So you’ve decided that you’re not happy in your current nursing role. What comes next? I’ll walk you through the first steps for your strategic exit.
This post was first published on my Medium blog—follow me there for the most up-to-date entries!
If you’ve been thinking about stepping away from bedside care, you’re not alone. A strategic exit from bedside nursing doesn’t need to be dramatic or scary — it can be thoughtful, gradual, and even energizing. You’ve already built a career helping others. Now it’s time to think about what’s next for you.
Here are six key principles to guide your path.
1. Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is critical to self-mastery. Dr. David Daniels talks about the 5 A’s of the universal growth process, and contends that the first “A” (awareness) is “a crucial first step” to any further personal or professional growth.
Ask yourself: Why do you want to leave, and what are you hoping to move toward? For many nurses, it’s about wanting a different pace, new challenges, or simply more control over your time.
Be honest about your motivations, your energy level, and your risk tolerance.
- Are you craving more creativity?
- Do you want to work from home?
- Are you hoping to escape burnout or physical exhaustion?
You don’t need to make a huge leap — you just need to know what matters most to you as you start exploring what’s next.
Give yourself permission to imagine something different. That clarity can shape everything that comes next.
2. Translation
Your skills as a nurse go far beyond patient care. Communication, critical thinking, leadership, education — these all translate beautifully to roles outside the hospital. The key is learning how to talk about them in new ways.
I’ve given some detail on transferable skills for nurses. But for now, let me hit a few highlights. For example, if you’ve precepted new hires or taught families about their diagnosis and treatment plan, that’s education. If you’ve been a charge nurse, that’s leadership. If you’ve juggled priorities while managing patient care, that’s related to project management. If you can persuade a crotchety old doctor to try something new, that’s communication.
Practice reframing what you already do in terms that match the industries you’re exploring. When you start seeing your work through a new lens, others will too.
3. Visibility
If I had to pick the one principle that helped me to make a strategic exit from bedside nursing, it would be visibility.
Visibility isn’t just about showing up on LinkedIn — it’s about letting people know who you are, what you’re good at, and what you’re interested in. And in my younger days, there was no social media, but I did take many other actions to stay visible.
I started saying yes to small opportunities: part-time work, freelance gigs, short-term contracts. I let colleagues know I was open to new roles. (Usually, colleagues who worked in other hospitals.) I connected with vendors and educators in my hospital. Those small actions built relationships — and they led to paid work.
With today’s social media you have a better shot at it than I did. You don’t need a massive platform. Just start showing up where the conversations are happening. Comment on posts. Offer your perspective. Answer a question. These actions might seem small, but they create momentum.
And when someone is asked “Do you know anyone who could help with…?”, you’re already on their radar.
Start saving the posts, bios, and ideas that resonate with you. It’s called a “swipe file” — a private stash of examples and inspiration from other people. Over time, it will help you figure out how you want to show up and communicate your own value.
4. Audit and align your presence
Do a quick online search of yourself. What shows up? Is your professional story accurate and aligned with the direction you want to go?
If you haven’t touched your LinkedIn in years, that’s okay. Start by adding a headline that reflects the direction you’re headed — not just the role you’re leaving. Update your summary with a few sentences about your skills beyond the bedside. Need more quick tips for spiffing up your LinkedIn file? I’ve given 50 quick tips to improve your LinkedIn presence. (Believe me, these are simple tips you can do quickly.)
If you’ve contributed to a committee, spoken at a conference, or created resources for others, include that information. You don’t need a flawless online presence. But a little intentional editing helps others understand what you bring to the table.
5. Consistency
Making a strategic exit from bedside nursing isn’t about walking out with a perfect plan. It’s about experimenting with small steps and doing them consistently.
For me, that meant juggling. I had a full-time job, but I also said yes to consulting, teaching, and small projects on the side. Eventually, those became the foundation for a full-time business. I didn’t plan the whole thing — I just followed the trail of opportunities that aligned with my strengths.
Keep talking about the same thing. Eventually someone will recognize you as the Queen of Something. The day I heard someone say, “Oh, ask Marie, she does that sort of thing,” I knew I had a bigger future. Word-of-mouth advertising costs nothing and is highly effective.
You don’t need to do everything at once. Just stay open, keep showing up, and trust that small, smart steps add up.
6. Financial strategy
You don’t need to have every dollar mapped out before making a change — but you do need a plan that fits your current situation and future goals. A strategic exit from bedside nursing doesn’t just involve work; it involves money, too.
Start with a financial check-in:
- What do you actually need to cover your monthly expenses?
- Do you rely on differentials, overtime, or a second job?
- Are there small ways to start building a cushion now — even $100/month?
If your hospital offers access to a fee-only financial advisor, take advantage of it. If not, consider a one-time consultation with someone who can help you think through taxes, benefits, and what a different income structure might mean for you. Your HR department may also know about free or low-cost options.
If you’re stepping away from a full-time role, explore healthcare coverage through COBRA or the ACA (“Obamacare”) Marketplace. It’s not glamorous, but it’s part of the strategy.
Let’s also talk about passive income — but not the kind everyone talks about. You don’t need real estate or a stock portfolio. You need something that takes what you already know and lets it work for you. That might mean:
- turning a workshop into a downloadable PDF
- offering a paid template, checklist, or training resource
- recording a short video series based on your expertise
If you’ve ever taught something informally, created staff education tools, or built a guide for patients, you already have material to build on. Just be sure to check whether your employer considers it theirs. I once asked if I could reuse a workshop I created in my paid position — and to my surprise, the hospital said yes! But it’s important to be respectful and ask.
I liked to teach, so that’s what I gravitated toward. To identify some ways to put your expertise into a teaching passive income, I strongly recommend Vladimir Raykov’s eBook, How To Build Your Successful Online Teaching Business.
I’m also a big fan of Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income podcast — it’s full of ideas for turning what you know into something you can share (and sell).
This isn’t about becoming a full-time entrepreneur right this minute. It’s about having options. And a little strategy now gives you more flexibility later.
Your next step to making a strategic exit from bedside nursing
If you’ve made it this far, you’re already on the path. Pick one small thing: reach out to a contact, update your profile, try a side gig. That’s how the transition starts — quietly, confidently, and on your terms.
And if you’re not sure where to begin — or if this all still feels overwhelming — book a free discovery call or DM me on LinkedIn. I’ll help you choose your next step with clarity and confidence.
You don’t have to leap. You can build your way out.
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This post was first published on my Medium blog—follow me there for the most up-to-date entries!