It’s common to want a career change, no matter what profession you work in. This article will explore the most common career change for nurses in the UK and tell you how exactly to prepare for the move.
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Why Do Nurses Want to Change Careers?
Although working in the medical field can be an incredibly rewarding job, it is a challenging role, leading to many in the sector looking for alternative careers for nurses.
According to Nursing in Practice, 28% of GPNs have thought about leaving the practice within the next year. This is largely down to feeling undervalued and concerns over pay in this role.
However, there are many different reasons for why those in the profession are seeking alternative jobs for nurses in the UK and we’ll explore these below:
Financial Reasons
According to Indeed, the average salary for a registered nurse in England is £37,369 whereas the starting salary is just over £23,000 for newly qualified nurses. Many nurses consider career changes in the UK as they don’t believe the salary is reflective of the work and stress which comes with the job.
There are careers other than nursing which can provide similar or higher salaries as well as career progression opportunities.
However, you don’t have to leave the medical profession entirely as your skills could be useful and set you apart from other candidates in roles such as:
- Nurse Consultant
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Medical Sales Executive
For more career change ideas, check out our article: 17 Career Change Ideas & How to Achieve Them.
Burnout and Stress
Nursing is a high-pressure job role, consisting of long hours, emotional situations, and physical demands. This makes it a stressful job, leading to both mental and physical burnout.
According to NHS Sickness Absence Rates from January 2024, anxiety, stress, depression, and other psychiatric illnesses was the most reported reason for sickness, accounting for over 587,100 full time equivalent days lost and 24.3% of all sickness absence in January 2024.
If you’re feeling burnout in this profession, a new career may be just the thing to make you feel refreshed and motivated once again!
Work/Life Balance
Long work hours and constant shift work can have a major impact on your health and personal life. If you’re finding it difficult to fit in childcare, hobbies, or even spending quality time with your friends and family, you should consider some career changes for nurses and find a more flexible role.
You Just Want To!
However, while there are many reasons people consider alternative careers for nurses, sometimes there doesn’t need to be a dramatic reason! Sometimes, you just want a new change and a fresh start.
Life is too short not to pursue the things you want. It’s not too late to make a change and start a new career.
15 Alternative Jobs for Nurses in the UK
There are plenty of career changes for nurses in the UK! Below, we’ll explore 15 different roles to help you settle on a new role that can be rewarding in every way.
1 – Nurse Educator
The role of an educator is to mentor and teach future nurses. Their responsibilities include:
- Supervising internships and residencies
- Conducting tests and assessments
- Leading lessons
- Personally mentoring nursing students
In this role you will work in a medical facility, providing continuous training and development to the nursing team.
Transferable Skills: Instruction and communication, clinical knowledge, practical experience, empathy.
Average Salary: £44,077
How to Transition: To start this career, you’ll already have the clinical experience and qualifications from working as a nurse. However, this usually requires you to pursue further education such as a PGCE or a Master’s degree in Nursing education.
2 – Personal Trainer
Personal trainers help clients achieve their health and fitness goals, ranging from weight loss to strength training. This is done by creating and delivering bespoke fitness programmes, performing health checks, tracking client progress, and providing nutrition advice.
You can pursue a range of employment opportunities such as being contracted to a gym, going freelance, or even starting your own business.
Transferable Skills: Communication, empathy, assessing health status and fitness plans.
Average Salary: £31,174
How to Transition: To become a personal trainer, you’ll need to pursue a Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer to gain employment.
However, you can also complete a Personal Trainer Diploma which combines both these qualifications and is the quickest and most affordable way to get qualified.
3 – Healthcare Administrator
A healthcare administrator is responsible for managing or helping to manage a healthcare facility such as a hospital or clinic. In this role, you will oversee functions like financial management, patient care, managing staff, and ensuring regulation compliance. This is a ‘behind the scenes’ role as you will ensure the smooth running of the healthcare facility.
Transferable Skills: Knowledge of healthcare policies and regulations, organisation, problem-solving.
Average Salary: £23,623
How to Transition: To gain more experience for this role, you could take on responsibilities such as a shift leader or volunteer for nurse duties which include coordinating patient care and managing staff.
You could also get mentoring from current nursing leaders who can help you gain the correct experience for this role and transfer.
4 – Clinical Research Associate
As a clinical research associate, you’ll manage and monitor clinical trials, ensuring they adhere to regulations, protocols, and ethical guidelines. Those in this role play a vital part in ensuring the safety of new and current therapies and drugs before they are released to the public, examining the risks and benefits of each.
You’ll be involved in the whole process of the clinical trial, which includes identifying an investigational site and setting up, initiating, monitoring, and ending the trial.
Transferable Skills: Attention to detail, patient monitoring and ethical considerations, knowledge of medical treatment and protocols.
Average Salary: £40,704
How to Transition: To transition from a nursing background and become a clinical research associate, you can pursue a relevant postgraduate degree, gain experience in a clinical research setting, or consider pursuing certifications like those offered by the Institute of Clinical Research.
