Beyond Primary Care: 11 Nontraditional Nurse Practitioner Careers
Have you been thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner? Are you curious about the road less traveled? If so, you are in the right place! We've rounded up 11 alternative jobs for nurse practitioners that may intrigue you.
At Wilkes University, we know that nurses are talented individuals with boundless compassion and critical thinking. We help them use those qualities to become nurse practitioners who are highly qualified for traditional and nontraditional career paths.
You might already know about in-demand specializations like Psychiatric-Mental Health, Family, or Adult-Gerontology—yet there are many ways to pursue rewarding work in advanced practice nursing.
In this blog, we will help you explore different types of nurse practitioner jobs you can earn with an MSN-NP degree and additional certificates or on-the-job training.
1. Dermatology Nurse Practitioner
Dermatology nurse practitioners care for patients of all ages to treat conditions related to skin, hair and nails. They work in dermatology clinics, academic settings and specialty clinics providing general dermatology care. Opportunities exist to specialize in pediatric, surgical or cosmetic dermatology.
Skin conditions treated by NPs include:
- Acne
- Eczema
- Cutaneous lymphoma
- Atopic dermatitis
- Alopecia
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Skin cancer (the most common type of cancer in the United States)
Due to the rise in skin disease and an aging population, this specialty is consistently growing. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer treatment affects over 6 million U.S. adults annually.
2. Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner
Aesthetic NPs work in medical spas and dermatology clinics, participating in procedures that help patients feel more confident about their appearance. They enjoy a generous salary, work autonomously, and often advance their careers to open their own practice.
NPs can perform cosmetic procedures that include:
- Botox
- Dermal fillers
- Sclerotherapy
- Chemical peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Thermage
- Mesotherapy
- Laser therapy
Becoming an aesthetic NP does not require certification but usually requires RN experience with plastic surgeons or dermatologists. These are unique jobs for nurse practitioners that combine clinical care with creativity and entrepreneurship.
3. Telehealth Nurse Practitioner
Many Americans lack access to safe, high-quality care, especially in rural areas. The nation is simultaneously facing a decrease in healthcare providers in addition to a growing elderly population with chronic diseases.
Telehealth NPs provide care to patients remotely, a role increasingly critical in underserved areas (AANP). Telehealth spans:
- Primary care
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Mental health
- Substance abuse or addiction
- Chronic disease management
- Wellness programs
- Men’s health
Many NPs work full-time or in flexible PRN and contract roles. For a look at how emerging technologies are shaping nursing roles, read this article on AI’s impact on nursing .
4. Bariatric Surgery Nurse Practitioner
Bariatric nurse practitioners care for patients before and after weight-loss surgeries.
They evaluate patients’ history, risk factors, and lifestyle to determine which type of surgery they need.
When working with patients, these NPs evaluate the need for restrictive or malabsorptive surgeries, as well as newer procedures that prompt weight loss by interrupting nerve signals between the stomach and the brain.
Currently, there about 40.3% of U.S. adults who are obese, highlighting ongoing demand for bariatric care. Bariatric surgery NPs are also experts in the medical and psychological components of weight-loss surgery and play a key role in preventing long-term weight regain.
5. Developmental and Behavioral Nurse Practitioner
Developmental and behavioral NPs are pediatric growth and development experts, providing care for children who may miss developmental milestones. They often care for children with:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Learning difficulties
- ADHD
- Mental/emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders, stress, substance abuse, or personal crises
These NPs work in traditional offices and nontraditional settings such as:
- Critical access or psychiatric hospitals
- Public health clinics
- Group homes for children with special needs
- Indigenous/Native-American reservations
The Wilkes University PMHNP track is a great entry point for this specialty. It helps you acquire skills to complete mental health assessments and treat mental health care across the lifespan.
6. Locum Tenens — Travel Nurse Practitioner
Locum Tenens NPs are similar to a pinch-hitter, temporarily filling in for other providers. They work in settings including:
- Inpatient (hospitalist)
- Emergency departments
- Critical care
- Community health
- Medical offices
- Military bases
- Home health
The number of travel nurses has grown significantly—over 430% since 2018, as healthcare facilities rely on them to help address the ongoing nursing shortage. Due to demand, today’s travel NPs enjoy flexibility, competitive pay, travel reimbursement, housing stipends, and diverse clinical experiences.
7. Wellness Clinic Nurse Practitioner
Community-based and nurse-managed wellness centers are directed by a nurse practitioner who manages a staff of public health nurses to collaborate with an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
The wellness team usually includes:
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Social workers
- Therapists
- Nutritionists
This role lands among today’s unique jobs for nurse practitioners by integrating wellness with the existing primary care model, focusing on preventive strategies, self-care, health promotion, disease prevention, and wellness programs.
