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Best Nursing Careers for Introverts

Introverts can make excellent nurse leaders because they excel at mentoring and empowering others. There are other reasons why introverts can be amazing nurses. They have strong listening and observation skills which often translates into rewarding relationships with others.

In this article, we will cover:

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Nurse educator

It may seem odd to suggest a nurse educator position for an introverted person since it means they will be around people all day long. Too much social interaction can lead to anxiety and the overwhelming urge to find quiet time to recharge. What makes this nursing profession an ideal match is that it plays to leadership strengths without forcing nurses to endure the emotional trauma that comes with bedside nursing positions. Nurse educators also can set their own pace, assuming the responsibility of designing, implementing, and revising academic and continuing education programs for nurses.

Most nurse educators are licensed registered nurses (RNs) with years of work experience. Some RNs work while attending school to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing, which is required by most nursing schools in order to teach. Universities may require a doctorate to teach in their nursing programs. The average annual salary for nurse educators is $93,629.

Private duty nurse

Private duty nursing allows nurses to avoid frequent social interactions while providing bedside care. For introverts, a private duty nurse position can lead to satisfaction in a nursing environment that gives them the best of both worlds. Private duty nursing allows nurses to avoid frequent social interactions while providing bedside care. The only downside to this nursing career is the irregular hours.

To start your career as a private duty nurse, you must first attend nursing school to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The next step is to earn RN licensure. Some nursing agencies that offer private duty nursing positions require candidates to have 2 to 3 years of bedside patient care experience. While additional credentials are not required, some nurses pursue either medical surgical nursing or critical care nursing certification. Private duty nurses make an average annual wage of $48,560.

Nursing informatics

As with nurse educators, nursing informatics is one of the best career choices for introverted nurses because it tends to be patient-free. Nursing informatics combines nursing skills with computer and information sciences into one exciting career. Two of the responsibilities of informatics nurses are using technology to improve patient outcomes and maintaining the flow of information within different nursing departments. Best of all, there are no forced social interactions with this position.

Advanced nursing degrees are recommended to work in this nursing specialty. A BSN from an accredited nursing program, coupled with additional courses in technology and computer programming, will give nurses the best chance of landing jobs in informatics. While optional, some informatics nurses opt to receive their RN-BC Informatics Nurse Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).  Informatics nurses make an average annual salary of $84,273.

The level of independence and discipline required to work as a legal nurse consultant makes it a perfect match for introverts. While there is still social interaction, it occurs outside the realm of everyday patient care. A legal nurse consultant analyzes and evaluates medical facts and testimonies related to how healthcare services – including nursing care – are delivered to patients. They must have a working knowledge of both the medical and legal fields, which means there is a lot of schooling involved to work in this nursing field.

Becoming a legal nurse consultant requires a BSN, followed by RN licensure. Some nurses choose to work as RNs for a few years to gain some experience that can be useful as legal nurse consultants. Certification is not required, but some choose to obtain it through the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC). The average annual salary for legal nurse consultants is $85,351.  

Remote nursing jobs

Some nurses decide that working from home is the best option, and there are lots of remote nursing jobs. Here are some other examples of remote nursing careers perfect for introverts:

  • Telephone Triage Nurse/Telehealth Nurse
  • Nurse Recruiter
  • RN Case Manager

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At Incredible Health, it's a team effort to achieve our vision: Help healthcare professionals live better lives. Many are licensed practitioners themselves; others are simply passionate writers and leaders dedicated to providing valuable resources to nurses.

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A Brief Overview of Nurse Advocacy

People trust nurses. And research backs this up. According to a 2020 Gallup poll of adults in the United States, nursing was rated as the most honest and ethical field overall. 

Nurses are in charge of taking care of individuals in their most vulnerable circumstances. They have a broad scope of responsibilities and must often serve as advocates for their patients. 

In this post, we will explore:

What is nurse advocacy?

Nurses practice advocacy daily as part of their jobs. They advocate in many ways by serving as communicators, translators, and liaisons. Since nurses often have more direct contact with the patients, they may better understand the wants and needs of the patient than other people on the healthcare team. They help make sure patient needs are met and that they understand the various treatment methods.

Patients arrive at hospitals with a variety of needs and with diverse backgrounds. Having nurses on hand to listen to these patients and vocalize their concerns to staff is crucial.

For example, say an ICU patient is a Jehovah’s Witness and has significant hesitations towards specific procedures such as a blood transfusion. A nurse can help communicate between the patient and the treatment team regarding their condition in order to develop alternative treatment methods.

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How do nurses act as advocates in the workplace?

Nurses act as advocates in many different ways within the healthcare space. According to Alvernia University, some of the more common methods include making patients a priority, helping patients make informed decisions, and being a resource. 

