10 Profitable Side Hustles For Nurses : Extra Income

Nursing is a demanding profession. You often seek more money, flexibility, or career growth. Many nurses desire these without sacrificing their well-being. More than 65% of nurses would work additional hours if shifts were shorter. This post presents legitimate, flexible, and well-paying side hustles for nurses.

These options leverage your unique skills and knowledge. You gain practical benefits like supplementing your income and achieving financial stability. You also diversify skills and explore new paths. Each option you explore will detail what it entails, why it fits nurses well, and how you can begin your side hustle journey.

Key Takeaways

• Nurses can find many side hustles. These hustles offer more money and flexible work. They also help nurses grow their careers.

• Side hustles use a nurse’s skills. Examples include health coaching, medical writing, and telehealth. Nurses can also do IV hydration therapy or legal nurse consulting.

• Other options for nurses include teaching CPR, aesthetic nursing, and creating online courses. Nurses can also work in medical device sales or freelance home health care.

• Each side hustle has specific steps to start. Nurses need to check training and licensing rules. This helps them begin their new work.

• Choosing a side hustle helps nurses earn more. It also helps them avoid burnout. Nurses can find a hustle that fits their interests and skills.

1. Health and Wellness Coaching

Role and Scope

Health and wellness coaching involves guiding clients. You help them achieve their health goals. This includes nutrition, fitness, and stress management. You focus on preventative care and lifestyle changes. Your role is to empower clients. You help them make informed choices for their well-being. This side hustle allows you to work closely with individuals. You support them in creating sustainable healthy habits.

Nurse Benefits

This path uses your existing health knowledge. You apply your strong communication skills. Your patient education experience is also very valuable. You offer flexibility and autonomy. You set your own hours and choose your clients. Many nurses find this work rewarding.

You directly impact people’s lives. The financial rewards can also be significant. According to PayScale, a Wellness Coach earns about $44,090 per year. Many corporations offer $65,000 a year and up for corporate holistic Wellness Coaches. Hourly rates for health coaching jobs can range from $50 to over $200. This shows the potential for a well-paying side hustle.

Getting Started

You should consider certification programs. The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) offers a recognized certification. Programs approved by the NBHWC prepare you for their exam.

The ACE Health Coach Certification is another highly recognized option. It is also NCCA-accredited. After certification, you build a client base. You can use networking or online platforms. Some coaches also develop content. They might even become a health and wellness writer to share their expertise more broadly. This table shows typical earnings for health and wellness coaches:

You can see the salary distribution for health and wellness coaches across different percentiles here:

2. Medical Writing and Editing

Content Creation for Nurses

You can use your medical knowledge to create valuable content. Medical writing involves producing accurate and clear health information. This includes articles, blog posts, patient education materials, or even marketing content for healthcare companies. You translate complex medical concepts into understandable language. Your goal is to inform and educate readers. This side allows you to work on various projects.

Why It Suits Nurses

Your deep understanding of medical topics makes you an excellent medical writer. You know how to explain complex information simply. Your experience in nursing gives you unique insights. You understand patient needs and concerns. This side hustle offers great flexibility. You can work from home. You set your own hours. This allows you to use your nursing expertise in a new and impactful way. This side hustle can be very rewarding.

Launching Your Side Hustle

Start by building a portfolio. You can create sample articles or blog posts. Look for opportunities on various platforms. Online freelance platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr often list medical writing jobs. Specialized job boards are also available. The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) provides resources and job listings. Networking on LinkedIn can also connect you with potential clients. Healthcare and pharmaceutical companies sometimes hire freelance writers directly. This is one of the most flexible side hustles for nurses. You can turn this hustle into a steady income stream.

3. Telehealth and Remote Nursing

Virtual Patient Care

Telehealth nursing involves providing care remotely. You use technology like video calls and phone calls. A telehealth nurse assesses patients. You offer advice and monitor conditions. This role often includes patient education. You help manage chronic diseases. You also provide follow-up care. This type of remote healthcare expands access to medical services. It allows patients to receive care from their homes.

Flexible Nursing Roles

This side offers great flexibility. You can often set your own hours. You work from your home or another remote location. This reduces commute times. It also improves your work-life balance. Telehealth nursing allows you to use your clinical skills. You apply them in a new setting. This can be a rewarding side. It provides a different perspective on nursing.

How to Begin

Starting in telehealth nursing requires specific steps. First, you need a strong internet connection and a quiet workspace. You also need to understand licensing requirements. This is crucial for telehealth.

