Nurse practitioners (NPs) have several options for earning extra income outside their primary role, from PRN shifts and telehealth to medical writing, research, and paid healthcare surveys. The right fit depends on how much time you have, whether you want to continue providing patient care, and whether you prefer remote or in-person work.
Interest is high among advanced practice providers (APPs). In a Sermo community poll, 30% of APP respondents said they currently had a side hustle, while another 50% said they did not have one but wished they did. Among respondents with side hustles, methods for finding gigs varied, from social media to online platforms and professional networking.
For those already earning outside their primary role, opportunities ranged from PRN clinical work to remote research and other nonclinical roles.
Why nurse practitioners pursue side hustles
For many NPs, extra income is the primary motivation. In a Sermo poll of APPs, 78% of respondents interested in side hustles said earning additional income was their main motivation, while 7% said professional growth drove them.
But income is not the only reason to take on work outside your primary role. A side hustle can also help you explore another area of healthcare, develop nonclinical skills, build professional connections, or test a potential career transition without immediately leaving your current position.
The goal does not have to be adding another demanding job to your schedule. For many NPs, the best side hustle is the one that offers enough flexibility to fit around clinical work and personal commitments.
10 side hustles for nurse practitioners
NPs have expertise in patient care and clinical decision-making that translates into various income-generating activities. Below are some of the top side hustles to consider:
1. Paid healthcare surveys and research
Paid medical surveys and research can be one of the easiest side-income options to fit around an NP schedule because it doesn’t require additional patient care or regular shifts.
Eligible Sermo members can participate in healthcare market research and paid survey opportunities based on their professional background, specialty, and experience. Survey length, subject matter, eligibility, and compensation vary by opportunity.
For NPs with limited time, the flexibility can be the biggest advantage. You can typically complete surveys remotely when an eligible opportunity fits your schedule.
Beyond compensation, healthcare research gives NPs another way to contribute their professional perspective to organizations seeking input from people who work directly with patients and healthcare systems.
Best for: Flexible, remote supplemental income
Clinical care required: No
Getting started: Low barrier, although survey eligibility varies
2. PRN or per diem NP work
RN and per diem clinical shifts can be a straightforward option for NPs who want to earn additional income using the skills they already have.
Hospitals, urgent care centers, specialty practices, and other healthcare organizations may need clinicians to cover evenings, weekends, vacations, or staffing shortages. Depending on the role, this can provide more scheduling flexibility than taking a permanent second position.
The tradeoff is time. Several APPs on Sermo noted that PRN work can consume the same evenings or days off they are trying to protect.
Before adding clinical shifts, consider the schedule, credentialing requirements, commute, and whether the additional workload is sustainable alongside your primary position.
Best for: NPs who want to maximize existing clinical skills
Clinical care required: Yes
Getting started: Moderate, depending on credentialing
3. Telehealth
Telehealth can let NPs keep practicing clinically while working remotely and, in some roles, choosing more flexible hours.
Opportunities may include scheduled virtual visits, chronic-care management, follow-up care, behavioral health, specialty care, or other forms of remote patient support.
Licensure is an important consideration. HCPs generally must meet the requirements where they practice and be legally permitted to provide care where the patient is located. NP practice authority and collaboration or supervision requirements also differ by state.
Before accepting a telehealth role, verify the applicable licensing, credentialing, prescribing, and malpractice requirements, rather than assuming you can perform a remote position from any location.
Best for: NPs looking for remote clinical work
Clinical care required: Yes
Getting started: Moderate to high depending on licensure and credentialing
4. Medical writing and healthcare content
NPs with strong writing and communication skills can use their clinical expertise to create healthcare content for publishers, health companies, medical education organizations, agencies, and other businesses.
Projects may include patient education, continuing education materials, articles, clinical explainers, scripts, newsletters, or other health-related content.
Medical writing can be highly flexible and remote, but it may take time to get established. New writers often need writing samples or a portfolio before they can compete for higher-paying projects.
NPs should also be clear about when they are writing as clinicians versus providing individualized medical advice, particularly when publishing publicly.
