7 Side Hustles for Nurses to Make Extra Money

By Portia Wofford - Health Content Writer

Although nursing is a great career that yields a decent salary, extra money is always a plus. Here are seven ways to use your nursing degree to secure the bag — and your financial future.

1. Blogging and Healthcare Writing

Do you enjoy writing? Do you have a specialty? Freelance writing is a great way to bring in some extra income without having to leave the comfort of your home. Freelancers set their own hours and rates and choose their clients. You don't need an English or Journalism degree, either — your nursing credentials and experiences are enough.?

There are tons of clients searching for your invaluable knowledge, skills, and experience. It's best if you steered clear of giving medical advice, but you are well within your scope of practice to educate others on particular topics or specialties.

Many companies seek healthcare writers to write:

• Website content
• Blogs
• Journals
• Patient-focused education articles
• Educational courses
• Curriculum

Many facilities have writing projects (employee newsletter, staff education, etc.) and will sometimes recruit internally, so see if anything is available at your facility. There are no limits to the types of writing you could do.?

Blogging is a great way to earn extra cash. Companies often seek and reach out to nurses to promote their products and services (i.e., scrub, stethoscope, watch, essential oils, NCLEX prep, and much more). Why not earn cash blogging about products you use every day???

• Start a blog and give honest reviews on companies
• Be sure to tell your audience how the products or services are helping you with your everyday nursing career or as a nursing student
• Not only will you build a social following (social following= dollars) you'll also have the opportunity to earn affiliate marketing income and receive some free merchandise.
• You can promote affiliate products and services or use advertising that pays per click
• Just remember, to be transparent with your audience by letting them know you are being paid for your reviews

Getting Started as a Freelance Writer

Before jumping into the freelance writing pool, you should get your feet wet. Try guest blogging or writing articles for smaller organizations before pitching your services to larger companies. The goal is to build a reputable portfolio. Once you have a portfolio, the internet is a great place to find clients. Use keyword searches that target your niche or preferred client.?

Experienced freelancers can make between $30-$100+ per hour! That's some serious side hustle coin! Several platforms help nurses to navigate the freelance writing and blogging world.?

Savvy Scribe Collective , co-founded by an RN, is an excellent resource for nurse writers - especially those just beginning in healthcare writing. Savvy Scribe Collective's?Facebook group ?is a very strong and unique community for resources, networking, and advice. This network offers learning-focused accountability and connection with health writing resources that take businesses to the next level.

If you want more resources, how-to's, and connections, check out their?podcast. ??

Carol Bush, a co-founder of the page, states, “The Facebook community is very strong, but we are also a business. We are a freelance collective. We have a talent pool where people can apply and be vetted to work with us. We connect health brands with high-performing health writers. We are not a job platform, but a collective of professional health writers. It is a great opportunity for people who are new to writing to begin earning. We have beginner gigs to full-on, very complex content management projects. In 2018, we paid out over $175,000 to over 80 of our talent pool.”

2. Pick Up Per Diem Shifts

Per diem shifts allow you to pick up shifts when and where you want. As a per diem nurse, you will work day by day or as assignments open. You are essentially making your schedule and getting paid more than regular full-time employees. Expect your pay to be dependent on shift and location.

Although you won't be receiving benefits such as vacation time or health insurance, most per diem nurses make at least $5/hour more than their colleagues who are full-time employees at the same facility. You can find shifts as a per diem nurse through agencies or directly through your employer. Some agencies pay on a weekly or even daily basis.?

3. Sell Your Scrubs

We all have amassed too many scrubs. Whether it's from changing jobs or your job changing your colors, we need to get rid of the pile of unused scrubs we have lying around. Instead of throwing them out, why not sell them? Platforms such as Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace are great ways to sell your gently used scrubs. Try having a yard sale or asking your coworkers if they are looking for scrubs at a discounted price. eBay, where you earn up to 70% of the selling price, is another excellent platform to use.

4. Start Your Own Store

Etsy — if you are crafty Etsy is the way to go. Try making custom badge reels or nurse-related t-shirts.?

5. Become a CPR Instructor?

The CPR instructor position had a projected growth of 8% from 2014 to 2024. The average hourly salary for a CPR instructor, in the United States is $29/hour. The?American Heart Association ?has the most accepted CPR instructor training course. Your coworkers and other healthcare colleagues are the perfect clients to build your business.?

6. Seasonal Flu Clinics

Administering flu shots can be a great side gig. Doctors' offices and immunization and specialty clinics (such as those inside of Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS) often need nurses to administer flu vaccines during the flu season. Nurses can make anywhere from $25 to $40 per hour. Check with staffing agencies or your local health department for these opportunities.?

7. Obtain a Certification

If another degree isn’t in your plans, try earning a certification. Many certifications can help you land higher-paying positions that can raise your salary and increase your marketability. Earning an additional certification in your specialty or area of interest will help you secure a job in some of the highest in-demand specialties.

Be the FIRST to know about Nurse News -?join our newsletter!

Read the latest in?Nurse News now on Nurse.org

Connect with other nurses?by?joining our Linkedin group, "Nursing Career Resources.