11 Top Nonhospital Nursing Jobs for Nurses

Jobs for registered nurses are expected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nurse practitioners (NPs) can expect even greater job growth; the BLS projects a 40% job growth rate for NPs through 2034, much faster than average.

But for a variety of reasons, not all nurses choose to work in hospitals. Some may prefer nonhospital nursing careers because they want:

• More predictable hours: Outside of a hospital, you may have a better chance of regular hours, with weekends and holidays off.
• Less physically taxing environment: The work outside of a hospital can be less physically demanding.
• More autonomy: There are more opportunities to work independently in small teams, which can attract those with an entrepreneurial mindset who are interested in leadership, business ownership, or starting their own health care services.
• Opportunity to build relationships: Sometimes, there can be very little chance to really know patients and gain trust in a hospital.
• Wider range of colleagues: You can find yourself alongside social workers, pharmacists, and other case specialists.

>>Read: 10 Reasons to Become a Nurse

Here is a list of 11 nonhospital nursing jobs.

1. Forensic Nurse

A forensic nurse works with law enforcement and helps solve crimes. Those who specialize in death investigations may work with a medical examiner or as a coroner. They may also care for victims of crime and survivors of natural disasters.

By its nature, this is a sensitive field. Forensic nurses may treat victims of sexual assault and other violence while preserving evidence. They may provide consultation and testimony that can be used in a court of law. Some provide critical expertise to anti-violence programs.

Forensic nurses work in coroner and medical examiner offices, correctional facilities, community anti-violence programs, and psychiatric hospitals. Certification is available through the International Association of Forensic Nurses and the Forensic Nursing Certification Board.

2. Health Coach

Nurse health coaches work individually with clients to achieve wellness goals, maintain healthy lifestyles, and prevent future health conditions. They may work in health care facilities, insurance companies, and social service agencies.

Health coaches often work with clients who have chronic conditions or are at risk for developing them. They engage in interactive discussions with patients, help them determine which strategies may work the best, and apply interventions.

The American Holistic Nurses Association and the International Nurse Coaching Association both offer health coach certification.

3. Home Health Nurse

The U.S. home health care market is projected to grow to $176 billion by 2032 (up from $107 billion in 2025), according to Fortune Business Insights. This provides a great opportunity for home health nurses.

Home health nurses provide care in patients' homes, but work from a variety of settings, including community facilities, hospice and home care organizations, and hospitals.

Home health nurses provide a wide range of services that include tending to illnesses or injuries, nutrition therapy, medication administration, and additional treatments that may make their patients more comfortable.

Home health nurses may need certification and licensure in their state of practice, and they must get additional education to administer specialized care.

4. Community Health Nurse/Public Health Nurse

These roles are related but slightly different:

Community Health Nurses

These nurses identify health problems in the community and work to improve well-being by educating people. Community health nurses can provide information about a variety of topics, including:

• Illness and disease prevention
• Nutrition
• Safe health practices
• Wellness

Many times, community health nurses see patients who don’t have regular access to medical care or who can’t afford medical services.

The Association of Public Health Nurses (APHN) is the largest professional organization for this type of nurse.

Public Health Nurses

These nurses have similar responsibilities but at a larger scale. Public health nurses respond directly to public health crises, from disease outbreaks to natural disasters such as earthquakes or pandemics.

Similar to community health nurses, public health nurses typically educate the most vulnerable communities on healthy living. In this outreach role, these nurses may be expected to speak publicly as the need arises.

The National Board of Public Health Examiners offers a certification in public health (CPH), and the APHN is the main professional association for nurses in this field.

5. Remote and Telehealth Nurse Roles

Telehealth is now a standard method of care. Remote nursing jobs are available in a variety of areas, including:

• General telehealth/qualifying primary care visits
• Call center or triage nursing
• Health informatics
• Research
• Education
• Case management
• Legal nurse consulting
• Insurance claims
• Recruiting
• Freelance writing

Nurses who work remotely typically get specific training on telehealth technology and how to clinically navigate a remote consultation.

>>Read: How Nursing Students Can Prepare for Telehealth Opportunities

6. Diabetes Educator

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 38.4 million Americans of all ages (11.6% of the population) had diabetes in 2021. As of 2023, more than one in three adults had prediabetes.

A diabetes educator works closely with patients to help them learn about and manage their condition. They teach patients how to use devices such as insulin pens and glucose monitors and guide them in identifying lifestyle patterns and opportunities for improvement.

These nurses may work in clinics or other health care facilities outside of hospitals.

The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists is a prominent professional association for diabetes educators, and the American Diabetes Association offers a membership specifically for health care professionals.

7. Artificial Intelligence and Informatics Research Nurse

An AI and informatics research nurse helps information technicians select, set up, evaluate, and implement technology — including AI — in a medical facility.

These types of nurses do not provide direct patient care; instead, their job duties include bridging the medical and technological sides of nursing as well as assisting with data analysis, predictive analytics, and automation. The end goal is better decision-making, improved electronic medical records and patient care software, and enhanced patient care.

A Master of Health Informatics may help registered nurses enter this field.

>>Read: The Difference Between Health Informatics & Health Information Management

8. Legal Nurse Consultant

Similar to the intermediary role that AI and informatics research nurses play, legal nurse consultants help bridge the legal and medical industries. They interpret legal jargon for the medical world and medical jargon for the legal world. This helps avoid misunderstandings in medical care and the legal complications that can arise from language misunderstandings.

Legal nurse consultants may be called upon by insurance companies, law firms, prosecution offices, law enforcement forensic departments, pharmaceutical companies, clinics, and government agencies.

Certification from a national organization, such as the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, is required for these specialists.

9. Nurse Educator

Nurse educators share their knowledge with undergraduate nursing students in classroom settings at colleges, universities, educational programs, or teaching hospitals. Many times, they require an MSN with a concentration in nursing education.

Most nurse educators have extensive clinical experience. As an educator, they must stay current with new nursing methods and technologies.

Three prominent professional organizations for nurse educators are the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National League for Nursing, and the National Consortium of Academic Nurse Educators, Inc.

10. Occupational Nurse

Occupational nurses work primarily for businesses and ensure employees' health and safety. They investigate and treat work-related injuries and illnesses. They also coordinate injury prevention and wellness programs for employees.

Among the tasks occupational nurses perform are case management, compliance, counseling, and crisis management.

The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. offers certification in this specialty, and the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses is the main professional association.

11. School Nurse

School nurses work for schools or states to provide care as needed to children within the school. The need is great — only 65.7% of U.S. public schools have access to a full-time school nurse, according to the National Association of School Nurses. The numbers are lower for schools in rural areas.

The school nurse's duties include caring for students with illness or injury during school hours and administering scheduled medications such as insulin or behavioral medications. They may also give students basic vision and hearing tests yearly. School nurses may also be called upon to teach health courses.

These specialists may find themselves in any grade level, from elementary school to college.

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