5 – Paramedic
Our next role is in the same field as the nursing profession. However, these healthcare professionals provide pre-hospital medical care and transport patients, often in emergency situations.
Responsibilities include assessing patients, driving emergency vehicles, and providing medical assistance to name a few.
Transferable Skills: High-pressure decision-making, first aid and trauma management, ability to work in a high-stress environment.
Average Salary: £39,528
How to Transition: To transition from a nurse to a paramedic, you can enrol on a postgraduate course such as an MSc in Paramedic Science, if you’re already a registered nurse this will look great on your application.
6 – Counsellor or Mental Health Therapist
Counsellors and mental health therapists help people overcome mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. They will do this by engaging in face-to-face and online sessions, building relationships, creating care plans, and assisting clients in finding solutions to their problems.
Transferable Skills: Crisis intervention, mental health knowledge, active listening, patient communication and emotional support.
Average Salary: £30,865
How to Transition: As a nurse already with a degree, you can pursue accredited counselling qualifications beginning with a Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling such as with the Open University. You also must gain practical experience through voluntary work or supervised placements.
You’ll also need to register with a professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is often required for professional practice.
7 – Yoga Instructor
The role of a yoga instructor is to plan and deliver yoga classes to individuals or groups of students, helping them improve their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. This also involves teaching various yoga postures or asanas, breathing techniques, and meditation. You will also focus on ensuring safety and proper technique with students.
Transferable Skills: Holistic health and wellbeing, communication, teaching, patience.
Average Salary: £26,272
How to Transition: To become a yoga instructor, you need to complete a Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga. This will give you the necessary skills, qualifications and experience to find employment, work freelance, or start your own business.
8 – Legal Nurse Consultant
The role of a legal nurse consultant is to use their clinical expertise and knowledge to assist lawyers with legal cases involving medical issues. They are the bridge between the legal and medical professions, helping lawyers to better understand cases consisting of medical evidence.
Transferable Skills: Documentation and report writing, understanding of medical ethics and patient care, analytical skills to assess medical records.
Average Salary: £67,483
How to Transition: As a nurse, you’ll already have the experience required. Ideally, you should have 5 years of experience. However, you will need to have legal training which can be obtained through a Legal Nurse Consulting programme. You should then get certified, such as with the Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) credential.
9 – Public Health Advisor
The role of a public health advisor is to provide assistance and guidance to improve public health programmes, ensuring they align with national goals. This is an ideal career change for nurses as you will help the public reduce their risk of disease by making healthier lifestyle choices such as stopping smoking, eating healthier, and being active.
Transferable Skills: Health education, knowledge of disease prevention and epidemiology, leadership and strategic planning.
Average Salary: £26,343
How to Transition: As you’re already a nurse, you will already have the necessary relevant degree and work experience so further qualifications aren’t required to make the switch.
However, you could also enrol on a Level 4 Sports Nutrition Course to give you an advantage over candidates. It increases your credibility as you’ll be able to combine your nutrition and fitness knowledge to help clients more successfully reach their goals.
10 – Nutrition Coach
As a nutrition coach, you will provide clients with nutrition advice and customised meal plans to help them live healthier lives and achieve their wellness goals. With the focus being on helping people make better lifestyle choices through food and drink consumption, this is a great alternative career for nurses.
Transferable Skills: Nutrition and health knowledge, counselling skills to support behaviour change, patient education, active listening.
Average Salary: £30,299
How to Transition: To become a nutritionist, you’ll need to complete a Level 4 Sports Nutrition Course. This course will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to create bespoke meal plans and help a range of clients achieve healthier lifestyles and reach their goals.
11 – Aesthetic Nurse
Aesthetic nurses are registered professionals who specialise in providing non-surgical cosmetic procedures. They usually work in locations such as:
- Plastic surgery consultants
- Dermatology clinics
- Medical spas
Aesthetic nurses administer treatments such as botox, dermal fillers, laser treatments, chemical peels, and microneedling.
Transferable Skills: Hands-on patient care, precision, knowledge of infection control, interpersonal skills.
Average Salary: Between £35,000 to £40,000
How to Transition: To transition to an aesthetic nurse, specialised training is important. There are courses you can complete such as botox and dermal filler certifications, as well as skin rejuvenation and laser safety (to name just a few).
You should also purchase cosmetic or aesthetics insurance to provide you with financial protection in the event a client makes a claim against you.
12 – Care Home Manager
A care home manager supervises and manages the daily operations of a residential care home or facility. They ensure the delivery of high quality care, manage staff, and oversee the financial side of the facility. As this role is about providing care, your skills and experience as a nurse will be incredibly beneficial when caring for special populations.
Transferable Skills: Patient care and healthcare regulations knowledge, problem-solving, conflict resolution, empathy and understanding.
Average Salary: Starting from £25,000
How to Transition: As your nursing degree and experience is relevant to this role, you will be able to apply for entry-level jobs to work as a nurse in a care home.
