25 Best Side Hustles for Nurses (2025 Extra Income Guide)
1. Why Nurses Need Side Hustles
With rising costs and unpredictable schedules, 46% of nurses now have side gigs (ANA 2024 Report). The best options:
✅ Fit around 12-hour shifts
✅ Leverage medical expertise (or require no healthcare background)
✅ Scale from $10k/month
Top Nurse Frustrations Side Hustles Solve:
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Low bonuses → Make $300/hour tutoring nursing students
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Burnout → Earn passively selling NCLEX cheat sheets online
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Student loans → Get $2,000+/month reviewing medical charts remotely
25 Best Side Hustles for Nurses (2025 Full Breakdown)
💉 Medical Side Gigs (Leverage Your License)
| # | Side Hustle | Hourly/Project Rate | Startup Cost | Time Commitment | License Required? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Per-Diem Nursing | 120/hr | $0 | Flexible | Yes (RN/LPN) | Nurses wanting extra shifts |
| 2 | Telehealth Nurse | 90/hr | $0 | 5-20 hrs/week | Yes | Tech-savvy nurses |
| 3 | NCLEX Tutor | $150/hr | $0 | 5-15 hrs/week | Yes | Educators at heart |
| 4 | Medical Chart Review | $80/hr | $0 | 5-10 hrs/week | Sometimes | Detail-oriented RNs |
| 5 | CPR Instructor | $120/class | $200 (cert) | Weekends | No | BLS-certified nurses |
| 6 | Nurse Blogger | $10k/month | $50 (domain) | 5-10 hrs/week | No | Writers/sharing expertise |
| 7 | Medical Survey Taker | $75/hr | $0 | 1-5 hrs/week | No | Quick cash seekers |
| 8 | IV Hydration Nurse | $250/session | $300 (supplies) | Evenings | Yes | IV-certified RNs |
| 9 | Nurse Influencer | $5k/month | $0 | 3-8 hrs/week | No | Social media naturals |
| 10 | Nurse Consultant | $200/hr | $0 | Flexible | Yes | Specialized RNs (ICU, etc.) |
| 11 | Medical Transcription | $45/hr | $0 | 10-20 hrs/week | No | Fast typists |
| 12 |
Nurse Coach |
$150/session | $500 (cert) | 5-15 hrs/week | Yes | Holistic health advocates |
| 13 | Vaccine Nurse | $80/hr | $0 | Weekends | Yes | Travel nurses |
| 14 | Nurse Podcaster | $10k/month | $200 (mic) | 5-10 hrs/week | No | Storytellers |
| 15 | Scrubs Reviewer | Free gear $50/post | $0 | 1-3 hrs/week | No | Fashion lovers |
| 16 | Nurse Etsy Shop | $5k/month | $100 (supplies) | 5-15 hrs/week | No | Crafty nurses |
| 17 | Nurse OnlyFans (SFW) | $50k/month | $0 | 3-10 hrs/week | No | Wellness educators |
| 18 | Nurse Resume Writer | $150/resume | $0 | 3-8 hrs/week | No | HR-experienced nurses |
| 19 | Clinical Trial Nurse | $100/hr | $0 | Evenings | Yes | Research-oriented RNs |
| 20 | Nurse Translator | $80/hr | $0 | Flexible | No | Bilingual nurses |
| 21 | Nurse Illustrator | $150/artwork | $50 (tablet) | 5-10 hrs/week | No | Creative RNs |
| 22 | Nurse Airbnb Host | $300/night | $0 (if you own) | Minimal | No | Nurses with extra space |
| 23 | Nurse Virtual Assistant | $60/hr | $0 | 5-20 hrs/week | No | Organized admins |
| 24 | Nurse Recruiter | $500/hire | $0 | 5-10 hrs/week | No | Networkers |
| 25 | Nurse NFT Educator | $10k/month | $100 (OpenSea) | 5-15 hrs/week | No | Tech-forward RNs |
Key to Symbols
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💰 Top Earners: IV Hydration, Nurse Influencer, NCLEX Tutor
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⏱️ Lowest Time Commitment: Medical Surveys, Scrubs Reviews
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🎓 License-Free Options: 12/25 hustles require no active license
💻 Non-Medical Hustles (No Healthcare Background Needed)
| 5. CPR Instructor | 120/class | 200(cert)∣RedCross.org∣∣6.NurseBlogger∣500-10k/50 (domain) | AdThrive (for ads) |
| 7. OnlyFans (SFW) | 50k/mo | $0 | Teach wellness content |
3. 5 Quick-Start Hustles (<$100 to Begin)
A. Medical Survey Taker (75/hour)
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Companies: IQVIA, SurveyHealthcare
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Example: A NICU nurse earns $300/week testing new IV pump designs
B. IV Hydration Side Gig (400/day)
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Requirements: Active RN license + IV certification
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Profit: Charge 250/session (mobile or at med spas)
C. Nurse Influencer (5k/month)
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Platforms: TikTok, Instagram Reels
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Monetization: Sponsored posts (Nurse.org pays $500+/post)
Bonus: Top 3 Best Side Hustles for Nurses
| Specialty | Best Side Hustle | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| ER Nurses | Telehealth Triage | Fast-paced skills transfer easily |
| NICU Nurses | New Parent Coach | Trusted expertise with babies |
| OR Nurses | Medical Device Trainer | Know surgical tools intimately |
4. Advanced Hustles for $5k+/Month
Case Study: From Bedside to 6 Figures
Sarah (ER Nurse):
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Month 1: Started telehealth consults ($3k/month)
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Month 3: Launched NCLEX eBook ($7.99, 200 sales/month)
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Month 6: Added nurse merch (Scrubs stickers = $1.5k/month)
Her Tools:
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Canva ($12.99/month for designs)
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Koji (Follow this link)
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Calendly ($8/month for scheduling)
5. Tax & Legal Must-Knows
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Deductibles: Scrubs, stethoscope, CEU courses
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LLC vs 1099: Form an LLC if earning $10k+/year
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Malpractice Insurance: Needed for telehealth/coaching (~$150/year)
6. FAQs (Schema Optimized)
Q: Can I do side hustles while working full-time?
*A: Yes! 82% of nurse side hustlers work <10 hrs/week (FlexJobs 2025).*
Q: Best hustle for introverts?
*A: Medical transcription (45/hour, zero patient interaction).*
Q: How to avoid license issues?
A: Check your BON rules—most allow telehealth/coaching.
7. Free Resource: Best Side Hustles for Nurses toolkit
📥 Includes:
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Tax Deduction Checklist
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NCLEX Tutoring Scripts
8. Conclusion: Start This Weekend
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Pick 1 hustle (e.g., medical surveys for easiest start)
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Block 2 hours/week (Before shifts or on weekends)
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Track earnings (Apps like NurseWallet help)
“Your skills are worth more than any hospital pays. Monetize them.”
SEO & Monetization Extras
*”Best Shoes for 12-Hour Shifts“*
“How Nurses Can Pay Off Debt Fast“