According to the 2017 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, the median nursing salary for RNs is $70,000. But sometimes, regardless of the size of your paycheck, you need more money.
How you decide to drum up extra income depends on your skillset, time, and monetary goals. Here are five ways to boost your income:
1. Write nursing content.
Do you enjoy writing? Why not get paid for combining your nursing experience with excellent writing skills to create content for an array of online and print outlets? Freelance writers control their calendars and select their clients. One resource for aspiring nurse writers is https://healthcaremarketingnetwork.com, which a nurse co-founded. You could also consider blogging for MinorityNurse.com.
2. Work per diem shifts.
Per diem nursing offers a higher hourly pay and a flexible work schedule. Did you know some nurses even fly to California, the top state for nursing pay, to work a short time before returning home? Earlier this year a photo of a nurse’s pay stub went viral for showing over $19K earned in two-weeks on a per-diem basis. (San Francisco is the highest paying city for registered nurses, according to the BLS.)
3. Tutor nursing students online.
Work with a variety of students in your best subjects. Set your own hours and rate (most tutors charge between $30-60 an hour). Provide customized and personalized tutoring to help nursing students with classes or prepare them to take the NCLEX.
4. Give flu injections.
Doctor’s offices and special clinics need nurses to administer flu vaccines to children and adults during the 2018-19 flu shot season. Nurses also provide education to patients and caregivers about immunizations vaccine and side effects. The peak season for flu shot clinics is between August and January.
5. Earn your BSN degree.
Nearly eight out of 10 employers prefer to hire nurses with a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) degree as entry level employees, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. A BSN opens the door to more opportunities for advancement in an evolving health care environment. BSN programs also help students strengthen their skills to pursue advanced nursing degrees. And, aside from career mobility, research shows patient care improves with BSN nurses.
Is making more money as a nurse one of your top priorities? Do you have other suggestions? Share your ideas below!
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