Making patients a priority

Often patients face complex medical decisions that will play a significant role for the rest of their lives. Most patients have loved ones who may not always agree with specific medical procedures. 

Say, for example, a minor needs a radiology exam, and their parents object due to concerns about the harm it could cause. The nurse could advocate for what they consider the patient’s best interest despite what the parents think. 

This example is further complicated for advocacy purposes because it involves the informed consent of a minor. 

Helping to make informed decisions 

Patients have full agency when it comes to determining their treatment. It’s a nurse’s job to ensure that their right to make decisions is guaranteed despite what a physician might think. 

Nurses can help patients understand the gravity of their decision and provide them with the information needed to decide on a treatment plan. 

Being a resource 

Nurses have an excellent opportunity to help outpatients in practical ways. Sometimes patients don’t feel comfortable talking to their doctors about their issues, especially those they think a doctor may not have time to address. 

For example, if an older patient needs help finding a specialist in their area, a nurse may be able to help them set up an appointment. 

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What specific skills must a nurse advocate have?

Nurses who practice advocacy must have an array of skills to address the needs of their patients. The primary skills necessary for a nurse advocate include: 

  • Active listening skills
  • Communication skills
  • Empathy
Active listening skills

Since nurses have more direct contact with patients, they can hear their needs in unique ways. The best nurses can practice active listening to uncover the patient’s concerns and meet their various needs. Active listening skills involve being aware of a patient’s message through verbal and non-verbal cues. 

Communication skills 

A great nurse advocate has finely-tuned active listening skills and is an efficient communicator. As an advocate, nurses have to communicate between the patient and medical team. 

Empathy 

All nurses need to have empathy, but advocacy takes it to another level. Being an advocate requires imagining what the patient is going through and acting in their best interest. Doing this requires a great deal of empathy. 

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Apple Watches for Nurses: Is Getting One Worth It?

Personal Finance / Apple Watches for Nurses

It’s not too uncommon to see your fellow nurse colleagues equipped with an Apple Watch. Having a watch that can work as a timer, alarm, and allows you to check any new notifications at just a glance is a game changer for any busy person. And as a nurse, chances are you’re one of the busiest people around! If you’ve been wondering whether or not getting an Apple Watch is worth the investment, we’ve got you covered. In this post we will go over:

  • Apple Watch product overview
  • The best nurse-friendly bands
  • Our favorite apps
  • Why it’s worth it

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Apple Watch product overview

Series 7

Price: starting at $399

The Apple Watch Series 7 is the latest and greatest device in the Apple Watch line. If cost is not a deciding factor, then this is definitely your go to. The Series 7 boasts brand new features like: the largest display available, five new colors, and even blood oxygen readings.

There are also improvements on features already introduced, such as: improved crack, water, and dust resistance, the screen is 70% brighter, 33% faster charging times and more!

Apple Watch SE

Price: starting at $279

The SE is a great option for those who don’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles of all the new features the Series 7 boasts. Features such as the always-on display, blood oxygen and ECG sensors will not be available in the SE models.

However, the SE offers a number of features missing from the Series 3. The SE also has smaller bezels than the Series 3.

Series 3

Price: starting at $199

As the most affordable option, the Apple Watch Series 3 costs $199. However, the Series 3 doesn’t have some features such as the fall detection or the always-on display. The Series 3 also lacks the ability of a cellular connection, so you can’t make calls or get data without having your iPhone with you to support it.

Don’t forget about refurbished options if you’re looking for more savings! All refurbished Apple Watch models come with a one-year warranty and are throughly tested and cleaned before being repackaged. You can save over $100 on select devices, but availability is limited.

The best nurse-friendly bands

Being a nurse, your watch is constantly exposed to bodily fluids, and of course, water from plenty of hand-washing. So, a durable, breathable and comfortable watch band that can withstand water is an important thing to consider when getting your Apple Watch. The traditional Apple Watch bands that Apple offers are great options for everyday use. However, these other watch bands are nurse-approved and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love options?

SinceC Sport Bands Compatible with Apple Watch Band 38mm 40mm 41mm 42mm 44mm 45mm S/M M/L for Women/Men Waterproof Soft Silicone Replacement Strap Accessories for iWatch series 7/6/5/4/3/2/1/SE
Lerobo 3 Pack Compatible for Apple Watch Band 44mm 42mm 45mm 41mm 40mm 38mm, Soft Silicone Strap Breathable Replacement Sport Bands for Apple Watch SE Series 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Men Women,42mm/44mm/45mm-M/L
AMANECER Stretchy Nylon Watch Bands Compatible with Apple Watch Series 7/6/5/4/3/2/1 SE, Adjustable Braided Elastic Sport Loop Bands for iWatch Women Men

Our favorite apps

Drink Water Reminder: As a busy nurse, it’s easy to slip on on your water intake. Luckily, there are apps to help with that! Provides notifications to help you remember when to drink water, as well as keeping track of your water intake. Apple Watch accessibility and integration with the Apple Health app, makes it easier than ever to make sure you’re drinking enough water daily!

