Nontraditional Workplaces for Nurse Practitioners
Published on: November 7, 2022
If you've only encountered nurse practitioners in a doctor's office or hospital, those settings represent just a fraction of where NPs actually work. Beyond traditional medical offices, hospitals, urgent care facilities and surgical clinics, NPs are increasingly filling roles across a much wider range of industries and environments. Many of these nontraditional positions offer distinct advantages including greater autonomy, flexible or part-time scheduling and in some cases the ability to work remotely.
What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?
A nurse practitioner providing direct patient care can perform most of the functions of a primary care physician, including diagnosing and treating patients without physician oversight in many states. NPs can make referrals, order diagnostic tests and write prescriptions based on patient needs.
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the growth of NPs in the U.S. healthcare system has meaningfully increased access to quality care while reducing overall costs and improving patient outcomes.
10 Nontraditional Nurse Practitioner Jobs
From research labs to courtrooms to mobile clinics, here are ten nontraditional roles where NPs are making an impact.
1. Medical Writer
Because their clinical knowledge can approach or even exceed that of a physician, nurse practitioners are strong candidates for medical writing work. Medical journals, healthcare publications and academic organizations frequently hire NPs to contribute their expertise. NPs also write grant proposals and serve as consultants for fictional portrayals of nurses in books, film and television. Established clinical experience is typically required to write credibly in this field.
2. Researcher
NPs who prefer laboratory or academic environments over clinical settings may find research to be an ideal fit. Research nurse practitioners contribute to clinical studies and trials involving new medications, vaccines, equipment and procedures. They play a particularly valuable role in advancing the quality and evidence base of nursing practice.
3. Nursing Professor
Teaching is a well-established nontraditional path for experienced NPs. Nursing faculty positions typically offer structured schedules, and NPs with strong academic and clinical backgrounds are consistently in demand at nursing schools. As with medical writing and research, a combination of graduate education and hands-on clinical experience is essential.
4. Medical Aesthetics
Aesthetic medicine is a growing specialty that has expanded significantly over the past two decades. NPs in this field perform procedures including cosmetic injectables, laser treatments and skin care consultations. The specialty requires additional training and certification beyond standard NP credentials but offers a distinct clinical environment unlike traditional healthcare settings.
5. Telemedicine
Telemedicine nurse practitioners deliver health consultations, patient education and treatment remotely through video platforms, online patient portals, phone and other digital communication tools. Demand for telemedicine services has grown substantially in recent years, creating a steady supply of remote NP positions across specialties.
6. Correctional Care
The American correctional system employs medical professionals to provide ongoing care for incarcerated populations across county, state and federal facilities. Correctional care NPs deliver the full range of diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative services that large residential populations require. It is a stable and consistently in-demand setting for NPs who want to work directly with patients in a nontraditional environment.
7. Legal Nurse Practitioner Consultant
Nurse practitioners are well-positioned to serve as legal consultants on cases involving medical injury, workers' compensation, malpractice and other health-related matters. In this role, an NP reviews and interprets medical records and health documentation to support legal proceedings. Legal NP consultants may also provide expert testimony in court.
8. Home Health NP
Home health has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in healthcare, driven by patient demand for care in their own homes and the expansion of health organizations dedicated to serving that need. Home health NPs provide assessment, treatment and ongoing management for patients who may have limited mobility or prefer to avoid clinical settings.
9. Mobile Medical Clinic
Mobile medical clinics are healthcare facilities designed to bring care directly to underserved communities and patient populations that face barriers to accessing traditional facilities. Like their brick-and-mortar counterparts, mobile clinics can provide general family care or focus on a specific specialty. As demand for community-based health services grows, nurse practitioners are an increasingly central part of mobile clinic staffing.
10. Health Ethnography
Health ethnography involves the study of how culture, beliefs and behavior influence health outcomes and the patient experience in clinical environments. NPs with strong research and communication skills are well-suited to this work, applying their clinical perspective to analyze how patient customs and expectations shape healthcare delivery. The goal is to improve patient experiences and outcomes through a deeper understanding of cultural context.
Start Your NP Career at Husson University Online
Husson University offers three graduate-level MSN programs and three post-master's certificates, all delivered fully online, to help aspiring NPs meet a range of specific career goals:
- Master of Science in Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master's Nursing Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master's Nursing Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master's Nursing Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Ready to take the next step? Explore our online nursing programs or contact us to speak with an advisor.
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