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12 Interesting Side Hustles for Nurses to Make Some Extra Money

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12 Interesting Side Hustles for Nurses to Make Some Extra Money

Photo : Image by Thomas Breher from Pixabay

Everyone likes a little extra money in their pockets or bank accounts. The ability to make more money can have a significant effect on your financial future. Nursing has been growing rapidly but even with advancements in this field, a little extra income is always welcome. It is true that nurses work long and unpredictable hours and this can make it more challenging to find a side job that brings in a sizable income. Nurses have a lot of skills that translate and transfer really well and this is why the following side hustles are great for nurses looking to earn something extra.

Teaching and Tutoring

There is an ongoing nursing facility shortage and this is why universities are open to nurses with enough experience, skills, and expertise to come in and fill the gaps. The shortage is so bad that universities in the United States had to turn away more than 75000 students who wanted to join their nursing programs.

With the rise in popularity of RN to BSN as well as BSN to DNP and other advanced degrees, there are lots of online teaching opportunities for nurses who can spare a few hours every week.

If you are not sure if this would be a great fit for you, you can always commit to teaching one class for a semester to see how it feels. Although the teaching requirements will vary depending on the specific universities you are considering, many of them require that you have at least three years of experience as a nurse. You might also be required to have a higher degree such as a Master of Science in Nursing.

Apart from working in colleges and universities, nurses can also become private tutors. Many of the nurses who do this prepare students for their registration and licensing exams. They might also help students who are struggling with specific areas of the curriculum such as pharmacology. Tutoring will give you a lot more flexibility as you can tutor whenever you want without having to put the sessions on a fixed schedule.

Paid Medical Surveys

Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare systems and so they know a lot more about the inner workings of the healthcare system than all other medical professionals. They also work directly with patients and their families so they have an intimate understanding of what that entails. All these reasons make nurses great candidates for medical surveys.

There are lots of companies doing online surveys, telephone studies, in-person focus groups and online focus groups that are looking for nurses to fill in their surveys. The opinions nurses provide are crucial for medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, technology companies and diagnostic companies. Although these companies have databases full of nurses they can call upon, they are always looking for new patients with varying opinions and experiences.

Getting started is as simple as getting in touch with the companies and registering. They will verify your nursing credentials and send you a letter of acceptance. They will then send you the survey details, outlining the type of survey being carried out, the topic, the amount of time you are given to complete the survey as well as how much you will be paid.

Once you complete the survey, you only need to sit back and wait for payment or for additional surveys to fill.

Telehealth Nursing

Telehealth is a growing role in nursing and medicine as a whole and as such has become very lucrative for nurses looking to make some cash on the side. Telehealth involves providing healthcare services through online communication tools such as video and audio-conferencing tools. Telehealth nurses use these tools to monitor their patients, provide care and assess any escalation in the conditions their patients have.

Remote nursing jobs have been growing over the past few years, especially when you consider that many remote areas need nurses who cannot be physically there. The American Medical Association is in support of remote nursing, including telehealth nursing, because it improves access to healthcare, results in an overall better healthcare system, and ensures better patient outcomes. This surge in telehealth, as well as its support from the AMA, has presented lots of opportunities through which nurses can make some extra money.

To get started, nurses need to have completed their nursing degrees, been licensed, and registered. Fortunately, nurses can complete accelerated nursing degrees at universities like Wilkes University, so they can start practicing faster. Nurses also need to have at least three years' experience as registered nurses, have an unrestricted license (a multi-state license may be required), and have a clean background. Tech skills and a fast internet connection are also mandatory.

Freelance Writing

Freelance writing has grown exponentially over the past few years as more companies, businesses, and organizations have realized the power of content creation and marketing. These entities need content for their websites, blogs, and sometimes social media platforms. Hospitals, publications, insurers, medical device companies, as well as other businesses in the healthcare space are always looking for healthcare professionals to provide educational and informational content.

Nurses are in a great position to fill these roles because they have extensive knowledge about the healthcare system. In addition, many nurses have stellar research and writing skills as these are both parts of their jobs. Registered nurses with strong writing skills can make a lot of money writing for those who need their input.

Print publications might have some stricter requirements than digital publications but they tend to pay more because of the stricter standards. However, there is a lot more writing work in the digital space, even though the pay might be slightly lower.

Remote work is also very common and this can be a great option for nurses who are balancing work, family, and maybe school.