Headspace: Headspace is an app that helps you use meditation as a tool to help address stress and even sleeping issues. Headspace offers guided daily meditations with different concentrations like focus, kindness, calmness and more!

Any.do: Any.do has the ability to sync between your desktop, mobile, tablet and even web devices. So, you will have access to anything you create in any.do across all of your devices. Any.do keeps your lists, tasks, reminders, and agenda all in one place. It even offers scheduled reminders, which will very conveniently be sent to your Apple Watch too.

iTranslate: Having access to a translation app right on your wrist is practically like having your own personal translator wherever you go! iTranslate offers translations in 100+ languages, dictionaries and even phrasebooks, all at your fingertips.

Review all of Apple’s recommended apps for Healthcare Professionals and don’t forget to check out our favorites, too.

Why it’s Worth it

Wondering whether or not you are due for an upgrade? If you are coming from a Series 4 or older, upgrading is an attractive option. You get larger and brighter display, more memory, a longer battery life, plus even more additional features. It’s also pretty handy to have all of these features almost literally at the tip of your fingers:

  • Reminders
  • Health Analytics
  • Timers
  • Weather alerts
  • Activity tracking
  • Notifications directed from your iPhone

Apple Watches make great gifts, if you’re not sure what to buy your favorite nurse for the upcoming holidays!

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The Best Remote Nursing Jobs

Nurse Types / Remote Nursing Jobs

So, you have decided to become a nurse. Good for you! If you have just begun to explore your options in the nursing field, you probably wonder if all of them require you to leave the comfort of your home. The answer is a resounding no. As the healthcare industry continues to adapt to new world challenges and emerging technology, working from home is no longer a mere fantasy for nursing professionals. There are many work-at-home opportunities for nurses that can be just as fulfilling as serving patients at their bedsides.

Let’s explore some of the most common work-at-home nursing jobs. Learn about the level of education required and certifications needed for each type.

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Telephone Triage Nurse/Telehealth Nurse

Telephone triage nurses answer calls from patients and conduct over-the-phone medical consultations while telehealth nurses often work with patients via video chat. Through comprehensive assessments, these nursing professionals help patients determine whether they require emergency care or would be best served by visiting their regular healthcare provider. Triage nurses base their decisions solely on the information provided by the patient.

As with all nursing professionals, the roles and responsibilities of a telehealth nurse can vary depending on the employer and nursing specialty. Here are some of the most common duties:

  • Assisting doctors: Telehealth nurses can help by determining which patients require physician intervention and which can be treated remotely. This helps lighten the load for physicians.
  • Consulting with patients: This can be done via video chat or over the phone to assess healthcare needs.
  • Educating patients: Make sure patients understand symptom management.
  • Monitoring patient’s vitals: This can include blood glucose or oxygen levels.
  • Offering medical advice: This is done for patients suffering from minor health issues.
  • Scheduling appointments and referrals: Nurses help patients determine what care they need and then schedule appointments to see specialists.

To become a telehealth nurse, you must attend an accredited nursing school to earn either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). An ADN will take between 18 and 24 months to complete, while you can expect to spend roughly four years to earn a BSN. If you already have an ADN, there is an ADN to BSN bridge program that allows you to earn a BSN in 12-18 months. Most employers are looking for candidates that have a BSN.

Following graduation, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to earn your Registered Nurse (RN) licensure.

Sometimes 2 to 3 years of bedside experience is preferred by healthcare employers. While not required, telephone and telehealth triage nurses may want to consider earning their Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC™).

Telehealth triage nurses earn an average annual salary of $59,376.

Informatics Nurse

Informatics nurses play a critical role in patient care. They develop and improve technology for medical record-keeping that helps avoid patient care delays, reduce healthcare costs, and prevent medical errors. Digitizing all patient healthcare records requires using specialized software. The trade-off is all healthcare team members can access accurate information for their patients. The other perk is the job can easily be done remotely, making it another top work-at-home nursing position.

While it is not required, it is recommended that informatics nurses hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Some nurses opt for a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus on informatics. The higher the level of education, the higher salary. Regardless of which degree you pursue, you must obtain your RN licensure before you can work as an informatics nurse. Additionally, some healthcare employers require candidates to hold an RN-BC Informatics Nurse Certification.

Informatics is a nursing field that is expected to grow by 9%t between now and 2025. The demand helps drive up salaries for this type of nursing. The current average annual salary is about $80,000.