This initial role will help you gain further relevant experience, from there you can take on more responsibilities to eventually build up to a management role. Be aware, to be eligible for this position you’ll also have to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
13 – Medical Sales Representative
The role of a medical sales representative in the healthcare industry is to act as a link between those who manufacture medical products and healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and hospital staff. They help promote and sell pharmaceuticals, diagnostic equipment, medical devices, and biotech products.
Transferable Skills: Clinical knowledge, relationship building, understanding of medical terminology and procedures.
Average Salary: £26,322
How to Transition: As you’ll already have a relevant degree and experience from working as a nurse, to pursue this role, you can take a course such as CNPR (Certified National Pharmaceutical Representative) which is recognised in the UK. You can also explore UK-based resources like ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry).
14 – Midwife
A midwife is a healthcare professional who specialises in providing maternal and newborn care, providing support during pregnancy, labour, delivery, and postpartum. As a nurse, this is a great career change as you will use your prior experience with patients to create a safe and welcoming environment for expecting parents.
Transferable Skills: Patient care, empathy, medical assessment and emergency response skills, knowledge of body and health.
Average Salary: £43,020
How to Transition: While a degree in midwifery is required, as a nurse you can undertake a shorter course which takes 18 months to complete. You can then register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
15 – Sports Massage Therapist
Sports massage therapy is a physical therapy used to reduce inflammation, alleviate muscle soreness, prevent injuries, and assist in recovery. In this role, you will test joints for pain and motion, create rehabilitation programmes for clients, and provide pre and post massages before sport events.
Transferable Skills: Knowledge of musculoskeletal systems, patient care and hands-on treatment, and assessing physical conditions.
Average Salary: Between £22,000 to £40,000
How to Transition: To become a sports massage therapist, you will need to complete a Level 3 Sports Massage Course. You can then gain a Level 4 Sports Massage qualification to boost your career and knowledge.
Preparing for a Career Transition
Assessing Your Skills and Interests
The best way to settle on a new career is to evaluate your current nursing skills and transferable strengths to align with new career opportunities. If you’re unsure of what direction to take your career or life, you should identify what you enjoy.
For example, do you love going to the gym or are you more passionate about yoga? By thinking about what you like to do in your free time, you will find it easier to decide on an alternative career and will be more inclined to pursue it.
If you’d like to develop some new and unique hobbies, check out our 23 Alternative and Unusual Fitness Classes for inspiration.
Researching Potential Career Paths
Using sources like this blog, you can explore alternative careers that leverage your nursing expertise, suit your salary, job demand, and line up with any personal interests you have.
You should then use these resources to make a list of potential career opportunities in a creative way that works best for you, such as vision boards, bullet points, Venn diagrams, or spreadsheets.
Acquiring Additional Qualifications or Training
Before you pursue alternative careers for nurses, you should identify any certifications, qualifications, or further training necessary to transition smoothly into your chosen career path. To accurately estimate your next move, you should see what steps are required and how long they will take to get you started.
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FAQs
What Transferable Skills Do Nurses Have For Other Professions?
There are many transferable skills nurses possess which are valuable in other professions. As strong communication is essential as a nurse, this allows you to interact clearly and effectively with a range of individuals across many careers.
Critical thinking and problem solving are also important in this profession, helping nurses to make decisions while under a lot of pressure. Other transferable skills nurses have which can be used in alternative careers include handling multiple tasks, excellent time management, and organisational skills.
As a nurse, you will also have a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. This knowledge is ideal when transferring to roles such as personal training, yoga instructing, and becoming a paramedic, meaning you will find it easier to undertake the studying and training required for these jobs.
Do I Need Additional Qualifications to Switch From Nursing to Another Career?
Whether or not you need qualifications largely depends on the career you choose to pursue. If you’re moving into fields such as education or counselling, further qualifications will be required. However, other roles may put more of an emphasis on experience, such as a position in a care home.
Careers such as medical sales, case management, or healthcare administration usually allow nurses to transfer with minimal training. However, roles such as personal training will require you to pursue different qualifications and experience.
For example, if you are looking to enter the fitness industry, you will need to enrol on personal trainer courses. If you’re currently a nurse without any fitness qualifications, the best way to pursue this career is with our Personal Trainer Diploma. This is the quickest and most affordable way to gain the necessary qualifications to get started!
How Can I Start the Process of Changing Careers From Nursing?
To begin the process of changing careers from nursing, you should reflect on what you enjoy the most and the kind of skills you’d like to use in a new role. You can then identify careers that align with these interests and research the requirements necessary for these roles.
Once you’ve decided on jobs or roles to pursue, you can update your CV to reflect these transferable skills such as showcasing time management, problem solving, and working under pressure.
Networking is also key, meaning you should connect with professionals in your desired field by attending events or using platforms such as LinkedIn. You can also begin taking short courses if your new career requires additional knowledge or experience.
Lastly, you can research job openings for roles you’re interested in and tailor your CV to each individual role as this will increase your chances. You should use job listing websites such as Indeed or Reed to apply for any available positions.
