15 Best Side Hustles for Nurses: Earn a Second Income with No Additional Training

Average rates: $25–$40/hour

Work environment: In person

Arguably, this is the most obvious choice for nurses who need additional income—taking on more nursing work.

As you probably know, part-time and freelance nursing is referred to as “per diem” nursing. Platforms like Clipboard Health allow you to pick up per diem shifts and make extra dough in a way that fits with your schedule. Maala told us that this is a great gig for “nurses who are already working their full-time jobs” and who “enjoy the work they do.”

She added that as a per diem nurse, you’ll get paid a higher hourly rate than the staff nursing rate, since as-needed nursing roles don’t come with benefits.

Average rates: $40–$50/hour

Work environment: Remote

Telehealth is a booming industry that provides patients with remote medical consultations and provides healthcare workers with the opportunity to work from home.

As a telehealth nurse, you’ll communicate with patients over video call, phone call, or even text. Maala singled out this side hustle (along with the other flexible and remote jobs on our list) as being particularly suitable for working nurses.

“Most nursing schedules are not ‘set hours’ and could vary throughout the week,” she said, “so if nurses are able to do their side hustle on their own time, that’s more doable and convenient.”

You can look for contract telehealth work on sites like:

• Indeed
• Upwork
• FlexJobs (a job board that’s dedicate to remote and flex-time gigs)
• Nurse.com

Average rates: $25–$35/hour

Work environment: In person

CPR and first aid are very in-demand certifications that many professionals need. This has created a market for CPR and first aid instructors to teach private classes and tutor individuals (or even entire workplaces) on how to perform life-saving procedures.

As a nurse, you’re already certified in these fields and can lend your knowledge to others. Be aware that some jobs require a CPR and first aid instructor certification, while others are more lenient.

Average rates: $15–$30/hour

Work environment: Flexible (remote or in person)

Hundreds of thousands of students are currently enrolled in nursing school, and enrollment numbers have risen substantially over the past few years. 1 With so many students, there’s a strong demand for tutors.

If you’re a registered nurse who’s already made it to the other side of nursing school, you’re uniquely qualified to help prospective nurses succeed in their studies. As a tutor (either in person or online), you’ll have a lot of control over your schedule, time commitment, and hourly rate.

Of course, if you have other in-demand skills (e.g., if you have a knack for math, science, or English), you can earn extra money tutoring students in them as well.

There are dozens of platforms that offer online tutoring jobs. To get started tutoring nursing students, look into:

• Superprof
• Varsity Tutors
• Wyzant
• HeyTutor

Maala also suggested selling materials, such as study guides, flashcards, and “review notes for nursing students or other nurses.” You can sell digital products like these on websites like Etsy. This is a great way to exercise your creative muscles and generate a little extra income, and it’s lower-key than actually conducting hands-on lessons.

Average rates: $10–$20/hour

Work environment: In person

Transfer the empathy and attentiveness you employ on the job to a supplemental line of work by acting as a caregiver.

There are multiple routes that caregivers can take, including:

• Child care
• Elderly care
• Hospice care
• Pet care

You already have the necessary training to be a caregiver, and your nursing license and experience will make you a very competitive candidate for any job in the industry. Choose a field of caregiving to pursue, then find freelance caregiver work on sites like Care, Matchwell, and CareLinx.

Average rates: Varies (potentially $100+ per hour)

Work environment: Flexible (remote or in person)

The consulting field is vast and varied. Almost every company and individual will find themselves in need of a consultant at one point or another.

Nurses have many avenues to pursue in consultancy, like the highly lucrative legal nurse consulting track. That line of work requires a special certification, but may be well worth the effort if you’re interested in acting as a liaison between medical and legal professionals.

On the other hand, if you aren’t interested in undergoing extra training, you can still provide highly sought-after consultancy on topics like sleep, diet, and even breastfeeding.

You can look for consulting jobs online or post your services on gig sites like Fiverr.

Average rates: $20–$50/hour

Work environment: In person

Doulas provide care and support before, during, and after the birthing process. This line of work doesn’t require a formal degree or training, but your nursing experience will make you particularly qualified to aid women in their labor, delivery, and postpartum periods.

Unlike midwives, doulas do not provide medical care to mothers. Rather, they provide emotional and informational support.

As a doula, you’ll have some flexibility over your schedule, but only to an extent, as births are often unexpected events. While you can control how much work you take on, you can’t always control when that work needs you.

Average rates: $15–$25/hour

Work environment: Remote

Being quick on the keyboard can land you a flexible gig as a transcriptionist. You can take on whatever types of transcription work you like, but many nurses take advantage of their education and experience by transcribing medical records.

Your knowledge of medical terminology and the healthcare industry will give you a leg up for this kind of work, which (along with legal transcription) usually commands higher rates than other types of transcription.

As a medical transcriptionist, you’ll listen to recordings of doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners and convert the audio into a written document.

You can find work as a freelance transcriptionist through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Scribie, and TranscribeMe.

Average rates: Varies depending on the popularity of your content

Work environment: Remote

If you have something to say, starting your own blog can be a great (and potentially lucrative) creative outlet. This is Maala’s primary side hustle. She told us that she started her blog as a passion project shortly after becoming a nurse.