Best for: Strong writers who want nonclinical remote work
Clinical care required: No
Getting started: Moderate
5. Clinical research and data abstraction
Clinical research can be an attractive option for NPs with experience in a particular specialty or disease area.
Work may involve chart review, clinical data abstraction, research coordination, quality review, or other projects that benefit from someone who understands medical terminology and clinical workflows.
One APP on Sermo described working remotely for an oncology research company doing data abstraction:
“It’s not a bad gig, that I can do anywhere, on my own time.”
Specialized experience can be an advantage. An oncology NP, for example, may be particularly useful for a research project involving oncology records or clinical outcomes.
Best for: NPs with specialty expertise who want analytical or remote work
Clinical care required: Usually no
Getting started: Moderate
6. Legal nurse consulting and chart review
Attorneys, insurers, and other organizations may hire experienced clinicians to review medical records, explain clinical terminology, or help evaluate healthcare-related cases.
NPs with experience in areas such as emergency medicine, critical care, surgery, or specialty practice may apply that knowledge to medical-record review and consulting.
This work is different from practicing law. The NP’s role is generally to provide clinical context and expertise within the scope of the engagement.
Some assignments can be performed remotely, which may make this a good option for NPs looking for flexible nonclinical work.
Best for: Experienced NPs who enjoy detailed record review and analysis
Clinical care required: No
Getting started: Moderate
7. Teaching, clinical instruction and tutoring
Teaching allows NPs to turn their clinical knowledge into additional income while helping nurses, NP students, and other learners build their skills.
Potential opportunities include adjunct teaching, clinical instruction, skills labs, exam preparation, tutoring, and continuing education.
Some roles require a formal academic appointment or additional qualifications, while private tutoring may have fewer barriers to entry. Virtual tutoring and online education can also make this work easier to fit around a clinical schedule.
Teaching can be especially appealing to NPs who enjoy mentoring and may eventually want to move into education or academic leadership.
Best for: NPs who enjoy education and mentoring
Clinical care required: Usually no
Getting started: Low to moderate
8. Health coaching
NPs may also use their healthcare background in coaching roles focused on areas such as lifestyle change, wellness, chronic-condition support or health education.
The key is maintaining clear boundaries between coaching and clinical practice. The services you can offer, how you describe them, and whether they constitute healthcare practice can depend on the nature of the work and applicable state requirements.
NPs considering independent coaching should define their services carefully and confirm that their business model, marketing, and client relationships stay within appropriate professional boundaries.
Best for: NPs interested in education, wellness and behavior change
Clinical care required: Depends on the service
Getting started: Moderate
9. Medical device, pharmaceutical or healthcare education
Healthcare and life-sciences companies often need clinicians who can explain products, technologies, or treatment-related information to other healthcare professionals.
NPs may find opportunities in clinician education, product training, advisory work, medical affairs support, speaking engagements, or healthcare consulting.
Specialty expertise can be particularly useful. For example, a clinician with extensive cardiology, oncology, or diabetes experience may have knowledge that is valuable to organizations working in that area.
Review any employer conflict-of-interest or outside-work policies before accepting industry engagements.
Best for: Experienced NPs with specialty expertise
Clinical care required: No
Getting started: Moderate
10. Consulting and healthcare content creation
Some NPs use their experience to build independent consulting, education, or content businesses.
That might include consulting with healthcare organizations, developing educational resources, creating professional courses, speaking, producing videos, or building a niche audience around a particular clinical specialty.
These options can offer substantial flexibility, but they typically require more upfront work than taking a PRN shift or completing a survey. Building clients or an audience takes time, and income may be inconsistent, especially at the beginning.
Treat content creation as a business opportunity, not guaranteed passive income.
Best for: Entrepreneurial NPs interested in building something long term
Clinical care required: No, unless the business includes patient care
Getting started: Moderate to high
What are the best remote side hustles for nurse practitioners?
For NPs who already work long hours in a hospital, clinic, or practice, earning additional income from home can make a side hustle more sustainable.
Some of the strongest remote options include:
- Paid healthcare surveys
- Telehealth
- Medical writing
- Clinical research and data abstraction
- Chart review
- Legal nurse consulting
- Virtual tutoring
- Some types of health coaching or consulting
The right option depends on whether you want to continue practicing clinically.
