Side hustles for nurses
Side hustles for nurses: per diem shifts, telehealth, health writing, NCLEX tutoring, CPR instruction and more, plus licensing and employer checks.
Nurses have valuable, licensed skills, and some side hustles use the licence while others use the knowledge. Pick based on how much extra clinical work you can take on without burning out.
| Side hustle | Type | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Per diem or agency shifts | Clinical | Active licence in that state; check employer moonlighting rules |
| Telehealth nursing | Clinical | Licence in the patient's state (or a multistate licence) |
| CPR / BLS instructor | Teaching | Instructor certification from a recognized body |
| NCLEX and nursing-school tutoring | Teaching | Strong exam knowledge; no licence needed to tutor |
| Health and medical writing | Non-clinical | Writing samples; accuracy matters |
| Legal nurse consulting | Non-clinical | Experience; some get certified |
| Health coaching | Non-clinical | Stay within your scope; don't diagnose outside a clinical role |
Licence and scope
Practising across states depends on licensure. The Nurse Licensure Compact lets nurses in member states practise in other member states with one multistate licence. Always work within your scope of practice.
Related: all side hustles · side hustle taxes.
Frequently asked questions
What side hustles can nurses do?
Per diem shifts, telehealth, CPR instruction, NCLEX tutoring, health writing and legal nurse consulting are common options.
Sources
- Nurse Licensure Compact nursecompact.com
Checked 21 Oct 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Update history
- : first published; figures checked against the sources listed.