How to Earn More Money as a Nurse

Nurses are some of the most dedicated professionals in the healthcare industry, and while their hard work and expertise are invaluable, the reality is that nursing salaries often don’t reflect the full extent of their skills and dedication—as of May 2023, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $86,070.¹

Fortunately, there are many ways to boost your income as a nurse, from career advancements to exploring additional side hustles to flex your nursing expertise.

In this guide, we’ll discuss practical and actionable strategies for how to earn more money as a nurse without sacrificing your main role as a dedicated caretaker.

Start a Healthcare-Related Side Hustle

Nurses are experts in the healthcare field, and that expertise can be translated into ancillary, part-time jobs that allow you to earn more money while continuing with your regular duties.

Here are some healthcare-adjacent side hustles for nurses that you can start right away:

• Freelance writing for healthcare publications – If you enjoy writing and have skills distilling complex information with thoughtfulness and approachability, you may be able to earn extra income for health publications, medical blogs or healthcare brands. Many employers desire writers with clinical or educational expertise in the subject, putting experienced nurses at an advantage.
• Health coaching and consulting – With a wealth of clinical knowledge in the realms of wellness, nutrition and exercise, nurses can pursue health coaching with confidence. Work one-on-one with your community members or partner with a local nonprofit to provide weekly classes, personalized wellness plans, nutritional advice or fitness coaching. These services can also be offered remotely via video calls to provide you with some flexibility on your days off the nursing floor.
• First Aid or CPR instructor – As a registered nurse, you’re required to maintain both CPR and First Aid certification and, thus, qualified to teach life-saving skills in schools, businesses and community events. Offer online courses or go down to your local community college to see if they have openings for additional courses.

Explore Telemedicine or Remote Nursing Roles

In the years from 2019 to 2021, telemedicine use increased from 15.4% to 86.5%—and the virtual office didn’t affect patient care. In fact, 73.1% of medical specialists reported being able to provide a similar quality of care to patients when done virtually, compared to in-office visits.²

You can capitalize on this emerging technology as a registered nurse through:

• Telehealth nursing – You can offer consultations or provide medical advice to patients via phone, video calls or secure messaging platforms. This is an excellent option if you want to make extra money without leaving your home or hospital shift. It allows you to work remotely and schedule consultations that fit into your free time. Telehealth roles vary depending on your nursing expertise, so you could find work as a triage nurse, providing advice to patients who call in, or as a nurse practitioner, offering more in-depth consultations.
• Case management or care coordination – In this role, you’ll work with insurance companies, hospitals, or private organizations to manage patient care.³ You might be responsible for coordinating services, monitoring patient progress and ensuring that patients receive appropriate treatments. Remote case management roles often allow you to set your own schedule, which makes it easier to juggle with other commitments.
• Medical coding or billing – If you’re looking for an administrative role, consider a remote job that involves translating medical records into standardized codes. These will be used by hospitals and insurance companies, and they’re essential to the reimbursement process. Accordingly, these types of roles do offer competitive pay.⁴

Work Per Diem Shifts or Pick Up Overtime Hours

If you're looking for an easy way to earn extra cash without committing to a full second job, working per diem shifts or picking up overtime can be a great option. Many hospitals and healthcare facilities need nurses to work extra shifts, especially during peak times or when other nurses call out:

• Working per diem – Per diem nursing gives you the flexibility to pick up shifts as needed. It’s perfect for nurses who want to earn extra income but don’t want the long-term commitment of a part-time position. You can pick up shifts when it fits into your schedule, which means you can adjust your workload based on your availability.
• Working overtime – If you already work full-time, taking on overtime hours is another way to boost your income. Many healthcare facilities offer higher pay rates for overtime, so working a few extra hours can quickly add up, whether it’s covering a night shift or picking up a weekend shift.

How do you survive and prepare for a long shift? Comfortable and durable scrubs are a must. Cherokee women’s scrubs and men’s scrubs are made with high-performance fabrics that can handle extended hours. Their flexibility allows you to navigate each task more comfortably, and the easy-care materials mean you can spend more time caring for your patients than your scrubs.

