Side hustles that complement #nurselife

In today’s world, the gig economy reigns supreme.  And with the flexible scheduling that comes with many nursing jobs, it can be tempting to use your hours off in the pursuit of an additional income stream. As nurses, we face the same increased cost-of-living expenses and hefty student loan debt as our peers do; but without the benefit of hourly pay raises, taking on a second, (or even third) job is not just a hip lifestyle strategy—it’s a necessity to stay above water.

If you can’t fathom the idea of overtime (trust me, I’m bone-tired just thinking of this, too), and have an open mind, gathered below are the 10 best side hustles suited for nurses. All of these options have the potential to make you some decent cash, and you’ll pick up new skills and experiences in the process. 

Network Marketing

I can sense the eye-rolling already, but at the risk of angry commenters, here’s the truth: for as many predatory MLM and direct sales companies out there, there are just as many reputable ones. Brand ambassadorship is a thing, and making money advocating for a product you already use and love can be a great way to bring in cash on a monthly basis.  If you just can’t stomach the idea of being “that girl,” try looking into brand affiliation programs instead. Amazon is a good place to start with this strategy.

CPR instructor

First-aid and CPR workshops offer a great chance to make some extra cash. You’ll need to be certified—not a problem for most nurses—and comfortable in a teaching role. Bonus perk: having a positive impact in your community! Nursing schools are other places to flex your teaching skills, and many are in desperate needs for educators.

Pop-up Clinics

Vaccine and wellness clinics are on practically every street corner nowadays. And all those clinics need to staff nurses to perform skilled tasks. Finding employment at these types of clinics can be seasonal, but they’re super low-stress because of the easy work involved. You can expect to make somewhere in the ballpark of $25/hr for a few hours of work per day—taking vitals, doing finger sticks, and of course—vaccinating your fellow man. 

Medical Transcription

If you can’t fathom leaving the house on your day off, and fantasize about spending your days in sweats and slippers, medical transcribing is a great way to achieve that dream. Typical pay rates for nurses are around $20//hr and you can pick and choose when to work and how many assignments to accept.

Health Coach

This can seem like an intimidating field to break into, but it’s not as hard as it sounds! Nurses are natural teachers, and advocating for someone’s health comes easy to us. There is a certification process required, but once you’re there, coaches make anywhere from $100-$2k for their services! A great place to start is a search on major insurance company websites for “nurse coaches.”

PRN caregiver

There’s definitely a care gap on the horizon because of our aging population. Whether you go agency or private, taking care of home-bound patients can be physically and emotionally taxing. But the flexible hours and pay may help to offset that to some degree.

Telehealth Nursing

Another great job to do from home, telehealth nursing is consulting with patients over the phone or online. You’ll need a solid internet connection and potentially, a webcam, to do this reliably. Pay rates vary, but some telehealth nurses make up to $40/hour!

Float Pool

If you’re curious to try new specialities, and want to do it for beaucoup PRN bucks, consider joining your hospital’s float pool. You can set your own schedule, as long as it’s somewhat flexible and you’re willing to look around for the best rates.

Blogging

While blogging won’t pay much in the beginning, if you feel like you have a message to share, that alone makes it worth pursuing. For a faster pay day, you can advertise your craft on freelancer sites like Fiverr or Upwork. 

Etsy Shop

If you’re the crafty type, hanging a shingle on Etsy is a nice way to combine the pursuit of your day-off activities while simultaneously increasing your cash flow! Stuck for ideas? Many nurses make lanyards, cute nurse-related greeting cards, custom hydro-flask adornments…the sky’s the limit!