Even though nurses earn a steady income, factors such as student debt and unpredictable hours can lead them to want extra income. With the stresses already present at work, they may want to make money through another avenue while still utilizing their skills. This can be in the form of medical writing, starting a small business, or teaching first aid classes. Some of which can pay very well. If you are creative enough, you can think of a way to make money in almost any field. Here are 5 ways nurses can supplement their income, and have fun with it. 

1. Medical/Freelance Writer

Medical writing can be an excellent source of income for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who can put their vast amounts of knowledge to good use. Traditional writers may have impeccable writing skills, but they don’t have the medical experience to back it up. Doctors and nurses are exposed to different medical situations every day, which makes for interesting and informative articles. They can write about how to handle symptoms like chest pain, or how to make the decision to go to medical school. Companies are willing to hire freelance writers to add to their existing content and pay fairly well for it. If you are a nurse looking for a way to make money online, medical writing has many opportunities. 

2. Work in a Nursing Home

Nursing homes always need medical assistants and nurses as our older population is growing. If you want to make a side income while still working with patients in the hospital, you can take a weekend shift at a nursing home. There are plenty of elderly people who need a kind and patient-nurse to take care of them. Most of these shifts are part-time which is perfect for a nurse who already works set hours during the week. You can coordinate what day or days you would like to work. This type of job is likely much calmer and quieter than your typical day at the hospital. Depending on the nurse, they may prefer it rather than overtime at the hospital. 

3. Work as a Home Health Nurse

Similarly to working in a nursing home, a home health nurse allows you to make money outside of the hospital. If you enjoy taking care of people, being a home health nurse is a rewarding job. The people being assisted are very appreciative to be able to be treated inside their home. Not everyone wants to be placed in a nursing home. In the comfort of their home, the patient will probably be happier and more compliant to treat. Although every patient is different. With this type of position, the hours are usually part-time, at night, and on the weekend. This can be very meaningful work as you can build a connection with the person as well as make additional income. 

4. First Aid/CPR Instructor

Nurses are already trained in basic life support (BLS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), so why not use that skill to earn money? Once a nurse is certified by the American Red Cross, they can teach basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to organizations, schools, fitness instructors, and even parents. The more people that know first aid and CPR the better. First responders don’t always get to an emergency in time, so consider this type of work. You can literally save a life by teaching someone how to perform CPR properly. As you probably know, performing first aid incorrectly can do more harm than good.  

5. Start A Small Business

If you want to make money in a way that is completely unrelated to nursing, start a small business. This could be selling crafts on Etsy or selling clothes on Poshmark. This is a good way to avoid nurse burnout and not feel as if your entire life is about nursing. Many people have other passions besides their career of choice. Maybe you always wanted to have an online store. Use your days off to grow your small business and see what happens. Most people who sell products online have other jobs as well. Think of this as a fun way to supplement your income, and even include your friends. 

Almost everyone is looking for a way to improve their income, for nurses, this is even easier as they have a wide range of skills that can help others for the better. If you are a nurse, try one or more of these ways to enhance your income today.