Course: Nurse Consulting

Course Description
This comprehensive course provides an in-depth exploration of nurse consulting, covering the definition, roles, and benefits of becoming a nurse consultant. Students will learn about various career pathways, required skills, and competencies, as well as strategies for transitioning from bedside nursing to consulting. The curriculum includes modules on healthcare organizational consulting, non-healthcare applications, public health consulting, and financial management. Additionally, the course emphasizes effective communication, professional relationship building, and career advancement strategies. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to build a successful nurse consulting practice and develop a plan for continuing education and professional growth.

Course Objectives:
• Understand the definition and roles of a nurse consultant.
• Recognize the benefits of becoming a nurse consultant.
• Explore various career pathways and types of nurse consulting roles.
• Identify the required skills and competencies for success in nurse consulting.
• Learn how to transition from bedside nursing to consulting.
• Learn about non-healthcare applications and coordination in organizational consulting.
• Apply specialized nursing knowledge to various consulting scenarios.
• Understand the scope of consulting in non-healthcare applications.
• Develop strategies for consulting outside the traditional healthcare environment.
• Understand the role of public health consulting and community outreach.
• Understand principles of financial management for nurse consultants.
• Develop career advancement strategies.
• Create a professional growth and continuing education plan

Module 1: Nurse Consulting: An Overview
Module 2: Healthcare Organizational-Facing Consulting
Module 3: Non-Healthcare Applications
Module 4: Public Health Consulting
Module 5: Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Module 6: Financial and Tax Considerations
Module 7: Continuing Education and Certification
Module 8: Building Your Consulting Practice

About the Instructor:

Alexandra Murr, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC

Dr. Alexandra Murr’s journey into nursing began after her own healthcare challenges. After receiving a pacemaker at 23 due to multiple misdiagnoses, she was inspired by the compassionate care she received from nurses and decided to pursue a career in nursing. Over the past 20 years, Alexandra has held various roles, including telemetry/stepdown staff nurse, Nurse Manager, Director of Education, Corporate Manager of Professional Development, and Hospital Relations Manager. In each position, she eagerly embraced opportunities to learn new skills.
During the COVID pandemic, Alexandra worked long hours as a Hospital Relations Manager, which took a toll on her work-life balance. A friend introduced her to nurse consulting, a role that offered a more manageable schedule and the ability to work from home. Intrigued by the opportunity to achieve work-life balance and utilize her nursing skills in a new way, Alexandra transitioned to nurse consulting.

Her first consulting position involved performing telehealth screenings for an energy company, approving or denying medical exemptions, and determining if employees were cleared to return to work. This role allowed her to be home with her family and provided new insights into occupational health practices. Alexandra then explored other consulting opportunities, securing contracts with education companies to work as a subject matter expert in nursing and healthcare. Her exceptional work led to a full-time position as a subject matter expert and lead editor for an educational company that publishes nursing and allied health textbooks. This role offered a flexible schedule, full-time benefits, and the ability to work from home.
Alexandra continues to consult on a contract basis and enjoys the freedom and independence that nurse consulting provides. She values the ability to balance her professional and personal life, never having to choose between work and family commitments. Alexandra successfully transitioned from bedside nursing to nurse consulting, leveraging her nursing skills and knowledge to achieve a fulfilling career.