Good side job for RN?

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Specializes in medical.

I'm reading from time to time posts from very unhappy nurses and those who quit. I'm too struggling with direct patient care and I think that nursing can be very draining. I'm wondering about pursuing a second career choice beside working as RN in case I get really fed up with nursing. I was thinking phlebotomist, medical laboratory technician, because they don't require 4 yrs of studying. I know that some of you will advice to change the unit, or go for advance degree, but that still involves direct patient care one way or the other. I work per diem now and have time to do sth else, and I don't want to pick up too many shifts because it's stressful.

Does any of you work in non nursing field and at the same time as RN in hospital? My friend's coworker works part time in Hallmark store to relieve the stress from her regular job as a RN in hospital.

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Huh. The downside I can see is that those other jobs all pay a lot less than nursing.

If I had my choice of jobs and money didn't matter I'd probably be a huc (unit secretary) in the hospital. I love that type of work, but the pay is really low.

It's interesting to me to read on here how many of us have about had it with floor nursing. It's actually kind of scary for the future really. I wonder if we are a representative sample, or if most came to these boards in part because of their dissatisfaction with their current nursing situation. It would be interesting to know that.

I wonder if there will be any nurses left to take care of me when I'm old(er).

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Something OUTSIDE of the medical field!!!!!!!! Because jeez, I would think that getting a second job working in the same environment would cause one to be even more burned out.

For years, I've considered getting a job at Starbucks. Free. Coffee. Heaven.

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How about bartending? My friend is in bartending school right now cuz she's fed up with her nursing job. It's fun and the pay is good depending on where you go.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I plan to incorporate my photography as a personal business after I graduate and have more free time. I've done a significant amount for friends, family members, and various school events at my wife's school, and it'd be nice to at the very least recoup the cost of my equipment if not making a little on the side.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
How about bartending? My friend is in bartending school right now cuz she's fed up with her nursing job. It's fun and the pay is good depending on where you go.

One of my fellow students is a waitress/bartender at a very upscale restaurant in the area and actually makes more than she will start out as with her RN. Bartending is in my opinion the single most overpaid "profession" in existence, but I don't hold that against anybody who would work it part time for the lucre it generates.

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

I had considered going to bartending school as well. In fact, it still is an option. It just looks like fun.

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I guess anything that makes you happy, which is very individual. It sounds like money isn't the issue, so it's wide open.

I come from a family where nobody is in medical/health care. Those who are attorneys work insane hours (and then there's my cousin is going crazy out in CA because she can't pass her bar), my Mom was a teacher (retired) and says she's rather work at McDonald's than "go back in the classroom the way things are", my brother is a civil engineer with the state, and he's working crazy hours on too many projects because of a hiring freeze due to the economy. He'd love a different job, and has his resume out. I could go on, but my point is, every profession is with its challenges. Nursing is awesome in that it offers such flexiblity as to how you actually spend your day and time.

If you seriously hate doing something, it would be a favor to everyone (most of all yourself) if you found something asap. Forget the side job thing, that's just a slow bleed if you hate your main gig. Good luck.

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Specializes in EMS~ ALS.../...Bartending ~ Psych :).

"Bartending is in my opinion the single most overpaid "profession" in existence,"

Bartending "professionally" isn't as easy as it looks. Trust me, I could write a book. But I will just toss out a few general stressors, Just like nursing, you basically have peoples lives in your hands,Gotta know who you serve, what you serve them, how much you serve them, and who is driving ...... Just like the ER and the "drug seekers", or your overdoses, while in the bar, I have the under 21 booze seekers, along with people that don't know when they have had enough,..... You have a psych ward in the hospital, well, ever heard of Jager, Patron, or Jack Daniels?, or the newly brokenhearted, or the "new in town and I'm lonely, or I just lost my job and I'm so depressed... Oh did I mention the "Gun" toting idiot that thinks his ole lady may be at your place with another guy, Oh and she is........... Hummm lets see, Nurses have to deal with rude family members and patients alot right? Ummm well Bartenders have to deal with Rude waitresses and customers daily, we have to be mind readers, we have to be shrinks, we have to be nurses, we have to secretaries, we have to be security, dishwashers, and we have to prepare and serve drinks, just the way you like them, all at the same time. And thats just the tip of the Iceberg.

So yes I make great money being a bartender, probally about as much as a nurse with a few years experience, but I work hard for every penny I make! On your feet all day? Yeah me too! Don't get to take your break everyday? Me neither!, You have 10 patients with no help, my bar seats 30, Dining room seats around 200, Guess what, I don't have any help either..... Nope just one bartender. Do you know how to make a "Red Headed Sult?" I need 22 of them, a wedding party just walked in!

That being said, Thats one of the reasons I am going to nursing school. The professions are really not that far apart..... :wink2:

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Specializes in EMS~ ALS.../...Bartending ~ Psych :).

Now to the OP.. Bartending is a great way to make money, its fun, its fast, and its never the same day twice. But just like nursing those on the outside looking in, think "how great it would be to be a nurse" they don't see it quite the same way as a nurse see's it. They just see that your are devoted to your patient and you are helping someone...

Same with bartending, it looks fun, (and it is for the most part) But its not quite as fun as setting on the other side of the bar on a barstool.:wink2: It looks easy, and it can be, but just like nursing you have to know your sh*t, or it can become a nightmare fast.

You will earn every penny you make.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I actually have a bartending license and worked as one part time in college, so I say with some authority how overpaid they are. My friend makes around $35/hourly.

By the way, I'm not out of school yet, but managing even three (the most we've been up to) patients' complete care is far more difficult than the worst bartending shift or the busiest night on the rig when I worked as an EMT.

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So what about a pt nursing job away from pt care. What about flu shots. THey have companies that contract nurses to give flu shots like at the grocery stores and stuff. you pick your own hours and such. just a thought...sometimes I think about walmart as the cut in pay would be made up by the 10% discount employees get...lol and i know we spend alot of money there.

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