Incredible Health Staff

Personal Finance / Side Hustles for Nurses

Nursing positions often pay well, but there are times when unexpected expenses arise, and you might need quick access to extra cash. Solutions like receiving an early paycheck, tapping into savings, or using financial tools designed for short-term needs can help cover immediate costs, giving you peace of mind to focus on other goals.

Once your finances are steadied, a side hustle can be an excellent way to supplement your income, explore your creativity, or even step outside patient care. Ideas like renting out unused equipment or selling handmade crafts can help you stay on top of expenses while pursuing your passions.

When it comes to choosing a side hustle, the sky’s the limit. Opportunities are available in many forms. 

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Below, you’ll find several ideas for side hustles that are specifically suited to nurses. 

1. Freelance nurse writer

Freelance writing about health or professional issues is a great side hustle for nurses with strong communication skills. Many organizations are desperate for nursing insights for their websites.

Nurse freelance writers can provide content for the many mediums, such as:

Website content: Write pages for a company’s website.

Web-based magazines: Publish articles relevant to the nursing field.

Email marketing: Write promotional messages in keeping with the client’s goals to be sent to their targeted mailing list.

Blogging: Write content for the company you represent as part of their marketing strategy.

Social media writer: Compose interesting posts in support of client branding strategies.

What you need to start

Freelance writing is all about networking. You can create a free portfolio on Clippings.me and then join a site that helps you find clients, such as Upwork. Set your fee, but it’s a good idea to start low until you gain clients and your reputation grows. Then you can gradually raise your fees and charge more.

Freelance writing can be a lucrative and enjoyable gig for nurses.

2. Telehealth nurse

This is an emerging role that became especially relevant during the pandemic. Telehealth nurses provide high-quality healthcare to patients through video, phone, or email.

According to the American Hospital Association, 76 percent of U.S. hospitals connect with patients through video and other technology. If you enjoy working from home and want a flexible schedule, this might be the perfect fit for you.

What you need to start

This role requires three to five years of bedside or RN experience, a background check, and an unrestricted RN license. You also need a strong Internet connection, up-to-date computer equipment, and excellent computer skills.

3. Part-time caregiver

As a part-time caregiver, you will be responsible for meeting a variety of needs for a patient.

These may include bathing and hygiene, cooking and serving food, helping with exercise routines, performing household chores like laundry, and more.

Part-time caregivers tend to make around $16.00 an hour, presenting the perfect opportunity to use their nursing skills to earn extra money. If you work only 20 hours a week as a part-time caregiver, this puts an extra $1,385 in your bank account each month.

4. CPR instructor

Putting your CPR teaching certificate to good use can earn you almost twice as much as being a part-time caregiver. If you’re not currently certified to teach CPR, click here. You can work with an employer or employment agency to find facilities in need of your CPR training services, or if you prefer, you can start your own small CPR training brand. This allows you to set your own rates and schedule. Of course, that also means you’ll need to take charge of your own marketing and networking, but there’s a lot of appeal to working as much or as little as you want.

5. Healthcare documentation specialist

This role requires translating voice recordings from doctors and other medical professionals into a written document. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can use speech recognition technology to help transcribe.

The great news is that there’s a lot of demand for this type of work. Sites such as Fiverr and GoTranscript are great platforms for finding assignments, and these sites are free. The only requirement is that you have good grammar and strong internet, but if you want to continue learning and boost your resume, earning an associate degree or certificate in anatomy or medical terminology can help your cause.

Nurses have many great opportunities for making extra money, and many of them will also increase your knowledge or engagement with the world outside of clinical practice. If you need help finding your main gig, try Incredible Health and find a job that’s right for you. 

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Nurse Types / Nurse Practitioner / Prescribing Medication

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. They have invested years into their education, and as a result, they have many privileges that registered nurses don’t, including being able to see and diagnose patients and create treatment plans. Though nurse practitioners often work in private practices alongside physicians, their ability to write prescriptions for medication is especially critical for patients where doctors are not readily available.

Because they can take on a physician-like role, nurse practitioners often work in community clinics and government agencies. If you’ve ever visited a walk-in clinic for medical treatment, chances are you were seen by a nurse practitioner.

In this article, we will explore:

• What can nurse practitioners do?
• Difference between practice environments
• What states allow NPs to prescribe medication?
• What kind of licensure do NPs need to prescribe medication?
• Which drugs can an NP prescribe?
• Can an NP prescribe narcotics?

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What can nurse practitioners do?

Nurse practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who have pursued graduate education beyond that required to become a registered nurse. Most nurse practitioners have a minimum of a Masters’ degree, though some have doctoral degrees. Their additional training and knowledge make them eligible to provide healthcare services that registered nurses can’t, including diagnosing and managing acute, chronic, and complex health conditions. Their clinical competency is complemented by a focus on disease prevention and health promotion. 

Nurse Practitioners are qualified to provide high-quality patient care that is similar to that provided by physicians. Nurse practitioners can:

• Act as a primary care provider
• Diagnose and treat acute conditions
• Manage patient care
• Order diagnostic testing, like lab work and X-rays
• Prescribe medications

NPs also can hold board certifications in specialties. Though most nurse practitioners opt to specialize in family practice, others can choose to focus on women’s health, pediatrics, mental health, gerontology, and other areas.