In telehealth, the key legal principle is that you must be licensed in the state where the patient is located at the time of care—even if you’re working remotely.

You have several options for licensure.

• You can obtain a full license in each state where your patients reside.

• You can also utilize temporary practice laws for limited periods.

• Some states have licensure reciprocity agreements. You can leverage these.

• Joining multi-state licensure compacts is another option. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows nurses to practice in multiple compact states with a single multi-state license.

• For non-compact states, you must obtain separate licenses.

• You may also apply for telehealth registration in states where it is available.

Compliance with HIPAA and data security is mandatory. You should seek out specific training in telehealth platforms. This prepares you for this growing area of nursing. This side hustle for nurses offers a unique way to practice.

4. IV Hydration Therapy

Administering IVs

IV hydration therapy involves giving fluids, vitamins, and minerals directly into a patient’s bloodstream. You use an intravenous (IV) drip for this. People seek this therapy for various reasons. They might want to boost energy, improve hydration, or recover from illness. This service often takes place in clinics, spas, or even in clients’ homes. You prepare the IV solution. You then insert the IV line. You monitor the client during the infusion. This direct patient care is a core part of this side.

Growing Demand for Nurses

The demand for IV hydration therapy is growing. This creates many opportunities for nurses. Your skills in IV insertion and patient monitoring are highly valued. The market for these services shows significant expansion. For example, the U.S. mobile IV hydration therapy market alone is projected to grow substantially.

Globally, the IV hydration therapy market is also expanding rapidly.

You can see the market growth in different regions here: This growth means more side hustles for nurses. You can leverage your expertise in this expanding field.

Steps to Practice

To start offering IV hydration therapy, you need proper training and certification. Your nursing license is the first step. Many states require additional training for this specialized service. You must understand the specific regulations in your area.

You should seek out specialized courses. These courses cover IV insertion techniques, fluid management, and emergency protocols. You can find these through nursing organizations or private training providers. Always ensure you comply with local health regulations. This side hustle allows you to use your clinical skills in a new way.

5. Legal Nurse Consulting

Medical Record Review

As a legal nurse consultant, you apply your nursing knowledge to legal cases. You review medical records. You analyze healthcare standards. You also identify deviations from these standards. Your work helps attorneys understand complex medical information. You can explain medical terms. You can also interpret medical facts. This role often involves preparing reports. You might also serve as an expert witness. Your insights are crucial for personal injury, medical malpractice, and other health-related legal matters.

Leveraging Nursing Expertise

This side hustle allows you to use your extensive clinical experience in a new way. Your deep understanding of patient care, medical procedures, and healthcare systems is invaluable. You provide a unique perspective that lawyers do not have. This expertise helps legal teams build stronger cases. Legal nurse consultants in the U.S. earn an average annual salary of $87,681. This translates to approximately $42.15 per hour. Salaries can range from a lower average of $50,000 to a higher average of $126,000. Your degree can also impact your earnings. For example, nurses with a DNP can earn around $225,000, while those with an MSN average $124,680, and BSN holders average $92,000. This table shows typical yearly pay for legal nurse consultants:

You can see the yearly pay for legal nurse consultants across different earning categories here:

Entering the Field

To become a legal nurse consultant, you need a formal nursing education. You must also have an active license as a registered nurse. Most consultants have at least five years of licensure with significant clinical experience. You can pursue certification, such as the Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) exam. This exam is for experienced registered nurses. While you can take this exam, it is not a mandatory requirement to practice as a legal nurse consultant. Many programs offer specialized training in legal nurse consulting. These programs teach you about legal processes and medical-legal issues. This side hustle offers a rewarding career path. It uses your nursing skills in a non-traditional setting.

6. CPR and First Aid Instructor

Teaching Life-Saving Skills

You can become a certified instructor for CPR and First Aid. This side involves teaching essential life-saving techniques. You instruct individuals and groups on how to perform chest compressions. You also teach rescue breaths and how to manage choking. First aid training covers wound care, injury assessment, and emergency response. You empower others with critical skills. These skills can make a difference in an emergency. This is a rewarding side hustle.

Community Impact for Nurses

Your background as a nurse makes you an excellent CPR and First Aid instructor. You possess deep medical knowledge. You also have practical experience in emergency situations. You know how to remain calm under pressure. You effectively communicate complex information. This role allows you to extend your nursing impact beyond the hospital. You educate your community. You help create a safer environment for everyone. This side hustle for nurses leverages your expertise.

