Even though nursing is a steady career, it never hurts to look for ways to increase your earnings. While we know that your true calling is being a nurse, you might have a special occasion around the corner, whether it be a wedding or a vacation. You might even want to splurge on a brand new hobby that you’ve been wanting to try.

If you’re looking for ways to make extra money while maintaining your career as a nurse, then look no further. Read on to find a few, fun ways to make a little extra money the side.

On-Call Nurses

We know that the term “on-call” is usually reserved for doctors and specialists who are working their shifts. However, there are some nursing registries that hire on-call nurses when they are available. These companies act as temp agencies, directed exclusively to nurses. Through their services, you may sign up on the days where you have some free time to have an extra shift, or even when you have a day off.

By being an on-call nurse, you may one day be assigned to the NICU, and the other to the pediatrics wing; it all depends on what the hospital requires for the day. The good thing about this form of employment is its flexibility; you can basically work only when you want to, and get generous pay for your services.

Working in Community Clinics

If you’re more of a people person, then you might feel right at home in working an extra shift in the local community clinic, helping out with some tasks like immunizing children or giving lectures about health conditions and health management in schools and health centers. Some community clinics, however, require a Public Health Nurse certification in order to accept a nurse to work with them, regardless of their temporary or permanent employment.

Medical and Health Blogging

You’d be amazed at how much you can accomplish with only a computer and internet access. Since you’re reading this, it’s safe to assume that you have both of those things already, which makes you which makes you instantly eligible for this method. Did you know that there are people in the world that can live entirely on blogging to pay the bills, and still have enough left over to save? In this sense, you can make a few extra bucks simply by reaching out to health organizations and offering your services as a blogger to create articles on healthcare and maybe share some inside info on what it’s like to work as a nurse.

This is something you can do at any time, in any place, even from the comfort of your home during your days off or after a shift.

Signing Up for the Float Pool

In most cases, you’ll be assigned to a certain department of your healthcare center throughout your time working there. However, you may also want to sign up in the float pool of your local hospital to take up an extra shift when it opens up. This gives you a window to gain experience in many areas of nursing, as well as some extra cash for your troubles.

Another way to go about this is simply by asking your supervisor of any extra shifts that have opened up in your own department. Depending on what your employer thinks about overtime, you might end up with an extra shift or two added to your schedule.

Working In Correctional Facilities

This might not be the first option for many. However, the pay for working shifts at local correctional facilities is usually very generous. Furthermore, the shifts are usually shorter than those of the hospital, which are 8 hours, as opposed to the latter’s 12-hour shifts.

In order to work these shifts, you’d need to sign up at your local nurse registry, and receive security clearance. However, once you fulfill these requirements, you’re basically set.

Work as a Phlebotomist

Did you know that insurance companies often hire nurses to draw blood as part of the physical exam and application process for their clients? As a nurse yourself, you’re free to offer your services to these companies, through which you may assist them in this process. When working with insurers, you will likely receive a list of patients that you’ll need to visit—mostly in the evenings—to take their blood samples and deliver them to the appropriate lab for testing. This is a great way to make some extra cash and to polish up on your blood-drawing skills.

There are many ways that a nurse can use their skills to help their fellow man. In the same vein, there are also many ways where they can use their talents to their benefit, in order to receive extra cash for a job well done.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for additional opportunities to lend your services, and make some money in the process.