In today’s job market, many people view the practical nurse (PN) certification as a stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse (RN). But did you know an PN can prepare you for a host of other career paths in the medical field? Needed at a wide range of healthcare facilities, PNs are always in demand and play a vital role in helping a care team function. Here, Prism Career Institute, which trains PNs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, explores exciting PN career options you can consider after graduation.
Pursuing a Writing Career
One lesser-known path that PNs may pursue is a writing career. With countless readers scouring the internet each day for relevant health articles, the skills you gain as a PN can uniquely prepare you to meet consumer needs. You could even work for a specific clinic or company to create promotional materials that are not only attention-grabbing but also factually accurate.
There are tons of ways to get started as a PN writer. For instance, you could freelance for magazines, newspapers, blogs, or any number of other channels.
Working on Location
Although PNs typically work at brick-and-mortar facilities, there are plenty of opportunities for them in non-traditional settings. For example, you can work at theme parks and provide medical assistance to guests who fall ill or become injured. Depending on your park assignment, you might work inside a dedicated medical office or at a medical tent inside the park itself.
Apart from these fun-filled settings, PNs can also work as international nursing staff through a domestic nursing agency. By working for one of these agencies, you could receive assignments at facilities across the world in need of additional staff. Assignments can last anywhere from one month to 13 weeks, meaning you’ll get a frequent change of pace while providing your skills to those in need.
Getting into Forensic Nursing
For PNs who are interested in legal and criminal justice systems, forensic nursing is an exciting career to pursue. The duties of a forensic nurse are varied. For example, a forensic nurse might provide aid for people who have been harmed in a crime and collect biological evidence from their bodies. On the other hand, they might also work with coroners to determine someone’s cause of death. So if you’re pursuing your PN and want to combine criminal justice with healthcare, forensic nursing is a great way to do it.
Becoming an Insurance Industry Nurse
A PN certification is also a bridge to becoming a registered nurse (RN), and to the surprise of many PNs who take this track, they may qualify to work for insurance companies. Insurance industry nurses use their specialized healthcare knowledge to better inform insurer and policyholder decisions. For example, they can do the following:
- Make evidence-based recommendations about benefits packages
- Administer policyholder physicals
- Work with case managers to determine which services a policyholder should receive
In all, this job is ideal for PNs who want to advocate for patients in a more administrative setting.
Enroll in Our PN Program Today
With so many PN career options to choose from, there’s never been a better time to start your education. To learn more about enrolling in the PN program at Prism Career Institute, contact an admissions representative at 1-888-966-8146 and request more information about our Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia or our New Jersey campuses in Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City.