Telehealth keeps patient care at the center of the work but comes with licensing and credentialing considerations. Medical writing, research, and consulting can provide more separation from day-to-day clinical care, but may take longer to establish.
What NPs and APPs on Sermo are doing for side income
Sermo community discussions show that flexibility is often just as important as income when APPs evaluate side work.
One NP on Sermo described returning to bedside ICU work PRN but wanting something more flexible:
“I would like something more flexible as I have to give up my only time off to do these shifts. I would like to find something remote.”
Another Sermo community member expressed interest in medical writing but noted that breaking into other remote opportunities can take time:
“Remote options would be great. I considered doing medical writing, but that seems pretty niche and takes a big time commitment to get into.”
Another Sermo member echoes the desire for remote opportunities:
“Remote options would be great. I considered doing medical writing, but that seems pretty niche and takes a big time commitment to get into. I’m actually considering doing the post masters FNP at this point, so I have more flexibility. I’d love to be able to do telehealth.”
Specialty and certification requirements can also narrow available options. One member noted that some urgent care positions were not available without additional FNP training.
One professional highlights specialty limitations:
“Urgent care will not hire unless you do a post master’s certificate in FNP. A lot of clinics are M-F, and when you already work that schedule, there is very little open on the weekends to have a PRN job.”
Others have found nontraditional roles that fit their clinical backgrounds particularly well.
The common thread is that the “best” side hustle depends heavily on specialty, credentials, work schedule, and how much of your free time you are willing to trade for additional income.
What should nurse practitioners check before starting a side hustle?
Before accepting outside work, consider the professional and financial requirements that may come with it.
Scope of practice
Clinical side work must fit within the scope permitted by the state or jurisdiction where you practice.
Licensure
Telehealth and other cross-state work may trigger additional licensing requirements, particularly when patients are located in another state.
Collaboration or supervision requirements
NP practice environments vary by state. Depending on the jurisdiction and type of work, additional collaboration or supervision requirements may apply.
Your employment agreement
Review policies covering outside employment, moonlighting, conflicts of interest, noncompete provisions, intellectual property, and use of employer resources.
Malpractice coverage
Do not assume your primary employer’s coverage extends to independent or side work. Confirm what coverage is required for any clinical role.
Credentialing and prescribing
Clinical opportunities may require additional credentialing, payer enrollment, controlled-substance registrations, or prescribing requirements.
Taxes and business expenses
Income from freelance or independent-contractor work is generally taxable. Depending on how you’re paid and how much you earn, you may also need to plan for self-employment or estimated tax obligations.
Time and burnout
More income doesn’t automatically justify losing the time you need to recover from your primary role. Compare the real hourly return with the time, travel, preparation, and administrative work each opportunity requires.
How to choose the right NP side hustle
Start with the constraint that matters most to you.
Flexibility
If flexibility is the priority, paid surveys, writing, research, or other remote project work may fit more easily around an unpredictable schedule.
Earning
If earning potential using your existing clinical skills matters most, PRN work, telehealth, or specialized consulting may be more attractive.
Transitioning
If you’re trying to transition away from bedside or clinical care, medical writing, research, teaching, legal consulting, or industry work can help you develop experience outside traditional patient care.
Testing a business idea
If you want to test a future business or career direction, consulting, education, and content creation can offer a lower-commitment way to explore the idea before making a larger career change.
The most profitable opportunity is not necessarily the best fit. Consider how much time it takes, whether it adds stress, what credentials are required, and whether it moves you toward the career or financial goal you actually care about.
Find a side hustle that fits your career and your life
There is no single best side hustle for every nurse practitioner.
Some NPs want occasional income they can earn from home. Others want extra clinical shifts, a path into telehealth, or an opportunity to use their expertise outside direct patient care.
Sermo gives healthcare professionals a place to compare those experiences with people who understand the realities of the job. See what other NPs are trying, learn how they are balancing outside work with their primary careers, and explore eligible opportunities to earn through healthcare research.
