💼 Networking for Nurses: How to Find Jobs Outside the Hospital

(Especially Teaching, Education, and Non-Bedside Roles)

For many nurses, the desire to leave bedside doesn’t come from a lack of skill: it comes from burnout, capacity limits, and wanting a career that’s sustainable long-term.

But here’s the part no one teaches you in nursing school:

👉 Most non-hospital nursing roles are filled through relationships, not job boards.

That’s where networking comes in and no, it does not mean being fake, salesy, or “using” people.

First: Let’s Redefine Networking 

Networking is not:

• Cold DMs asking for jobs

• Posting “open to work” and hoping

• Bragging about yourself

• Feeling awkward and transactional

Networking is:

• Having professional conversations

• Learning how other nurses built their careers

• Letting people know what you’re curious about

• Staying visible and connected over time

If you can give a handoff, advocate for a patient, or collaborate on a unit, you already have the core skill set for networking.

Step 1: Get Clear on What Kind of “Outside the Hospital” You Mean

Before networking, nurses need direction, not perfection.

Some common non-hospital paths include:

• Nurse educator (clinical, academic, or corporate)

• Nursing faculty (community college, university, ADN/BSN programs)

• Clinical instructor or adjunct faculty

• Simulation educator

• Health education (public health, nonprofits)

• Corporate education (med device, pharma, health tech)

• Coaching, consulting, informatics, utilization review

You don’t need to pick one forever.
You just need a starting lane.

Step 2: Start Where Nurses Already Are (Low-Pressure Places)

🩺 Former Nurses Are Your Best Entry Point

The best networking conversations often start with:

“I’m a nurse who’s curious about how you made this transition.”

Look for:

• Former coworkers who left bedside

• Nurses teaching part-time

• Clinical instructors from nursing school

• Nurses with titles like “Educator,” “Instructor,” or “Faculty”

These conversations are informational, not job asks.

💻 LinkedIn (Used Strategically, Not Aggressively)

LinkedIn is one of the best tools for nurses transitioning out of bedside if used correctly.

How nurses should use it:

• Search job titles you’re curious about (e.g., “Nurse Educator”)

• Look at career paths, not job postings

• Send thoughtful, low-pressure connection requests

• Engage with posts from educators and nursing leaders

You are not asking for a job.
You are building familiarity.

Step 3: How to Reach Out (Scripts Nurses Can Actually Use)

Here’s a nurse-appropriate, non-cringey message:

“Hi ___, I’m a nurse currently working in ___ and I’ve been exploring non-bedside roles. I saw your transition into ___ and would love to hear how you got started, if you’re open to a short conversation.”

That’s it.

No resume.
No pressure.
No “pick your brain” energy.

Most nurses say yes, because someone helped them once.

Step 4: Teaching-Specific Networking (Where to Look)

If teaching is your goal, start here:

🏫 Community Colleges & ADN Programs

• Often need adjunct clinical instructors

• Less rigid requirements than universities

• Great entry point into education

🎓 Universities & BSN Programs

• Look for:

  • Adjunct faculty

  • Clinical instructors

  • Simulation lab educators

• Many roles are part-time first

🧠 Simulation Labs & Skills Centers

• High demand

• Often overlooked

• Strong bridge role for bedside nurses

🗂️ Nursing Education Conferences & CE Events

• Local or state-level nursing education events

• Even virtual attendance counts

• Chat boxes and follow-ups = networking

Step 5: Understand the Hidden Hiring Reality

Here’s the truth most nurses don’t hear:

👉 Many education roles are filled before they’re posted publicly.

Why?

• Departments want trusted clinicians

• Adjunct roles are often referral-based

• Faculty want people who “fit the culture”

Networking puts you on the short list before the posting ever goes live.

Step 6: Make Yourself “Education-Adjacent” (Even Before You Get the Role)

You don’t need the title yet, you need signals.

Ways nurses quietly position themselves:

• Precepting new grads

• Helping with orientation

• Teaching in-services

• Guest lecturing

• Supporting students clinically

• Getting a teaching certificate or MSN (optional, not always required)

This gives you talking points, not just interest.

Step 7: Play the Long Game (This Is Key)

Networking for nurses is rarely instant.

Think:

• 3–6 months of conversations

• Light follow-ups

• Staying visible

• Letting people know when you’re open to opportunities

This is career gardening, not job hunting.

NurseMoneyDate® Perspective (Big Picture)

Leaving bedside is not about escaping nursing.
It’s about expanding how nursing shows up in your life.

Networking:

• Reduces risk

• Increases optionality

• Prevents panic pivots

• Honors your experience instead of abandoning it

You don’t need to reinvent yourself.
You need to translate your skills into new rooms.

Bottom Line 

You already know how to:
✔ communicate
✔ build trust
✔ collaborate
✔ advocate

Networking is just doing that professionally.

Start with curiosity.
Start with conversations.
Start before you’re desperate.

That’s how nurses build careers outside the hospital sustainably.