Becoming Certified

To become a CPR and First Aid instructor, you need specific certifications. Organizations like the American Heart Association (AHA) offer recognized instructor certifications. Their website provides details on how to become an AHA Instructor. HSI also offers recognized CPR, AED, and First Aid instructor certifications. HSI provides training for various programs.

These include Basic Life Support (BLS). You can become an authorized HSI instructor. You attend an Instructor Development Course (IDC). You might also qualify through a reciprocity process. This applies if you are already an instructor with another reputable organization. HSI is a nationally accredited training organization. Their emergency care training programs are accepted by many employers and regulatory agencies. You can teach many courses. These include:

• First Aid Classes

• CPR Certification

• AED Certification

• Child and Baby First Aid

• Bloodborne Pathogens Training

7. Aesthetic Nursing

Cosmetic Procedures

You can perform various cosmetic procedures. Aesthetic nursing focuses on enhancing appearance. You administer treatments to improve skin health and appearance.

These include laser treatments, microneedling, and chemical peels. You also perform PRP therapy, Botox injections, and dermal fillers. Other cosmetic injectables are part of your work. You might also perform facial contouring, laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, and body contouring. This field allows you to help clients achieve their aesthetic goals.

Specialized Nurse Skills

Your nursing background gives you a strong advantage in this field. You possess excellent assessment skills. You understand anatomy and physiology. Your ability to perform precise injections is crucial. You also provide patient education and ensure safety. This specialized side allows you to combine your clinical expertise with an artistic eye. It offers a unique career path. This is a popular choice among side hustles for nurses.

Training and Regulations

You need specific training and certifications to become an aesthetic nurse. You can pursue a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) certification. This requires an active RN license. You also need at least two years of RN experience with a board-certified plastic surgeon. You must complete 1,000 practice hours in a medical aesthetic specialty.

A supervising physician must approve you. Other certifications include Injectable Certification and Laser Certification. Organizations like AAAMS offer courses. These include the Facial Aesthetics 101 series. They cover Botulinum Toxins 101 and Dermal Fillers 101. Aesthetic Medical Educators Training (AMET) provides specialized training. They offer courses in basic BOTOX® and dermal fillers. They also teach sclerotherapy, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. This side hustle offers a rewarding path in nursing.

8. Online Course Creation and Tutoring

Developing Educational Content

You can create online courses or become a tutor. This involves developing educational content based on your nursing expertise. You might design modules on specific medical topics. You could also create study guides for certification exams. This side allows you to share your knowledge with a wider audience. You package your experience into structured learning materials. This helps others learn and grow.

Sharing Nursing Knowledge

Your extensive nursing background makes you an ideal educator. You understand complex medical concepts.

You also know how to explain them simply. You can help aspiring nurses or current professionals. You might teach about patient care, pharmacology, or critical care. This is a rewarding side hustle. You empower others to succeed in their nursing careers. You use your skills in a new way.

Platform and Content

Many platforms exist for online course creation and tutoring. You can find a vast selection of online tutors specializing in nursing on TutorOcean. This platform offers personalized, one-on-one learning. It uses an interactive online classroom with video, whiteboards, and chat.

Wyzant also connects students with private nursing tutors. They offer one-on-one online lessons, test preparation, and homework help. You can find instructors for various nursing-related subjects there. Yo!Coach is a versatile software solution. It helps build platforms like StethoNurse.

StethoNurse is a nursing tutoring platform. It has conducted over 2500 sessions. Many students use it for NCLEX and nursing exam preparation. This shows its effectiveness for online course creation and tutoring in the nursing field. As a nursing student tutor, you can reach many learners. This side offers great flexibility.

9. Medical Device Sales

Sales Representative Role

Medical device sales offers one of the most lucrative side hustles for nurses, leveraging your clinical background in a dynamic sales environment. As a sales representative, you promote and sell medical equipment, technology, and supplies to healthcare providers.

You educate doctors, surgeons, and hospital administrators about product features and benefits. You also demonstrate how these devices improve patient outcomes or operational efficiency. Your goal is to build relationships and drive sales. Medical sales compensation often follows a balanced approach. A common model is a 50/50 On-Target Earnings (OTE) split. Half of your potential earnings come from a base salary. The other half comes from variable components like commissions and bonuses.

