The healthcare field is vast, offering many opportunities beyond direct patient care. Whether you’re looking to step away from bedside nursing or just want to explore different avenues in healthcare, there are several rewarding jobs that allow you to leverage your expertise without day-to-day patient interaction. Here are six roles where you can make an impact behind the scenes.

I’m not going to lie and say that you’ll be able to jump directly into all of these roles. You may need education or certifications beyond what you currently have. I’m not even going to be able to include every possible path to get you where you want to go. But hopefully I can give you some starting points.

1. Healthcare Informatics Specialist

With the increasing reliance on electronic health records (EHR) and data-driven decision-making, healthcare informatics is a growing field. Informatics specialists focus on managing and analyzing healthcare data to improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and enhance the efficiency of healthcare systems.

Responsibilities:

• Implement and optimize EHR systems
• Analyze healthcare data to identify trends
• Collaborate with IT teams to improve data management
• Ensure compliance with healthcare data regulations (e.g., HIPAA)

Qualifications:

• A background in healthcare (nursing, medicine, or allied health)
• Experience or training in IT, data science, or informatics
• Certifications like Certified Health Informatics Systems Professional (CHISP) or a master’s degree in health informatics

Consider baby steps if you aren’t quite sure this is the path for you. Some coding knowledge will be necessary, so consider looking at basic coding classes on Udemy and Coursera. You can even take free courses through Harvard and MIT. 

Helpful resources:

• Udemy
• Coursera
• Harvard
• MIT
• ASHIM (Association of Healthcare IT Professionals certification)

Average Salary:

$80,000 – $120,000 per year, depending on location and experience.

2. Medical Coding and Billing Specialist

Medical coders and billers play a crucial role in the financial side of healthcare. They ensure that patient diagnoses, treatments, and services are accurately coded and billed to insurance companies, enabling healthcare providers to get reimbursed for their services.

Responsibilities:

• Translate patient records into standard medical codes (ICD-10, CPT)
• Prepare and submit insurance claims
• Resolve billing discrepancies and insurance rejections
• Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and coding standards

Qualifications:

• Certification in medical coding (e.g., CPC, CCS)
• Strong attention to detail and knowledge of medical terminology
• No direct patient contact is required

Every coding position I have found requires certification. If you would like more information, I strongly recommend looking through the link below to learn more about the different certifications that are available. Be sure to look at your local technical college for coding courses as well. I just looked up my local tech college, and the total cost for all of the coding courses was just under $3,000.

Helpful resources:

• American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
• American Medical Billing Association (AMBA)
• National Cancer Registrar Association (NCRA)

Average Salary:

$40,000 – $65,000 per year, with remote work options available.

3. Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Regulatory affairs professionals ensure that healthcare products and devices comply with government regulations. This is a vital role, particularly in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech industries, ensuring new drugs and devices are safe and effective.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare and submit regulatory documents for product approval
• Work with the FDA or other regulatory bodies
• Ensure compliance with laws and regulations throughout the product lifecycle
• Collaborate with research and development teams to meet regulatory standards

Qualifications:

• A science or healthcare-related degree (nursing, pharmacy, biology, etc.)
• Knowledge of regulatory guidelines (FDA, EMA)
• Attention to detail and strong project management skills

If regulatory affairs is your end goal, its time to be the person in your unit or department who volunteers for the extras. Your resume will look better if you have experience in performance improvement and experience working with interdepartmental committees. Also, you’ll get some excellent networking done when you participate in these committees.

Here are some examples of regulatory positions I’ve found, and for different backgrounds. These are examples to help you look at wording when searching, and the experience you need to work on to move into this direction.

• Anyone
• Pharmacist
• Intern

Helpful resources:

• Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Average Salary:

$70,000 – $130,000 per year, depending on experience and industry.

4. Medical Writing

Medical writers bridge the gap between complex scientific information and the healthcare professionals or patients who need it. Whether you’re creating clinical study reports, medical education materials, or content for pharmaceutical companies, this role allows you to stay connected to healthcare without patient-facing responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

• Write clinical study reports, research papers, or regulatory documents
• Develop educational content for healthcare professionals
• Create patient education materials or pharmaceutical product literature
• Work with scientific and regulatory teams to ensure accuracy

Qualifications:

• Strong writing skills with a background in healthcare or life sciences
• Experience or certification in medical writing (e.g., through the American Medical Writers Association)
• Ability to translate complex medical information into clear, concise content

Here are a couple of job post examples for your search:

• Medical Writer
• Senior Medical Writer

Helpful Resources:

• For Physicians
• For everyone– I know this says RN all over the website, but the author, Elizabeth Hanes, specifies that its appropriate for anyone

Average Salary:

$60,000 – $100,000 per year, depending on experience and scope of work.

5. Clinical Research Associate (CRA)

Clinical research associates are essential to the development of new treatments and medications. They work behind the scenes to manage clinical trials, ensuring that the research is conducted in compliance with regulatory guidelines and ethical standards.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor clinical trials to ensure adherence to protocols
• Oversee the recruitment and data collection processes
• Communicate with research sites and ensure compliance with regulations
• Review and analyze trial data for accuracy

Qualifications:

• A degree in nursing, life sciences, or healthcare
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial protocols and regulatory requirements
• Certifications like Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) 

If your hospital has a strong research department, I recommend starting here. You will most likely still have some patient interaction at this level. The next step up would be working directly for pharmaceutical companies. You probably will not have any patient interactions at this level, but will have a lot of travel.

Helpful resources:

• Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)

Average Salary:

$65,000 – $110,000 per year, with potential for travel if overseeing multiple trial sites.

6. Healthcare Educators

Education roles in healthcare are diverse, allowing professionals to apply their expertise in training the next generation of providers, supporting staff on hospital units, or educating healthcare teams on new devices and software. Healthcare educators work in various settings, from classrooms to corporate offices, and focus on empowering others without direct patient contact.

Healthcare education is also a good place for a side job. Medical device companies will frequently hire PRN positions to work once or twice a month. I also know someone who teaches nursing school classes- she typically works 1-2 days per week teaching clinicals. 

Types of Educators:

• Classroom Educators: Teach nursing, medical, or allied health students in academic institutions.
• Unit-Based Educators: Support staff in hospitals, ensuring compliance with protocols and providing ongoing education.
• Medical Device Educators: Train healthcare providers on safely using medical equipment.
• Pharmaceutical Educators: Focus on educating healthcare teams about disease states, new medications and treatment options.
• Clinical Application Specialists: Provide training on Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, guiding healthcare teams on best practices and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver training sessions tailored to specific roles
• Create educational materials and presentations
• Assess learners’ understanding and competency in new skills
• Stay current with industry changes to update training programs

Qualifications:

• A background in healthcare (nursing, medicine, pharmacy, or similar)
• Advanced knowledge in a specific area of expertise (e.g., EHRs, medical devices)
• Strong teaching and communication skills, often with certifications in education or a master’s degree

Helpful resources:

• National League for Nursing (NLN)

Average Salary:

$60,000 – $150,000 per year, depending on specialty and setting.

Conclusion

Healthcare is a field full of diverse opportunities. Stepping away from patient interaction doesn’t mean leaving impact behind; it means applying your healthcare experience in new ways. Start small with a course, connect with someone in a role that interests you, and begin your journey to a fulfilling non-patient-facing career.