“I blogged to document and share my experiences as a new grad nurse,” she said. “Eventually, I started writing about my journey to financial freedom and learning how to invest. It wasn’t until last year that I realized I could monetize my content.” She did this by making brand deals, posting sponsored content, and selling digital products.

We asked Maala how she picked her blogging niche (personal finance for nurses).

“I think that the content we create is sometimes inspired by the content we needed at one point in our lives,” she said. “Money was not talked about in my household, so I grew up not knowing anything about personal finance. I remember working as a new grad nurse and spending every dollar I made … I did not know how to manage my money properly or invest.”

Think about your own experiences and the knowledge you have to share. You may have something to say about:

• Working as a nurse or training to be one
• The state of the healthcare industry
• How nursing is depicted in media (books, movies, podcasts, etc.)
• Food, diet, and general tips for healthy living

Of course, your blog doesn’t necessarily have to relate back to your primary career at all. Maala told us that she’s “seen nurse bloggers who thrive in fashion, business ownership, travel, even in the education niche.”

Average rates: Varies depending on the popularity of your content

Work environment: Remote

If you like the idea of creating online content but prefer being on camera to quietly writing, you can start a YouTube channel to let your voice be heard around the world. YouTube content creation can earn you money through views, sponsorships, and ads.

You can create videos about anything under the sun, but as with blogging, your nursing experience could make a great basis for a channel. Consider making videos about:

• General lifestyle topics (e.g., “A day in the life of a nurse”)
• Behind-the-scenes (e.g., “Secrets no one tells you about nursing”)
• Nursing school tips and tricks (e.g., “10 essential supplies for nursing students”)

Average rates: $20–$50/hour

Work environment: Remote

Freelance writing is one of the most common side hustles. There’s huge demand for contract writers, the work is flexible enough to fit into any schedule, and the pay has great potential depending on your qualifications and writing skill.

Nurses have specialized knowledge and training that make them appealing to many websites and publications in need of healthcare expertise. You can look for nursing-specific writing gigs or general writing work on sites like:

• Upwork
• FlexJobs
• Freelancer
• Contently

Average rates: $25–$40/hour

Work environment: In person

Certified RNs and LPNs can administer flu shots and COVID-19 vaccinations outside of their usual workplace.

Maala said that working in seasonal flu clinics was “great for nurses”—at least those with enough free time during flu season. “Doctor’s offices and specialty clinics, such as those inside retail pharmacies, often need nurses to administer flu vaccines,” she told us. “You may check staffing agencies and even your local health department for these opportunities.”

If you work with a pharmacy, immunization clinic, or local clinic, you can contract on an hourly or per diem basis to give individuals immunizations against viruses. You must have the proper certifications and training, and this work is often temporary and seasonal.

If you’re interested in administering immunizations on the side, you can look for jobs on sites like Indeed and FlexJobs, or inquire at pharmacies and clinics in your area.

Average rates: Varies depending on the popularity of your content

Work environment: Remote

Take your nursing knowledge to the next level by imparting it to others. Many online services—like Teachable and Udemy—are looking for online teachers to lead their own classes, or even just to create and sell courses (with no teaching required).

Making a course includes:

• Structuring learning objectives (defining what students will learn)
• Making lessons
• Thinking up and creating assignments and the associated materials (such as worksheets and quizzes)

If this sounds up your alley, you can create a course in nursing or something else you’re interested in and knowledgeable about.

Average rates: $20–$100/hour

Work environment: Flexible (remote or in person)

If you’re passionate about helping people lead the lives they dream of, put your nursing skills to good use outside of your day job by being a health coach. Health coaching spans all disciplines of health, from weight loss to better sleep to fertility.

You can take up in-person health coaching work, or you can join the telemedicine industry as an online health coach.

Many people who become health coaches pursue certification, although it isn’t legally required. You can start by searching this list of health and wellness coaching certifications. After that, you’ll need to market yourself. You can:

• Create a website advertising your health coaching services
• Promote your website on social media
• Pass out business cards at networking events
• Take out ads in the newspaper
• Post on local bulletin boards

Average rates: Varies

Work environment: Varies

While side hustles that leverage your nursing skills and training can be very lucrative, there’s a world of opportunities outside of healthcare. Maala pointed out that nursing is a “high burnout career,” and that there’s a lot to be said for “having something on the side that you can do to decompress from a long day of work at the hospital.”

She followed her own advice when she worked her way through nurse practitioner school, taking on a few nursing-related gigs (such as per diem work) while also earning money by streaming video games in the evenings.

If your shifts usually leave you craving the comforts of home, consider low-key home-based side hustles, like selling crafts, virtual assisting, or data entry. Conversely, if you’re willing to venture out into the world, you can look into doing photography as a side hustle or walking dogs for money (a great way to get your exercise in if your job leaves you too tired to go to the gym).

As Maala pointed out, many nursing jobs involve pulling three 12-hour shifts per week, which leaves you with four days off. This gives you a lot of time to pursue your side hustle, although it’s important to make sure you don’t work too hard and overextend yourself.

Whatever side hustle you pick, create a set schedule for it, and make sure to budget in some relaxation time, too. Good luck!