Independant Contract Nurses

Generally, independent contractors have a special skill or fit some business niche. I gather you don't have one and are seeking what you might pursue to become an IC.

To some extent, being an IC is just a tax status, not necessarily an independent business. For example, your personal goals of freedom to work when you wish might be satisfied by working local agency. Some such agencies do treat you as an IC, or in other words, being a 1099 "employee" versus a W-2 employee. If your compensation is from a 1099, you are responsible for paying all taxes, as a W-2 employee, money is withheld to pay for taxes (just as you are being paid now). There is little effective difference between the two, all else being equal.

Alternatives to working local agency might include changing your employment status to per diem and working for the in-house staffing pool at your current hospital or a different one. You will lose benefits versus full time staff, and have some shift commitments to meet, but when you work will be completely up to you, and the hourly rate should be better (to make up for lost benefits).

Doing local agency or per diem is available to you now (depending on your location of course - some areas have much more available than others) and might get you where you want to be. Learning a new skill and developing your own business (marketing is required) is a much longer process and is higher risk. If you don't have entrepreneurial risk taking aptitude and serious motivation, there are alternative ways to work part time.

Thank you NedRN for writing this :)

I'm learning to gain clarity on my goals that value "teaching and consultant" because I love to teach and although I enjoy working in a team setting, I have a passion for independence. I am motivated to learn other jobs that values flexibility, financial freedom and ability to spend time with family.

The possibilities are endless. I do IC work occasionally. My "Niche" is Event Medicine ( Races, Concerts, Conventions + the like). On another note, I saw a job posting for a Nurse Educator. It was something like: one hour a couple times a week to provide Health Education to the Teachers at a local Private School. It really is all about Networking and building your Personal Brand ( Demonstrating your expertise) .

Thank you Thesocialmediacoach! Exactly. Nursing education is a great demand and need as well. I see a lot of opt and side businesses as an ACLS , PALS instructors, NCLEX tutor, or online nursing guru for students. Glad to see the business venture is working out for you thesocialmediacoach. I am not sure what I would like to do yet. i have a huge interest in teaching (online) and dermatology (botox). i just know not interested in bedside nursing.

I too am VERY multi-passionate. Life even with that I do...I am starting to LOVE the PR side of Social Media vs the Straight strategy + content creation. Google: Simon Sinek Ted Start with Why ( the book is great too).

Thanks for the book recommendation TheSocialMediaCoach. I will check it out. How has the book helped you the most? I'm glad to meet another passionate person and creating side businesses. :)

I look at a lot of Tedtalks , journals etc. so books are up my alley.

Ha! As I can go in a Million different directions, the book helped me to focus on "Why" I wanted to start a side business....Check out the video, let me know what you think.

Sounds good! Did you ever work bedside or graduate from a BSN program and jumped into entrepreneurship?

I graduated as a ASN. I finished my BSN a few years ago, I have been a Nurse for 10 years.

Wow, TheSocialMediaCoach, great video by Simon Sinek. According to him, its not "what" you do but "why" you do it and enjoyed how he explained it down to a science! Very inspiring! Thank you for the video recommendation.

Wow, TheSocialMediaCoach, great video by Simon Sinek. According to him, its not "what" you do but "why" you do it and enjoyed how he explained it down to a science! Very inspiring! Thank you for the video recommendation.

YES! When you can get the book or audio...it is a must read for anyone thinking of starting a Business.

Thanks TheSocialMediaCoach. I can not agree more with you :)