Many healthcare professionals are looking beyond their primary employer to supplement their income, whether they’re contending with a high cost of living or saving for a life event. Moonlighting—taking on a second job in addition to full-time employment—isn’t a new concept, and opportunities specifically for nurses abound.
With the right approach, nurse moonlighting can feel sustainable. From remote clinical reviews to specialized consulting, there are strategic ways to leverage your license and experience. In this article, learn how you can maximize your income and diversify your career without sacrificing your well-being.
Who is eligible for moonlighting as a nurse?
Eligibility for nurse moonlighting isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your ability to take on secondary employment depends on your licensure level, state regulations and your current employer’s policies.
Generally, eligible clinicians include licensed Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). The scope of practice and the level of autonomy you have in a moonlighting role will vary significantly based on these credentials. The following can characterize the scope of your role:
- Bedside roles: These are often per diem or agency shifts in hospitals or clinics. They require current BLS/ACLS certifications and often a specific amount of recent experience in that specialty (e.g., two years of ICU experience).
- Non-bedside roles: These include telehealth, utilization review or case management. While less physically demanding, they may require specific certifications in coding or case management or multistate licensure.
- Advanced practice roles: For NPs and CRNAs, moonlighting often involves locum tenens work or independent contracting.
It is important to check your primary employer’s contract, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Some hospitals have “non-compete” clauses or policies that restrict external moonlighting, particularly for full-time staff, due to concerns about fatigue and patient safety. Or, they may require you to disclose secondary employment to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Furthermore, advanced practice moonlighting often requires additional administrative legwork. If you are an NP or CRNA, you may need to secure independent malpractice coverage if the secondary employer doesn’t provide it. You will also need to ensure your DEA registration (for NPs) is active and applicable to the site where you are moonlighting, and that you have a collaborative agreement with a physician if your state requires it.
Why do nurses seek moonlighting opportunities?
The decision to take on a second job is personal, but for many nurses, it stems from a few common motivators:
Financial gain without reliance on overtime
Nursing pays well, but life can be expensive. Many nurses find themselves relying heavily on overtime to pay off student loans or save for a home. However, excessive overtime is a recipe for burnout, which affects an estimated two-thirds of nurses in the U.S. Moonlighting offers a strategic alternative. By finding a role different from your primary job—perhaps a sedentary telehealth role after a week of running around the ER—you can supplement your income without the physical toll of additional 12-hour floor shifts.
Monetizing specialized clinical skills
Skills developed in high-acuity environments like the ICU, ER or specialized cardiac units are in high demand. Expertise in niche areas makes you a prime candidate for specialized review roles or legal consulting.
Autonomy and flexibility
One of the biggest draws of moonlighting, particularly in per diem or independent contractor roles, is control. Unlike a staff position where you might be mandated to work weekends or holidays, moonlighting allows you to pick up shifts when you want. This flexibility is a game-changer for work-life balance. You can choose to work intensely for a few months to pay for a vacation, then scale back completely. For remote roles, the ability to work from home offers a level of autonomy that is virtually impossible in a hospital setting.
Where to find moonlighting opportunities as a nurse
Finding the right opportunity is easier than ever thanks to digital platforms, but you still need to know where to look. Here are the primary avenues for finding nurse moonlighting jobs:
Hospital per diem and internal float pools
Many hospitals have internal “float pools” or per diem tiers that pay a higher hourly rate in exchange for a lack of benefits. If you are already employed by a large system, check if you can pick up shifts at a sister facility or a different unit.
Staffing and travel nurse agencies
Agencies are the gatekeepers to many external shifts. “Local travel” contracts allow you to work short-term contracts at nearby facilities without relocating. Agencies handle the credentialing and placement, making it easier to step into these roles.
Telehealth and remote clinical review companies
For remote jobs, look directly at the career pages of major telehealth providers, insurance companies and third-party administrators. Websites like LinkedIn and Indeed are also flush with listings for these roles; set alerts for keywords like “utilization review,” “HEDIS abstractor” or “triage nurse.”
Insurance carriers and utilization management firms
Major health insurance carriers often hire nurses for utilization review and case management. These are corporate roles that often offer standard business hours, making them excellent moonlighting options for nurses who work weekend shifts at the bedside.
Peer-to-peer networking
Communities like Sermo allow medical professionals to connect. Nurses within the community share opportunities, discuss the realities of specific moonlighting gigs and provide advice on tough cases. It’s a space to ask peers, “Is this agency legitimate?” or “What is a fair telehealth NP hourly rate?”
