Side hustles for nurses: 10 ways to earn extra money

Nurses are important health professionals who provide care for people in different healthcare settings. While it is an in-demand profession, you can always seek out extra jobs or side hustles to address financial needs or to help you fulfil a personal goal.

Are you seeking out self-employment ideas for nurses? Or are you looking for ways how to make extra money as a nurse?  Here are 10 side hustles for nurses for you to consider!

1. Science or biology tutoring

Part of a nursing student’s curriculum is to learn science courses such as chemistry, anatomy, or biology. Student nurses who may have difficulty in these subjects may seek out tutors. 

Tutors can earn between $60,000 - $70,000 annually. This is not only a great way to earn money on the side, but it’s also a chance to help out up-and-coming nursing students.

2. Medical transcription

As a medical transcriptionist, you’ll be tasked to listen to the physicians’ voice recordings and convert them into written or typewritten reports. You may also be asked to review and edit medical documents, patients’ histories, discharge summaries, and more.

Medical transcriptionists have an average pay of $33/hour. Depending on the employer, you may do this task at home so long as you have a stable internet connection.

3. Caregiving

If you’re interested in providing medical assistance to those who need it, consider becoming a caregiver. As a caregiver, you may be asked to provide aged care and assisted daily living, like giving shots, administering medication, and helping manage conditions like diabetes or Alzheimer's Disease in the elderly.

You can also focus on childcare and provide services like documenting and planning for a child’s development process and learning and providing emotional support for the child.

The estimated median pay for caregivers is $25 per hour and can go up to $40 depending on experience and specialisation.

4. Fitness or personal training

If you are interested in physical fitness, why not take on a side hustle as a personal trainer? Your task will include leading, instructing, and motivating individuals or groups in exercise activities. This job will allow you to work with people of all ages and skill levels.

Fitness instructors can earn between $40 - $60 per hour. Build your qualifications by getting certified at the Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) which allows you to choose which specialisation you can focus on.

5. Immunisation nurse

Nurses play a major role in rolling out vaccination campaigns to preserve public health and safety, like during a pandemic. They help educate and spread awareness and perform vaccinations to the public. Nurses also administer seasonal immunisation initiatives for influenza and more.

Immunisation nurses earn an average of $56 hourly.

6. CPR or health-related instructor

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving emergency procedure done when the heart stops beating. When done immediately, CPR can increase the chances of survival after cardiac arrest by up to three times!

CPR or first aid instructors make an average of $55 per hour. It’s a low-stress and fulfilling side hustle for you. Aside from CPR, you can also teach classes on different health-related topics like nutrition, diabetes, and more.

7. Adjunct professor

Do you love to teach? Working as an adjunct professor may be the perfect side job for you! As a clinical adjunct instructor, you will be teaching in a nursing college on a part-time or contract basis. Your duties will vary, but one of the main responsibilities is to instruct students and assist them during clinicals.

You can make an average of $64 per hour, depending on which state you teach at.

8. Telehealth nurse

With more telehealth services becoming available, working as a telehealth nurse could be a fulfilling and lucrative side hustle. Registered Nurses can provide high-quality care to patients through video, calls, or messages. This type of service is extremely important for those who don’t have access to specialists.

Telehealth nurses may also help patients with minor health problems, and can help determine if a patient needs emergency care. Telehealth nurses earn an average of $55 per hour, depending on experience. 

9. Business person

As nurses, you have learned and honed skills like organisation, critical thinking, communication, time management, and more in school and through practice. These skills are crucial in running a business. So if you’ve always wanted to be a business person, this could be the ideal side job for you.

There are plenty of business opportunities to look into. You must know what your interests are, and you may want to join organisations to network and learn skills from.

Some businesses to look into include:

• Legal nursing consultation

• Nurse coaching

• Specialised care

• Medical spa

• Intravenous infusions

10. Freelance medical writer

If you have a passion for writing, you may consider writing about health. Skills to consider include having excellent English grammar and research. Your nursing background will come in very handy when you write about healthcare.

Build your network and find mentors to improve your writing by getting a membership from the Australasian Medical Writers Association (AMWA).

Take on a side job you love

Now that you know what your options are, you can narrow your choices down to do a side hustle that meets your needs as a nurse. Be wise about choosing what you want to pursue, and think about the amount of time and effort you can commit to it without compromising your current job.

Want to earn extra on the side? Sign up on Airtasker today and find a side hustle.