You might encounter different commission plans:

• Base Salary + Flat Commission Plan: You receive a fixed percentage commission on every sale in addition to your base salary. This is common for products with steady sales.

• Tiered and Accelerated Commission Plan: Your commission percentages increase once you meet sales thresholds. This motivates overperformance.

• Gross Margin-Based Commission Plan: You earn based on profit margin, not just revenue. This encourages strategic pricing.

• Draw Against Commission Plan: You receive a monthly advance on future commissions. This provides income security during long sales cycles.

• Bonus + SPIFF Plan: You get short-term financial incentives for specific behaviors, like selling a new product line.

For example, you might earn a 6% commission on a $50,000 equipment sale. Additional bonuses are available for meeting or exceeding your quota.

Nurse’s Clinical Advantage

Your nursing background gives you a significant edge in medical device sales. You possess a deep understanding of clinical settings and patient needs. You speak the language of healthcare professionals. This helps you build trust and credibility quickly. You understand how devices function in real-world scenarios. You can explain complex medical concepts clearly. Your experience with patient care allows you to highlight how products truly benefit patients and providers. You also have strong interpersonal skills. You relate to others and understand customer problems. You can illustrate how products solve these issues.

You also bring valuable skills like:

• Mastering Product Knowledge: You can quickly understand functional benefits and clinical applications.

• Building and Maintaining Client Relationships: You show empathy and offer tailored solutions.

• Communication skills: You communicate effectively in written and verbal formats. You practice active listening to understand prospect needs.

• Time Management: You efficiently plan schedules and maximize daily value.

Networking and Training

To enter medical device sales, you should leverage your existing network. Connect with sales representatives already in the field. Attend industry events and medical trade shows. Many companies prefer candidates with a clinical background. They often provide comprehensive product training. You can also pursue certifications to enhance your expertise and credibility. Continuous learning is crucial. Stay updated on new developments through webinars and industry publications. This side can offer a rewarding career path. It allows you to use your nursing knowledge in a dynamic business environment.

10. Freelance Home Health Care

Direct Patient Care

You can provide direct patient care in a home setting. This involves visiting clients in their homes. You offer a range of services. These include medication administration, wound care, and vital sign monitoring.

You also assist with personal care and provide patient education. This role allows you to build strong relationships with your clients. You become a vital part of their daily health management. This is one of the most direct side hustles for nurses.

Autonomy in Nursing

Freelance home health care offers significant autonomy. You manage your own schedule. You choose your clients. This gives you control over your work-life balance. You make independent clinical decisions within your scope of practice. This side hustle allows you to practice nursing with greater independence. You experience a different aspect of nursing. This can be a very rewarding side.

Licensing and Clients

To begin, you need an active registered nurse license. You must also understand state-specific regulations for home health care. You can find clients through various avenues.

These include home health agencies, online platforms, or direct referrals. Your hourly earnings can vary. Home health nurses working for Employment Services earn an average of $53.00 per hour. The overall average hourly wage for home health nurses is $45.42. The average median hourly wage for a home health nurse is $28.10. Rates range from $19.61 to $46.13 depending on your location.

This side offers a flexible way to use your nursing skills.

You have explored many diverse opportunities. These side hustles for nurses expand your professional horizons. They also boost your financial stability. Pursuing a side hustle offers increased income and skill diversification. You gain greater flexibility and personal fulfillment. While some nurses worry about burnout (41%) or not knowing how to start a nursing side hustle (34%), you can overcome these. Reflect on your interests and existing skills. Consider your desired commitment level. Choose the best side for you. Take control of your career and financial future. A well-chosen nursing hustle combats burnout. It enhances your overall well-being and helps you earn more money.

FAQ

What is the most flexible side hustle for nurses?

Many nurses find medical writing and telehealth nursing very flexible. You often set your own hours. You can work from home. This allows you to balance your work with other commitments.

What certifications do I need for aesthetic nursing?

You need an active RN license. Consider a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) certification. You also need specific training for procedures like Botox or fillers. Many courses offer these specialized certifications.

What are the key benefits of legal nurse consulting?

You use your nursing expertise in a new way. You help legal teams understand medical facts. This side hustle offers high earning potential. You also gain professional growth outside direct patient care.

What platforms help nurses create online courses?

Platforms like TutorOcean and Wyzant connect you with students for tutoring. Yo!Coach helps build dedicated tutoring sites. These platforms provide tools for creating and delivering your educational content.