9 moonlighting opportunities for nurses
Here are nine specific roles tailored for nurses looking to expand their income streams:
Travel nursing and crisis shifts
Even if you can’t travel across the country, “local travel” is a viable option. Hospitals facing staffing shortages often hire travelers for eight- to 13-week contracts. Crisis shifts, which pop up during strikes or public health emergencies, pay exceptionally well —but are intense.
One Sermo member has experience with travel nursing along with other types of shifts: “I’ve been an RN for 21 years, working in ER, ICU, travel nursing, cardiac cath lab, nurse management, to now running an outpatient clinic.”
Per diem and agency shifts
Through per diem nursing, you sign up with a local staffing agency and pick up single shifts at various facilities in your area. It’s extremely flexible as you decide when you want to work. “I do not have family commitments so I am perfectly fine with weekend and even holiday shifts,” a specialist nurse and Sermo member shares.
However, you are often the first to be floated or cancelled. “It’s not for everyone, but I really enjoy it,” another specialist nurse on Sermo notes.
Telehealth and triage nurse
As telemedicine expands, so does the need for triage nurses. In this role, you assess patient symptoms over the phone or via video chat and direct them to the appropriate level of care. It requires strong critical thinking and assessment skills but saves your feet. “I work per diem from home as a consultant for a large telehealth company, which works great for my work-life balance and life circumstances,” reveals a nurse on Sermo.
Utilization review
Utilization review (UR) nurses work for insurance companies or hospitals to determine if requested medical treatments are medically necessary and covered under a patient’s plan. It is analytical, detail-oriented work that requires a deep understanding of clinical criteria.
Clinical documentation integrity
Clinical documentation integrity (CDI) specialists bridge the gap between clinical care and medical coding. They review charts to ensure that the documentation accurately reflects the severity of the patient’s illness. This role is crucial for hospital reimbursement and quality reporting. While often a full-time role, experienced CDI nurses can find contract or part-time remote work.
Telehealth consulting
Experienced nurses, particularly APRNs, can consult for tech companies developing new health apps, legal firms needing expert witnesses or educational institutions developing curriculum.
Inpatient nursing coverage
Sometimes, the best moonlighting is simply doing what you do best in a different setting. Inpatient coverage involves picking up shifts at rehabilitation centers, long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) or skilled nursing facilities.
Psychiatric mental health telehealth
There is a massive shortage of mental health providers. If you are a PMHNP or a psych nurse, opportunities with psychiatric mental health (PMHN) telehealth are abundant. You can conduct intakes, medication management (for NPs) or counseling sessions remotely.
Per diem anesthesia shifts for CRNAs
For CRNAs, locum tenens or per diem anesthesia shifts are an option. Many surgery centers and hospitals need coverage for vacations or leaves of absence. These shifts allow CRNAs to practice in different settings (e.g., GI centers vs. trauma hospitals) and maintain a diverse skillset.
Non-clinical side jobs for nurses
Sometimes, the last thing you want to do after a shift is more nursing. If clinical moonlighting jobs sound overwhelming, you can always try non-clinical side gigs. These roles utilize your medical knowledge without direct patient contact.
Options include medical writing, legal nurse consulting, health coaching or teaching CPR/First Aid classes. For a deeper dive into these options, check out our article on nurse side gigs.
Sermo paid medical surveys as a means to reach your goals
If the idea of committing to a whole new job—even a flexible one—feels daunting, there are lower-commitment ways to earn. Sermo offers paid medical surveys that allow you to earn honoraria simply by sharing your opinion. Companies need to know what frontline clinicians think about new drugs, devices and healthcare trends.
The supplemental income brought by filling out paid medical surveys on Sermo can constitute a viable source of money. Whether you are looking to further your career by funding a secondary degree or certification, or just building wealth to reach personal milestones like a down payment on a car, these surveys offer a flexible, on-demand income stream that fits into your coffee breaks.
Strategic moonlighting for a better future
Strategic moonlighting can help you achieve financial goals and professional autonomy without compromising your well-being. By leveraging your skills in remote and specialized sectors—whether through remote RN clinical jobs or specialized consulting—you can take control of your income and your schedule.
You can seek guidance along the way. Join the Sermo community today to connect with peers who have already made the leap, share resources and get support. You can simultaneously start earning money immediately through our paid medical surveys to kickstart your income boost.
