side job/second job?

Cryst2_rn · Nov 9, 2010

I've been considering a side job too. I'm burnt out with my unit, the unfair favortism and the lack of trustworthy leadership. (but that's off topic)

I've heard of nurses having separate /second jobs. They seem to cherish their second job more than nursing.

One worked with a concert promotion group/company. She apparently set up for concerts and bands.

One worked @ Lane Bryant. She liked the perks with the clothes and the change of scenary

One was an elementary school teacher. Apparently she Taught during the day, worked nursing shifts at night and during summer vacation she supplemented her teaching income with nursing.

OH wait! I know 4! One was a hair dressor. She did hair out of her basement as a side job after she got off work and on her off days. She was a license beautician (or something) and became a nurse for more steady and predictable income but her passion was hair.

So yeah it's definetly possible.

merlee · Nov 9, 2010

If you want to do something else, don't think in terms of the money. Things in terms of interst, or fun!

I did a fair amount of volunteer work, and I got involved in community theatre. I acted a bit, and learned how to stage-manage.

I learned how to be a fund-raiser for a charitable organization.

And I later became a travel agent.

What do you WANT to do?

cecilsgirl · Nov 9, 2010

A Nurse friend of mine, works 3 days a week at a hospital ( an an RN) , and every other Sat. morning at an exercise place, ( and gets a free membership!) and 2 mornings a week at a coffee shop. She loves the ladies she meets at the exercise place and the coffee shop, I wish I could do that, but I have to work for the money. The money just isn't there in those jobs,... but sometimes the money isn't everything! She loves her job more at the hospital because of the other jobs. Good Luck! ( and the stress may get better, if you are new to nursing.)

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2010

I think all of us have tinkered with the idea of a second job. I have found that if I work an extra day, or work extra hours when they need me, I end up making FAR more than I would with a second job. To avoid burnout, I will only work an 8 hour day and then have something fun planned for the weekend.

A co-worker of mine loves to make jewelry, and she sells it to us and other friends. I also have another co-worker who makes cakes and we all go to him when we have an event planned and need a cake. And yet another co-worker is into photography and we seek her out for weddings/baby showers.

My father, who is a retired lawyer and also a writer tells me that the most successful writers "write what they know." So my advice to you is to do what you know, do what you love. You will find success this way.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Nov 9, 2010

a friend of mine works ICU put has a side business doing ceraminc art. Her work is shown in local galleries

yemmy · Nov 9, 2010

I think you should look for a specialty area you love, maybe you can then pick up a second job per diem 1-4 days/mos depending on what you can handle. If you want to work in a different area all together, how about real estate as a second job, flexible, not that stressful. I work two jobs as an l & d nurse, though it is very busy and stressful but i enjoy what i do.

miltonmobley · Nov 9, 2010

we oftentimes looking for another job/ work for us to double our income and all our wants are next to it, yes happy to have second job though much busy and hectic but im enjoying what im doin..:heartbeat:coollook:

kcmylorn · Nov 10, 2010

I wouldn't let the nursing job find out about the second job. I found out the hard way-the floor Nursing job( was a per deim job) took for granted I was at their beck and call 24/7. They would call me on my non committed days knowing I had a TEMPORARY full time desk nursing job(I loved 8-4, no weekends, no holidays same pay as hospital). For the perdeim job- I would do more than my expected 2 shifts /6 weeks committment(I would go in on the weekends, holidays) The per deim job would call and ask me to come in @ 7A on a weekday-I couldn't. They terminated me- and 2 weeks before my temporary job ended. Like a jealous little school girl. So be careful w/ these second jobs and who knows about them. Many nurses through out the ages have had 2 jobs- sole support of a family- what is nursing's problem now?

StephRN08 · Nov 10, 2010

Why not try other areas of nursing? Maybe you are burnt out because your are working on a busy med/surg floor! I say this because my nearest and dearest friend worked on a surgical/transplant floor for 2 years and was in your same shoes. She looked around and found a position as an office nurse for colon/rectal surgeon at the same hospital. She works Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm (with a 1 hour lunch) and no weekends or holidays. Her work primarily consists of speaking with patients on the telephone pre- and post-op and doing teaching on ostomy patients. She has also started on her own research study!

Evaluate your current position and see if it is causing you to become burnt out!

kcmylorn · Nov 11, 2010

Another twist and tip. If the hospital job calls you and asks you to come in and gets your answering machine, then has the nerve to ask you in front of a everyone at a staff meeting why you couldn't come in- don't say you were caring for an elderly parent(which in my case was true). The nurse manager will add the verbiage to her answering machine- that she is a "family" educator and will make you go down to the nursing education dept where you will be met by the nursing educator who will strongly encourage you to put your elderly mother in a nursing home!( when I said that was not possible, money is an issue for my family- it was days later I was terminated) HR refused to hear the fact that I had to take my 83 yr old mother out of her home because I was called by the police 2 times she was wandering and has a gas stove and is on cardiac meds, my sisiter had to get guardianship of her and we were sharing her care. To put an elder in a nursing home -either all their assets need to be turned over to the state for medicaid qualification, or you pay app $6,000 or more/month out of pocket for their stay. This was a HOSPITAL HR dept and a HOSPITAL "NURSE MANAGER"- These HOSPITAL's in our country could care less about staff nurses or patients. I had a pocket Sony voice recorder in my purse recording this termination meeting w/ HR and the Nurse manager.! I went to Unemployment and notified the Dept of Labor, My temporary full time position was @ my state department of health and I played the tape for them. The hospital in question just notified me in a letter that they took back all their Employer contribution from Met Life on my 401K-$15,000. I have another seperate 401K @ Met Life that has nothing to do w/ this hospital- I now have to call Met Life to make sure this hospital did not gouge/steal money from this account. Just a word to the wise.

paddingtonRN · Nov 12, 2010

I work three days a week on a neuro floor and two days a week, 10-15 hours, at a Medi-Spa. I perform laser procedures (mostly hair removal and IPL fotofacials), microdermabrasions, chemical peels etc. It's fast paced, zero stress and I get great discounts. I love it!!! I've been so much happier overall since starting. I was getting really mentally exhausted from the hospital and even though I'm working more now, somehow I'm less stressed. The pay is slightly less but it feels more like a hobby than work. It's great!!