Nurse Wealth 101

If you are a nurse and you’re looking to get out of debt or increase your income, picking up a side hustle can potentially become a lucrative way to do so. Everywhere on the internet, I see people saying that one income source is too close to zero, and that adding more income streams will give you more security and stability. Here are five ways nurses are using their expertise to increase their income.

Freelance Writing

Nurses who have great communication skills can become a health content freelance writer. Nurses are unique in this space because having “RN” after your name on the internet gives your article credibility and bumps the article up on the Google search algorithm, making it marketable for clients. Nurse freelance writers often write for companies like WebMD, Aetna, Men’s Health, AARP, the list goes on.

This is something I am pursuing currently, and while it takes awhile to start earning money from this option, you can certainly make enough from doing freelance writing to replace your bedside job. There are even some nurses who make $100,000-$200,000 dollars annually! This job involves marketing yourself online, seeking out clients, managing an LLC, and of course, basic writing skills. If you are looking for ways to get started, I used RN2Writer.com and signed up for their course. The easy to follow 16 week course includes coaching and helpful modules that help beginners become full fledged freelance writers! Another option is Savvynursewriter.com. The creator has built a community around freelance writing that looks appealing.

Private Duty or Home Health Nurse

Home health nurses care for patients in their homes. Demand for home care continues to grow meaning many opportunities for home health nurses. This is something I have done in the past, caring for one child as a pediatric home health nurse. I did this part time, while having a full time acute care job. It helps to have a job that gives you the ability to create your schedule so you can reliably work at your second job as a home health nurse. I met a travel nurse who worked as a home health nurse between contracts in California, so it is also an accessible option.

PRN or Per Diem Nurse

Per diem nurses work on a temporary basis for as little as one day. Hospitals or other healthcare facilities may hire PRNs to cover busy times. PRN jobs typically pay more because you forgo having to pay for health insurance. You can check indeed and apply internally or download an app like ShiftMed, NurseIO, or ShiftKey to search and pick up a shift. Be prepared to get little to no orientation as I believe many of these options expect you to hit the ground running. Choose a specialty that you are already familiar with or have been working for some time now. If it were up to me and I was a staff nurse, I would have several PRN jobs alongside my full-time position.

Health Tutor or Instructor

Nursing school is challenging (as we all know), but if you’ve already graduated and earned your RN license, you can become a tutor to help fledging nursing students succeed. In many instances I have seen, you need a BSN (Bachelor’s Science in Nursing) as a minimum requirement and in some instances a good GPA. If you love working with students and have a teaching mindset, google “NCLEX tutoring” and send them an email or look at job boards. Expect to make $20-$35 an hour.

Telehealth Nurse

These nurses provide care remotely using videoconferencing, phone, or chat technologies. They may conduct virtual health assessments, communicate with patients about medical conditions, and recommend when to seek in-person care. Strong communication skills and the ability to use technology help. The average telehealth nurse salary was $83,000 in February 2024 according to Payscale. There is a possibility of working from home, but with strict adherence to HIPAA compliance, I have seen more of these companies require you to drive to the office.