Consider Non-Healthcare Side Gigs

If you’re interested in earning money outside the healthcare field, there are plenty of flexible side gigs that can supplement your income. Here are a couple of side jobs for nurses that could fit seamlessly into your life:

• Selling handmade goods online – If your craftiness and attention to detail extend beyond the hospital, consider opening an online store to sell wares like jewelry, candles, art and home decor. Platforms like Etsy allow you to sell handmade goods to consumers around the world, and the high level of flexibility allows you to seamlessly integrate your side job into your current schedule.
• Tutoring – If you love teaching and have a passion for teaching essential nursing skills, tutoring could be an excellent way to make additional income. You can help nursing students or even high school students studying biology or anatomy. Online tutoring platforms also make it easy to connect with students, and you can choose the hours that work best for you.
• Virtual assistant – Many small business owners and entrepreneurs need help with administrative tasks, scheduling, social media management and customer service. As a healthcare professional, your organizational skills, ability to multi-task and attention to detail make you an ideal candidate for this role. Plus, virtual assistant work is flexible, allowing you to manage your time and client load based on your availability.

Advance Your Nursing Career with Certifications

If you’re looking to remain within the healthcare industry and learn how to make extra money as a nurse, one of the most effective ways to increase your income as a nurse is to advance your career through continued education and certifications.

Specifically, specializing in areas that are in high demand or pursuing advanced roles can open doors to higher-paying positions and new financial opportunities. For example, you can pursue a career as a:

• Nurse Practitioner (NP) – Nurse practitioners are highly skilled professionals who have the ability to diagnose, treat and prescribe medications. Becoming an NP requires a graduate-level education and additional training, but it’s one of the most financially rewarding paths for nurses.⁵
• Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) – Nurse anesthetists are among the highest-paid nurses.⁶ This advanced role involves administering anesthesia to patients before surgeries and procedures. CRNAs are in high demand and require a doctorate degree, which can take up to three years to earn.

If you’re not ready to take on an advanced role, you can still boost your income by specializing in areas like pediatrics, geriatrics or surgery. By earning certifications in these specialized areas, you can position yourself as an expert in the field and a competitive candidate, which often lends itself to higher compensation.

All that said, as you pursue advanced certifications or specialized roles, make sure you’re wearing the right type of scrubs that reflect your professionalism, confidence and dedication.

Multiple Ways to Boost Your Income (and Comfort) as a Nurse

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to earning more money as a nurse, but there are plenty of opportunities to explore. Whether you want to take on a side hustle, explore telehealth nursing, work extra shifts or advance your career with certifications, you have options, as each path can increase your earning potential and bring you closer to your financial goals. If you’re ready to hustle but still looking to achieve nurse work-life balance, we’ve got you covered.

As you take on new roles, you deserve to feel comfortable and confident. Cherokee’s range of scrubs are designed to keep you feeling your best, whether you’re working a 12-hour shift, teaching a CPR class or pursuing what you love.

Explore Cherokee’s nursing scrubs today!

Sources:

¹ BLS. Registered Nurses. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm. Accessed on December 27, 2024.

² CDC. Telemedicine Use Among Physicians by Physician Specialty: United States, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db493.htm. Accessed on December 27, 2024.

³ Julota. Care Coordination versus Case Management: What’s the Difference? https://www.julota.com/news/care-coordination-versus-case-management-whats-the-difference/. Accessed on December 27, 2024.

⁴ Penn Foster. Your Medical Billing & Coding Salary Guide. https://www.pennfoster.edu/blog/medical-billing-and-coding-salary-guide. Accessed on December 27, 2024.

⁵ Cleveland Clinic. Nurse Practitioner. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24651-nurse-practitioner. Accessed on December 27, 2024.

⁶ U.S. News. Nurse Practitioner Salary. https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/nurse-practitioner/salary. Accessed on December 27, 2024.