First Aid, CPR, and AED Instructor

Nurses are already certified in first aid, CPR and AED (automatic external defibrillator) use as these are basic requirements in their jobs. Becoming an instructor in any or all of these areas is a great way to use the skills you already have to make some money. Having the skills is not enough though as nurses have to be licensed as instructors. The good news is that this can easily be done through the American Red Cross. Keep in mind that there are other companies and organizations that help prepare nurses to become instructors.

Once you have your certification, you can conduct classes for businesses, teams, schools, and groups throughout your community. Becoming an instructor is great because it requires about two hours a week and can even be done during the weekend. Also, nurses can be happy knowing their instructions and classes will help save someone down the line.

Float Pool and Locum Jobs

Another great option is to pick up some extra shifts and assignments by registering for float pool jobs. These float pool jobs allow nurses to work in other healthcare organizations or even in different apartments if they so wish. The good news is that nurses can make some extra cash here while also gaining skills that are required by the various departments they end up working in. This can be great for nurses who want to gain the experience required to switch to a new specialty.

Locum assignments (locum tenens) are short-term assignments that can range from a day to a few months. They are a great option to make some money for nurses who may be out of work or who are looking for something temporary while they take some time off or travel. Travel nursing and insurance nursing are two areas that often have a lot of locum opportunities and are both great areas to get into.

Consulting

Consulting is somewhat atypical for nurses, but it is possible to provide consulting services on the side. This works well for nurses who have experience and expertise in a very specific specialized area. For example, nurses who have specialized in geriatric nursing can provide consulting services to senior living facilities in their communities.

Nurses can work directly with other healthcare professionals when providing these services, or they may opt to work part-time for medical consulting companies. Starting a consulting business is another option, although this might take you away from your primary job. All in all, if you are into a very specific and specialized specialty, providing consulting services gives you lots of opportunities.

Becoming an Expert Witness

There are so many cases where attorneys need expert witnesses. For nurses with a specialty, this can be a great way to help victims or bring justice to wrongdoers. Nurses who choose to become expert witnesses will often work with attorneys and this side hustle can also be a great way to get into legal nursing if that is an area in which they are interested.

There are lots of services through which nurses can register to become expert witnesses. Just ensure the services you register with deal with the types of cases for which you would be interested in providing your expertise, and not those that will take a toll on you emotionally.

Becoming a Recruiter

Healthcare organizations are always looking for great nurses, and you can help make their search easier by becoming a recruiter. In this role, you have to find nurses that these organizations are looking for. You will then get compensated for each successful applicant you find. You will get the opportunity to help colleagues and other nurses find great opportunities while getting paid handsomely for your efforts.

There are also services that hire nurses to be recruiters. These services work for healthcare organizations and are always looking for nurses like you to help them fill positions.

Become an Immunization Nurse

Becoming an immunization nurse is also a great way to make money. Immunization nurses are needed part-time, seasonally, or when needed. You can end up working in a variety of locations. With COVID-19 showing that there are many ways to immunize people, there are opportunities in curbside clinics, drive-through clinics, home visits, and mobile outreach clinics.

Do note that you will need to be a registered nurse with basic first aid and CPR training. Some organizations also require that you have at least a year of experience administering vaccinations. Communication skills, writing skills, customer services, and some tech skills are required for these positions.

Selling Nursing Gear

Nurses often accrue so much nursing gear that they end up disposing of it. Instead of doing this, you can sell the extra gear. There is a robust market for second-hand and used nursing gear. You can sell your scrubs, jackets, scrub hats, and comfort shoes if you do not need them anymore. There are lots of platforms through which you can do this, but you should consider starting with eBay as it is one of the largest marketplaces for second-hand items.

Start a YouTube Channel

There is a lot of money to be made by starting a YouTube channel. Before you go too far, it is important to understand that you will need to commit some time to get the channel going. You might also need permission from your boss or supervisor to ensure it is okay with them before going forward.

There are so many sub-genres you can get into, but many of the nurses on YouTube provide answers, document their experiences as nurses, and help people get into the field. If you are consistent, know how to engage your audience, and can collaborate with other healthcare professionals on the platform, you can build a healthy channel that makes you money long into the future.

For nurses who have inflexible, fixed schedules, earning some extra money on the side can be difficult. However, if you have some extra time, and with some creativity, registered nurses can find side hustles they will be happy with. If you cannot engage in a side hustle outside of your regular job, registering for float pool jobs allows you to work in the same hospital but in different departments.

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