Recession Proof Your Career: 5 Side Gigs for Nurses

Melissa Mills, BSN

How does your bank account look these days? If it's a bit on the thin side, you might be wondering what you can do to beef it up especially considering all the chatter these days about an impending recession. But, of course, this doesn't even address the nursing workforce cutbacks that are happening coast to coast and might affect you. But how can you make extra cash?

Looking for creative ways to line the bank account with Benjamins in the past meant you had to pull on a pair of scrubs and head back to the bedside. But, these days, nurses have all kinds of side jobs they can do that still use their nursing knowledge but don't always use it in the traditional sense. And, you might not have to leave the comfort of your home to make more cash!

Let's explore five side gigs you're qualified to do and how you can get started quickly.

Immunization Nurse

It's flu season, and COVID-19 continues to linger. This means recruiters are scouring job boards looking for nurses who want a seasonal job jabbing arms with vaccines. Immunization clinics usually happen in doctor's offices, clinics, or pharmacies. Pay for this side gig runs around $20 to $45 an hour, and some pay even more.

The best places to find these jobs are on job boards like Indeed or ZipRecruiter. You can also search for career opportunities on Walgreens, CVS, or Kroger websites to find current vacancies in your area.

What do you need to qualify?

You probably qualify for this gig if you're a nurse with at least one year of clinical experience and an active CPR certification. But, of course, you'll need stellar assessment, customer service, and communication skills too.

Telehealth or Case Management Nurse

Even before COVID-19 changed how many people work, nurses were heading to the comfort of their homes for skilled jobs. Now, more people turn to telehealth for healthcare services, which means nurses are needed. In addition, telehealth and case management services increase access to care for underserved populations or people living in rural parts of the U.S.

Nurses in these roles evaluate overall health and wellness, chronic illness, and injuries. They also create care plans for ongoing care and meet with clients over secure telehealth platforms to improve outcomes and keep them out of the hospital. While many companies require their staff to work full-time, you can also find part-time jobs that work off-shifts, like evenings or nights, to provide flexibility. Search for these opportunities on career sites like Indeed or ZipRecruiter. You can also look at internal job postings on Elevance Health, Optum, and United Health sites.

What do you need to qualify?

You'll need at least three to five years of direct patient care to qualify. It helps if you have a compact license to provide care to people who aren't in your state. No worries if you don't live in a compact state - you can apply for single-state licensure as needed.

You'll also need a clear background check, a dedicated, quiet workspace, and high-speed internet. In addition, having stellar computer skills is required because many telehealth jobs are with cutting-edge tech companies that use their care platform and other tech programs like Slack, Zoom, and Asana to manage productivity and workflow processes.

Freelance Health and Wellness Writer

Most people turn to the internet when they need health and wellness info. Many websites realize that pumping out content not rooted in proper health and medical knowledge is dangerous, so they turn to freelance nurse writers. As a writer, you might create web content, blogs, articles, and white papers or work on academic projects like continuing education or training courses. Some freelance writers specialize in social media marketing and help healthcare companies connect with consumers through creative, evidence-based content.

What do you need to qualify?

Nurse writers must love to create and write. You can choose a niche you enjoy most and one that aligns with your nursing experience so that you can be a true subject matter expert when writing. You'll need a few writing samples to share with companies to get started. You can create a free or low-cost portfolio on sites like Journo Portfolio and Clippings.me. Some freelancers take it a step further and build a website and blog to showcase their writing and services. To find work, search on websites like Indeed, Scripted, Upwork, or directly on health and wellness companies with an active blog.

Health Instructor

Becoming a health instructor might be a great fit if you love to teach. You can educate others on topics like CPR, first aid, or specialty courses on wellness. You can host events on your own in the community or secure third-party clients who hire you to teach their staff.

What do you need to qualify?

If you want to teach first aid and CPR classes, you'll have to complete a Train the Trainer course through the American Red Cross or the Heart Association. Having a website and social media accounts might help you connect with your community to find customers interested in your classes. If you teach courses delivered via video, you'll be able to connect with people coast-to-coast, which means you'll need high-speed internet. Just be sure to research regulations about providing nursing services across state lines.

Nurse Influencer

If you're not afraid to get in front of the camera and love to raise awareness about #nursinglife, being an influencer might be just for you! Nurse influencers motivate, educate, and make people laugh while giving the world a front-row seat into the life of a caregiver. Popular nurse influencers earn money by providing sponsored content, selling advertising space on their websites, and reviewing supplies and equipment.

What do you need to qualify?

Influencers need a niche or a specific thing they talk about, a good phone, reliable internet, and great lighting! Oh, and don't forget the creativity!

What's Your Next Nursing Side Gig?

Nursing side gig options are endless, and while this is a list of some of the most popular gigs, new ones pop up daily. And creative nurse specialists build new gigs that provide extra income and can become a lucrative full-time business. So, if you have a novel idea, go for it! Contact the National Nurses in Business Association for advice and networking if you need guidance.

What side gig most intrigues you? Or, do you have a novel idea you want to explore? Tell us what side gig you're most interested in and why in the comments.

References

1. Recession Tracker: Are We In A Recession?

2. Elevance Health Careers

3. Optum Careers

4. United Healthcare Careers

5. Journo Portfolio

6. Clippings.me

7. National Nurses in Business Association