal Consulting, or even Real Estate/Insurance, often finding better work-life balance with standard business hours, as detailed in resources from Prolink and Bestcolleges.com. 

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Jobs that can pay $400K a year without a degree include commercial real estate brokers, successful YouTubers or influencers, self-employed software developers, high-stakes sales roles like enterprise tech sales, and business owners. These roles rely on skill, market demand, and performance rather than formal education.

Where do the happiest nurses work?

Top 10 Happiest Nursing Jobs
  • Labor and delivery nurse.
  • Radiology nurse.
  • Gastrointestinal nurse.
  • Cardiac nurse.
  • Gynecology nurse.
  • Pulmonary/respiratory nurse.
  • Critical care nurse.
  • Psychiatric nurse.


Can an RN make $200,000?

While the median registered nurse salary sits at $93,600 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest-paid nurses are earning well over $200,000 annually, proving that nursing can be both personally fulfilling and financially rewarding. The nursing salary landscape has evolved dramatically.

How to transition away from nursing?

To phase out breastfeeding, gradually reduce one feeding at a time over days or weeks, replacing it with a bottle (formula if under 1 year) or cup, starting with less emotional feeds like midday ones, while expressing just enough to relieve engorgement, letting breasts adjust, and keeping bedtime feeds for last for comfort. A slow, gentle approach prevents discomfort for you and emotional upset for your baby, focusing on bonding through cuddles instead.
 

Who do nurses mostly marry?

Female registered nurses are most likely to marry male managers or female registered nurses. Male registered nurses are most likely to marry female or male registered nurses. Nurse practitioners and midwives are most likely to marry miscellaneous managers, physicians and surgeons.


What is nurse syndrome?

The " nurse syndrome" is often invoked in the field of private relationships, to refer to women (mainly) who tend to invest in intimate relationships with people in pain whom they find themselves taking care of, at the risk of permanently establishing an imbalance in the couple, or even toxic relationships.

At what age do most RNs retire?

The average age of retirement for nurses is around 58, notably younger than the average retirement age of 65–67. That's not too surprising when you consider how physically and emotionally demanding the job can be. Long shifts, chronic stress, and burnout tend to take a bigger toll as nurses get older.

What can I do instead of nursing?

Instead of traditional nursing, you can leverage your healthcare skills in roles like Nurse Educator, Case Manager, Informatics Specialist, or Health Coach, or explore related clinical fields such as Respiratory Therapy, Radiology Tech, Physician Assistant (PA), or Occupational Therapy (OT), or pivot to non-clinical areas like Medical Writing, Legal Nurse Consulting, or Health Tech/Sales, focusing on patient advocacy, education, data, or business aspects of healthcare. 


Which nurse has the highest burnout rate?

Emergency department nurses tend to experience the highest rates of burnout. A study published in the Psychology, Health, and Medicine Journal noted that ED nurses feel that they have the least control in their job among nurses in different specialties, which may also influence their high burnout rates.

How long can a nurse go without working?

There is no set limit on how long a nurse can hold an active license without working, as long as renewal and CNE requirements are met. Your license remains valid even if you are not employed in a clinical setting.

What type of nurse gets paid most?

As of 2024, the top five highest-paid types of nurses in the U.S. are:
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
  • Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse.
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP)


What is the easiest job that pays 100K a year?

The "easiest" $100k job is subjective, but roles in tech sales, skilled trades (like elevator mechanics, power line installers), specialized sales, and certain IT management or security roles often reach this income with experience, certifications, or strong performance, sometimes without a traditional 4-year degree, focusing on practical skills and demand. "Easy" often means high reward for skill/effort, but most high-paying jobs require significant training, demanding periods, or high responsibility, such as software sales, IT management, or becoming a fire chief. 

How to make $300,000 a year as a nurse?

To earn $300,000 as a nurse, you need a strategic combination of high-paying roles (like travel nursing, CRNA, or APRN), location (California, high-demand areas), significant overtime, shift differentials (nights/weekends), and potentially a side business or income streams like YouTube, with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) having the highest earning potential. 

What's the hardest nurse to be?

The "hardest" nursing specialty is subjective, but Critical Care (ICU/ER), Neonatal/Pediatric ICU, Oncology, and Psychiatric Nursing are frequently cited due to intense emotional strain, high acuity, complex technology, and significant burnout risk, with roles like Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) also seen as extremely demanding due to extensive education. The difficulty often stems from high-stakes decisions, unpredictable situations (like Labor & Delivery), patient suffering, and managing complex technology or unstable patients. 


How to make $100,000 as an RN?

To make $100k as a nurse, specialize in high-demand areas (ER, OR, ICU), pursue advanced degrees (NP, CRNA), become a travel nurse for high rates, work per diem/overtime for extra pay, specialize with certifications, or move to high-paying locations like California, leveraging roles like Nurse Anesthetist or Nurse Practitioner to significantly boost income. 

What state treats nurses the best?

The best states for nurses depend on priorities, with California, Hawaii, and Washington often topping lists for high pay, while states like Arizona, Texas, and Nevada offer strong demand and lower costs; consider Washington, New Hampshire, and Oregon for overall balance, and Minnesota for new grads due to strong systems like Mayo Clinic. Factors to weigh include salary vs. cost of living, job growth, work-life balance, and specific nursing opportunities. 

What skill pays $100 an hour?

To earn $100 an hour, professionals typically need specialized expertise in high-demand fields such as executive consulting, advanced IT services, legal counsel, or medical specializations, often backed by advanced degrees or certifications.


How much is $60,000 a year hourly?

$60,000 a year is approximately $28.85 per hour, assuming a standard 40-hour workweek (2080 work hours per year). You calculate this by dividing your annual salary by 2080 (52 weeks x 40 hours/week).