8. Foreign Service Nurse Practitioner
Are you an adventurous individual who can acquire a top-secret security clearance?
Foreign service health NPs provide care for U.S. government employees and their families living overseas, often in regions with limited medical infrastructure and elevated health risks. These positions are excellent examples of unusual nurse practitioner jobs that combine travel, diplomacy, and advanced clinical expertise.
Duties for NPs in foreign service health can vary widely and may include:
- Advising ambassadors on health concerns and risks
- Monitoring water and food safety
- Evaluating local hospitals and clinics
- Monitoring hospitalized patients
- Planning medical evacuations
- Managing controlled substances
- Overseeing occupational health
- Preparing for emergencies
In a feature from the Journal for Nurse Practitioners, foreign service NPs reported enjoying their work for the “opportunity to practice to the fullest extent of [their] education.”
Graduates of an accredited FNP program may apply to become a foreign service NP through the U.S. Department of State.
9. Cruise Ship Nurse Practitioner
If you love the open seas and the waterway less traveled, this may be the perfect fit for you. Cruise ship NPs provide care to both passengers and crew members on commercial cruise ships.
Their responsibilities include:
- Responding to medical emergencies
- Tracking illness, injury, and GI distress
- Maintaining medical supply inventory for ship and lifeboat canisters
- Teaching first aid
- Diagnostic testing, including labs and X-rays
NPs typically have two to three years of clinical experience before pursuing this alternative job for nurse practitioners, typically in cardiac care, trauma, emergency, general practice or internal medicine.
10. Movie Set Nurse Practitioner
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite movie or television show? Working as an NP on a film or television set may be the perfect way to combine your interest in entertainment with your clinical knowledge and skills.
Medical teams are employed throughout the U.S. to keep actors and crew members safe and healthy. These teams often include NPs, who provide first aid, care for illnesses or injuries on set, and even advise production teams to ensure medical realism.
Duties for movie set NPs may include:
- Providing on-set first aid
- Advising production teams to ensure medical realism
- Acting as standby medical professionals, often paid even when not actively treating patients
These roles are creative applications of clinical expertise, making them excellent examples of unusual nurse practitioner jobs.
11. Entrepreneurial Nurse Practitioner
Freelance Writer
Creative, business-minded NPs looking for autonomy might enjoy starting their own freelance writing business. NPs use their advanced clinical knowledge to write for medical journals, websites, healthcare companies, educational platforms or fellow nurse bloggers.
NPs can share their insight or experiences by blogging or writing books on topics ranging from general healthcare and specialty practice to personal interests and hobbies.
Writing and editing opportunities are diverse and may include:
- Patient education brochures
- Clinical content for health care databases
- White papers
- Evidence-based practice for scholarly journals
- Clinical education modules
- Journalistic articles
- Continuing education credits
- Test questions
If you enjoy researching, writing or discussing hot-button health care issues, this nontraditional nurse practitioner job might be the right path for you.
Expert Witness / Legal Consultant
Those fascinated by the legal system can explore an alternative nurse practitioner job by moving from the hospital to the courtroom. Lawyers often hire NPs as expert witnesses to provide advanced clinical perspectives on standards of nursing care.
NPs can also serve as legal nurse consultants for insurance companies, law firms, government agencies, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies.
Some related duties may include:
- Testifying in court cases
- Conducting insurance assessments
- Advising healthcare organizations
Additional Alternative NP Careers
For students seeking even more ideas, these roles highlight the versatility of types of nurse practitioner jobs beyond traditional clinical practice:
- Corporate health
- Forensics
- Acute care
- Critical care
- Stroke programs
- Neonatal intensive care
- Research
- Education consultant
Thrive as a Nontraditional Nurse Practitioner
We’ve rounded up eleven nontraditional nurse practitioner careers outside of the primary care office. The settings range from the courtroom, open seas, to movie sets and more!
Whether you're drawn to unusual nurse practitioner jobs or traditional, in-demand NP roles, you’re likely to enjoy a rewarding career. At Wilkes University, we know that pursuing your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a pivotal step into an exciting career with expanding opportunities.
We offer three NP concentrations, including:
Our flexible, 100% online NP programs help working nurses advance into specialized roles. We support your success with clinical placement assistance, high certification pass rates, and a range of student-focused services.
Discover which MSN-NP concentration aligns with your career goals.