RN Case Manager

RN case managers ensure the entire healthcare operation runs efficiently. They develop, implement, and review healthcare plans, which can be done on-site at a healthcare facility or remotely. Many RN case manager positions offer a work-at-home option. The goal is to balance patient outcomes with streamlined treatment costs to help healthcare providers stay on budget. Additionally, they serve as liaisons between medical practitioners and their patients.

To become an RN case manager requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), followed by passing the NCLEX-RN exam to earn RN licensure. Honing your skills and qualifications is the next step. Most nurses work as RNs for up to five years to gain the kind of bedside experience most healthcare employers prefer for this position. Choosing roles that focus on case management is recommended. Certification may also be required by some employers. There are four options:

The salary outlook for senior RN case managers is bright, with the average annual salary around $85,000 per year.

Nurse Recruiter

Nurse recruiters can work from virtually anywhere. They help medical companies and other healthcare providers find quality nursing candidates to fill open roles within their organizations. Nurse recruiters must have solid communication skills. These nurses essentially sell a healthcare employer by highlighting perks to attract nurses, so they must also possess excellent marketing abilities.

Most employers and nursing agencies require recruiters to hold the minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). No special certifications are required to work in this nursing field, but healthcare employers may require additional training beyond your nursing degree to work as a recruiter.

The average annual salary of nursing recruiters is $87,245.

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How to Become a Triage Nurse

Nurse Types / Triage Nurse

Patients require different levels of medical care depending on their circumstances. Someone who suffered trauma in an automobile accident would need immediate medical intervention, whereas a person who cut their finger and needed stitches could be stabilized while waiting for treatment. Triage nurses must quickly assess patient needs, determining the level of emergency care to push through the most critical cases. Working as part of the front-line healthcare team, triage nurses must keep their cool under tremendous pressure to ensure patients receive the care they need when they need it.

In this article we will explore:

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Duties of a triage nurse

A triage nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) with certification and training for dealing with medical emergencies. Most triage nurses work in emergency rooms and trauma centers. They provide professional nursing assessments, prioritize treatments according to urgency, and initiate medical care for patients who seek help in an emergency room.

Most triage nurses have a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, plus advanced certification. They need this advanced education and training to carry out their duties, which include making healthcare decisions based on rapidly changing circumstances. Triage nurses must have extensive knowledge for evaluating patient symptoms and making quick judgment calls on treatment.

Triage nurse education requirements

To become a triage nurse, candidates must first complete the appropriate nursing program. While it is true nurses can earn RN licensure with only an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), working as a triage nurse requires the minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Some nurses choose to complete their ADN and sit for the NCLEX-RN exam before returning to school to earn a BSN. This route allows RNs to gain nursing experience while continuing with their education. It can take three to four years to complete a traditional BSN program when attending full-time. RNs who work while finishing their schooling may take longer to earn their advanced degrees.

Triage nurse certification

Earning certification is the final step in becoming a triage nurse. Certification proves to healthcare employers that candidates have the competencies needed to work in this fast-paced nursing career. Here are some options for certification:

Certifications have eligibility requirements that must be met before nurses can enroll. Renewal periods for triage nurse certification programs vary, so it is best to check with the certifying body to ensure you meet all deadlines for renewal. There may also be continuing education requirements in order to qualify for some certifications.

Working from home as a triage nurse

With the rise of telehealth, some healthcare providers have hired triage nurses who can serve patients via telephone. Their roles are a bit different than traditional triage nurses who work in emergency rooms and trauma centers and see patients in person. Telephone triage nurses often work from their own homes, fielding calls from patients with varying health conditions. These nurses assess the situation and decide whether patients need to be seen by their regular healthcare provider or seek immediate care in the closest emergency room or trauma facility.

Telephone triage nurses must have the same competencies as their in-person counterparts. They must be able to quickly assess the information provided by the patient and make a judgment call on the level of triage needed:

  • Patient will live without immediate medical attention
  • Patient will die even with immediate medical attention
  • Patient will survive only if they receive immediate medical attention

Doing this over the phone poses challenges that other triage nurses do not encounter, which can make working as a telephone triage nurse more stressful.

Triage nurse job and salary outlook

The average annual wage for triage nurses is $51,521 to $73,784, as of May 27, 2022. Some of the highest-paying locations for triage nurses include:

  • San Francisco, CA
  • New York, NY
  • Boston, MA
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Chicago, IL

Demand for triage nurses, as with other RNs, is expected to grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The healthcare industry is expected to add another 276,800 RNs to the 3.08 million already in the workforce.

Need help finding a triage nursing position that fits your skills and goals for your nursing career? Check out Incredible Health’s Nursing Jobs Board. 

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At Incredible Health, it's a team effort to achieve our vision: Help healthcare professionals live better lives. Many are licensed practitioners themselves; others are simply passionate writers and leaders dedicated to providing valuable resources to nurses.

Read more from Incredible Health