One notable difference between doctors and nurse practitioners is the amount of time required for their education and training. Doctors spend, on average, three more years on their education and training than NPs. Nurse practitioners must first become registered nurses, a process that generally takes two to four years depending on whether you begin by pursuing an ADN degree or a BSN degree. After becoming an ADN- or BSN-registered nurse, nurse practitioner candidates must pursue and earn a master’s degree, which takes an additional two to three years. After this has been completed, NPs must pass the APRN certification exam.

Difference between practice environments

There are significant differences in the scope of practice permitted by different states across the country.  While some permit nurse practitioners to practice and prescribe independent of supervision, others must seek approval and authorization from supervising physicians. The different practice environments that nurse practitioners work under are:

• Full Practice – Nurse practitioners working in states that allow full practice can diagnose and treat patients and prescribe medications, including controlled substances.
• Reduced Practice – Nurse practitioners working in states that only permit reduced practice have reductions in at least one practice element.
• Restricted Practice – Restricted Practice states require nurse practitioners to adhere to delegation, team management, or supervision by another health provider.

Which states allow nurse practitioners to prescribe medications?

Nurse practitioners can prescribe medications in all 50 states and in Washington, D.C. , but different states’ laws and regulations impose specific guidelines for nurse practitioners when prescribing medications. Some require nurse practitioners to demonstrate safe practice for up to one year before they can apply for a controlled substance certificate, while others require oversight of nurse practitioners by medical doctors when prescribing medications. These rules are governed by each state’s Board of Nursing. 

At present, 37 states require some form of medical doctor oversight for nurse practitioners when prescribing medications, with some only requiring that oversight for a limited period, and some only requiring oversight for prescribing controlled substances (Nevada, Utah for those who have practiced less than 2 years or 2,000 hours), and Georgia permitting physicians to delegate authority to the nurse practitioner. 

Those states that permit nurse practitioners to prescribe after demonstrating their credentials include:

• Colorado – 1,000 hours
• Connecticut – 3 years and no less than 2,000 hours
• Delaware – 2 years and 4,000 hours
• Maine – 24 months; Maryland – 18 months
• Nebraska – 2,000 hours
• South Dakota – 1,040 hours
• Vermont – 24 months or 2,400 hours
• West Virginia – 3 years.

States that do not require physician involvement are Alaska, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.

What kind of licensure do NPs need to prescribe medication?

It depends. State licensure for nurse practitioners includes permission to prescribe medications. There is a caveat. Nurse practitioners cannot prescribe narcotic medications without a federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) number. These medications, referred to as “controlled substances,” are often used in a healthcare setting for managing pain. Due to their highly addictive nature, the DEA oversees the dispensing of this classification of narcotics.  NPs can apply for their DEA number online or by calling the DEA Headquarters Registration Unit at 800-882-9539.

Which drugs can an NP prescribe?

• Antibiotics. With their APRN credentialing, nurse practitioners can prescribe antibiotics in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since antibiotics are not controlled substances, they pose a minimal risk for abuse or addiction.
• Antidepressants. The DEA determined antidepressants have a low risk for abuse or dependency, so they are not classified the same as narcotics. NPs can prescribe them in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Birth control. Once again, the DEA does not deem birth control as addictive or habit-forming, so NPs can prescribe them within the guidelines of their state’s practice authority guidelines.
• Narcotics. The U.S. Department of Justice and the DEA tightly regulate narcotics. These agencies have classified narcotics into five categories (Schedule I-V). Please refer to our section on narcotic prescribing below for more detailed information.
• Suboxone. The brand name for buprenorphine, this Schedule III controlled substance is commonly used to help people addicted to opioids control their withdrawal symptoms. NPs with the requisite credentialing can prescribe this medication.

These are just a few of the most common medications NPs prescribe. State laws governing the prescriptive authority of nurse practitioners can change frequently, so it is best to refer to the American Medical Association’s prescriptive authority resource center to stay abreast of any modifications.

Can an NP prescribe narcotics?

Nurse practitioners can prescribe narcotics, but to do so they must have a federal DEA number. With the prescriptive powers awarded to them by all 50 states and the District of Columbia, plus a federal DEA number, all nurse practitioners can prescribe antibiotics, narcotics, and other Schedule II-V drugs, but different states have different rules regarding nurse practitioner prescriptive authority for schedule II and schedule III-V controlled substances. 

Schedule III drugs are those with low-to-moderate potential for abuse and/or addiction, which are considered less dangerous than Schedule I or II. They include products containing not more than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with Codeine®), and buprenorphine (Suboxone®). Nurse practitioners can prescribe schedule III drugs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Schedule II drugs include morphine, opium, codeine, and hydrocodone, as well as hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), methadone (Dolophine®), meperidine (Demerol®), oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®), and fentanyl (Sublimaze®, Duragesic®). Some states do not permit nurse practitioners to prescribe Schedule II drugs. These include Arkansas, Florida (7-day limit except for psychiatric controlled substances), Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

Some states require nurse practitioners to enroll in a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, the Controlled Substances Reporting System, or both. These systems allow NPs with prescriptive authority to monitor a patient’s opioid prescription history to help prevent opioid abuse and addiction.

Nurse practitioners are not permitted to prescribe Schedule I controlled substances because the DEA and U.S. Department of Justice has determined they have no currently accepted medical use in the U.S., and they have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Drugs in this category include ecstasy, heroin, LSD, marijuana, and peyote.

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