Career Paths: Choosing Between Clinical and Non-Clinical Nursing

Whether you’re thinking about pursuing a nursing degree or are already working in the field, there’s a good chance you associate the idea of nursing with providing direct care to patients. And while it’s true that many nursing roles are clinical in nature, there are also plenty of non-clinical careers in nursing that can be just as rewarding and fulfilling.

So, what are the differences between clinical and non-clinical nursing—and how can you decide which path is right for you?

Understanding Clinical Nursing

In simplest terms, clinical careers in nursing involve direct contact with patients in a hospital, doctor’s office, or other clinical setting.

What Exactly Is a Clinical Nurse?

A clinical nurse is a nursing professional who works directly with patients to provide them with the best care possible. Clinical nurses may take a patient’s vital signs, administer medication, follow a physician-directed treatment plan, and provide patients with information related to their care. Essentially, a clinical nurse meets face-to-face (or virtually, in some cases) with patients to diagnose, treat, and care for patients in a clinical healthcare setting.

What Are the Different Nursing Career Opportunities?

If you’re interested in clinical nursing, there are a number of potential career paths to explore. Many clinical nurses start out as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs) with a minimum of a nursing certificate or associate degree in nursing.

From there, some nurses go on to pursue their registered nurse (RN) licenses, which requires them to pass a licensing exam and have a minimum of an associate degree (or sometimes a bachelor’s degree) in nursing.

More advanced clinical nursing roles may require a master’s degree in nursing (MSN), as is the case with nurse practitioners (NPs) and similar jobs.

Pros vs. Cons

Many people who go into nursing pursue clinical roles, and for good reason. When you work face-to-face with patients, you can enjoy the sense of fulfillment that comes with having a direct impact on their outcomes. In this sense, many clinical nurses find this type of work highly rewarding. This is especially true for clinical nurses who pursue specializations in pediatrics, geriatrics, or other areas where they can care for particular populations of patients.

On the other hand, working in clinical nursing can also be exhausting and mentally draining. Clinical nurses often work long hours on the floor—and shifts may be overnight or even on weekends. This, combined with the inherent emotional challenges that can accompany seeing patients suffer from poor outcomes, may make clinical nursing roles overwhelming for some.

Understanding Non-Clinical Nursing

If you want to work in nursing but aren’t sure if you want to provide direct patient care, another path to consider is working in non-clinical nursing.

What Is Non-Clinical Nursing?

Non-clinical nursing refers to roles where workers do not provide hands-on care or treatment to patients. These professionals may still interact or otherwise come into contact with patients during their work, but they are not responsible for providing any kind of medical care.

Those with a nursing degree may pursue various non-clinical roles, including:

• Medical coder/biller
• Medical transcriptionist
• Nursing administrative assistant
• Healthcare administrator/executive

Likewise, some hospitals and other medical facilities also hire non-clinical RNs, or registered nurses who take on more of an advisory role in providing advice and performing administrative tasks at a medical office.

What Is the Career Outlook?

The career outlook for non-clinical nursing roles can vary depending on the exact career path you’re considering. For example, some nursing professionals who want to pivot to a non-clinical role pursue jobs in medical billing and coding.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for medical records specialists is projected to grow 8% between 2022 and 2032, which is faster than the national average for all occupations.

Meanwhile, the job outlook for medical and health services managers is even stronger, with a projected growth of 28% between 2022 and 2032.

Pros vs. Cons

Working in non-clinical nursing roles can provide a greater sense of normalcy for those who want to work more “traditional” hours. Non-clinical nurses are less likely to work odd hours and may also spend less time on their feet. However, they don’t usually have the opportunity to interact as much with patients or participate in their care—which could be a drawback for nursing professionals who are used to being involved with patient care.

Making the Decision

Now that you have a better understanding of the differences between clinical and non-clinical nursing roles, how can you decide which is ideal for you?

Self-Assessment

Start by taking some time to consider your own preferences, interests, and priorities when it comes to your career. How important is working directly with patients? If contributing to patient outcomes is one of the main reasons you want to get into nursing, then you would probably be more content in a clinical role. If maintaining a traditional schedule with normal hours is more important to you, however, a non-clinical administrative role may be right up your alley.

Network With Professionals in Each Field

Speaking with professionals on both the clinical and non-clinical sides of the field can also help you reach your decision. These conversations can provide some valuable insights into the potential pros and cons of both sides, which may make it easier for you to decide on the path that’s best for you.

Further Education and Specialization

Consider, too, what kind of additional education or specialization you may need to work in your preferred side of the field. Those interested in an administrative leadership or management role, for instance, may need to pursue an advanced degree (such as an MSN or even an MBA in healthcare administration). Likewise, many specialized clinical nursing roles require special certification or licensure.

What Does the Future Look Like?

In choosing between a clinical and non-clinical nursing career path, it’s also essential to consider what the future of these fields may look like based on emerging technologies and predicted trends.

New Fields for Both Careers in Nursing

On both sides of nursing, new roles continue to emerge as the concept of care evolves. For example, more hospitals and healthcare facilities are hiring virtual care nurses, care coordinators, and even nurse navigators to provide both clinical and non-clinical care to patients.

How Is Technology Changing the Field?

In addition, advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming the way care is provided to patients. AI technology is already being used to help nurses make diagnoses on the clinical side. It is also becoming useful in automating tedious manual tasks (like data entry) in non-clinical nursing and administrative roles.

Flexibility Between Going From Clinical to Non-Clinical

If you are already working in a clinical nursing role, the good news is that transitioning to a non-clinical role is usually relatively simple and straightforward—as you already have a robust understanding of the different administrative systems in place within a medical facility. This previous experience and knowledge can help to ease the transition, while your past clinical work can inform your decision-making in a non-clinical role.

Explore Diverse Nursing Programs at Carson-Newman University

There are numerous career opportunities to explore in both the clinical and non-clinical sides of nursing. If you prefer providing direct, hands-on care to patients, you may be better suited for a “traditional” clinical role. On the other hand, if you’re interested in working behind the scenes in an administrative role, then a non-clinical career in nursing may be ideal for you.

No matter where your nursing passion lies, having the right education can make all the difference in your career success. At Carson-Newman, our Christian university is proud to offer a number of dedicated nursing programs to help you pursue your professional goals. This includes our popular Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), offered through our College of Professional Studies.

Learn more about our how Carson-Newman’s nursing programs (including online programs with stress-free clinical placements) will help you reach your full potential as a worldwide servant leader by reaching out today. Then, get started with your online application for enrollment!