As the healthcare system continues to shift from acute- to community-based care, an expanded nursing workforce prepared to work in non-traditional settings of care is becoming increasingly important.

Nursing Beyond the Bedside: 60 Non-Hospital Careers in Nursing, published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), provides nurses, nursing students, and others exploring careers in nursing with information about the various career opportunities available to them outside of the hospital setting. Author Susan E. Lowey, PhD, RN, CHPN, covers occupations in diverse settings and specialties, such as childbirth education, camp nursing, domestic violence nursing, correctional facility nursing, telemedicine nursing, military nursing, and more. 

The book is uniquely organized according to care population age ranges and developmental stages, and includes a basic description of the career, the required education or skills, typical work hours and settings, availability of specialty certifications associated with the job, and links to professional organizations and online resources for that specialty. Several excerpts from nurses currently working in each particular field are also included. 

“The nursing profession often loses qualified individuals because they are not aware of the non-traditional opportunities available for nursing practice,” Lowey said. “My hope is that Nursing Beyond the Bedside acts as a guide for those pursuing a nursing education or nursing professionals looking to make a career change, ultimately helping them find a nursing job right for them.

The book is available at http://www.nursingknowledge.org/sttibooks.