So you're a nursing student, and you're wondering how to make money during nursing school? You've come to the right place! We’ve listed 10 best side jobs for nursing students.

You might think it's nearly impossible to work a side hustle while in nursing school, but I'm here to tell you that it's not. You can even find a side hustle that will help you in your nursing career. 

It's entirely possible to make a little bit of extra money while in nursing school, and I'm going to share with you how. There are several options for those who have already decided to become a nurse or are still uncertain.

The most obvious choice would be working as an assistant at one of your area's local health care facilities. Another option will be working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) if you are qualified. This allows you to get some on-the-job training and some experience in the field before going into nursing school.

10 Side hustles While In Nursing School

First of all, let's talk about what a side hustle is. Basically, a side hustle is any supplemental income that you make outside of your regular job.

For nursing students, this could be babysitting or pet sitting, tutoring other students in your subjects, or even providing online transcription services to businesses and individuals looking for someone to transcribe audio files.

These flexible jobs can work around your busy schedule and give you some extra cash when needed.

If none of those options appeal to you, there are plenty of other ways to make money from home!

Here's the list:

1. Work as a freelance writer or editor

As a nursing student, you might be wondering how to earn extra money while still focusing on your studies—and you're not alone. 

Freelance writing is a great way to use your current skills and make some extra income at the same time. 

Nursing requires excellent writing skills—and if you've been practicing as a nurse for a while, there's no reason why you can't put those skills to good use by writing articles online.

While it can take some time to build up experience and get more clients, you should be able to find opportunities through various freelance websites, whether medical companies are looking for extra help in their blogs or general websites such as Upwork that have all kinds of tasks available. 

And if you need to start small and work your way up, remember: everything has to start somewhere!

Bottom line? Don't be afraid of giving freelance writing a try. It will provide you with an opportunity both to flex your literary muscles and pay the bills!

2. Do pet-sitting

If you love animals, pet-sitting can be a great way to make extra cash while still spending time with furry friends.

Many people are happy to pay for the services of a responsible and reliable sitter who is willing to come by their home once or twice a day to feed and exercise their pets, provide them with companionship, and take care of any other needs they may have.

Just make sure to set clear boundaries and expectations from the start—that way, both you and your clients will be happy with the arrangement.

Before you start pet-sitting, do some research. Find out what works for you and what doesn't. It's essential to be sure you won't be taking on too much that it will interfere with your studies.

It's also crucial to figure out if there is a market for pet sitting in your local area; if there are no jobs available, it may not be worth your time. Once you have done this, let people know that you are looking for clients. 

You can advertise your pet-sitting services online or through word-of-mouth, and you can even offer to take on additional tasks such as watering plants or collecting mail while your clients are away.

3. Get a job working as a nurse's aide

One great way to make some extra money while still in school is to get a job working as a nurse's aide. It’s one of the best side jobs for nursing students.

In this position, you will be responsible for helping nurses with various hospital or clinic setting tasks. This can include everything from taking patients' vital signs and recording medical information to assisting patients with their personal care.

To be a successful nurse's aide, you will need to have strong organizational skills and excellent communication and patient care skills. You will also need to work well under pressure and stay calm and focused in stressful situations. 

If you can demonstrate these qualities and have some experience in the healthcare field, you may find plenty of opportunities available to you as a nurse's aide.

To get started, you can look for job postings in your area or contact local medical centers and hospitals directly. You may also be able to find opportunities through online job boards or staffing agencies specializing in the healthcare field. 

Additionally, many nursing schools have on-campus support centers that can help connect students with potential employers.

Once you have found a few possible positions, put your best foot forward in the application and interview process to increase your chances of landing the job.

In conclusion, getting a job working as a nurse's aide can be a great way to make some extra money while still in school.

4. Sell your creative work on Etsy or Society6

As a nursing student in the 21st century, most of my time is spent studying and attending class—and while it's great to be away from home and have structure, it can be hard to maintain the motivation and energy levels necessary to carry out daily responsibilities. 

That's why you can start an Etsy shop, where you can sell fun patches, cards, stickers, and other items that will make you smile. 

These possessions are portable and affordable for people who don't necessarily want something fancy-looking.

They're also an excellent way for you to show off your creative side—something that might be on the back burner of your mind during stressful nursing school days.

To get started, sign up for an account on Etsy or Society6, choose a shop name and design your first few products. 

Then, start promoting your work by connecting with other sellers in similar niches, posting about your products on social media, and engaging with potential customers. 

With time and dedication, you may find that you are able to make a significant profit from your side hustle.

5. Work As A Virtual Assistant

While many nursing students are focused on building their clinical skills, it's also essential to focus on your professional development in other areas. One excellent side hustle for nurses is to become a virtual assistant or VA. 

A virtual assistant provides various services, including administrative tasks and client/customer support. If you're organized and detail-oriented, this could be a good fit for your skills.

As the title suggests, you can be based anywhere geographically if you have an internet connection.

To get started as a virtual assistant, you will need strong computer and internet skills. Additionally, it is vital to be organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple deadlines at once.

You may also need to have some experience working in a customer service or administrative role to succeed in this field.

There are several ways to find clients as a virtual assistant, including online job boards and social media.

You can also set up a profile on sites like Upwork or Fiverr, which offer thousands of jobs from many different employers. 

Once you have found a few potential clients, put together a strong portfolio that showcases your skills and experience. Additionally, be prepared to negotiate your rates to land the best possible deals. 

The Virtual website Assistant says that the average pay per hour is around $26-$30/hour, but this often depends on your skill level and experience.

You can easily make a high income as a virtual assistant while still in nursing school. Just be sure to manage your time wisely and consistently put your clients' needs first.

6. Find part-time work as a tutor

There are plenty of side jobs for nursing students, but one of the most reliable is tutoring. If you have a skill that might be able to help others, you can use it as a springboard to earning some extra cash. 

Whether you're experienced in math and science or enjoy foreign languages or creative writing, there are opportunities for tutors in just about any field imaginable.

Finding a tutoring position isn't necessarily easy; it requires some patience and time to find the right fit. 

However, if you have a skill that's particularly valuable, finding work as a tutor can be an ideal way to supplement your income without having to put in too much time outside your classes.

7. Start a blog and sell advertising space

If you're reading this, chances are you're already pretty good at using a computer and writing—so why not put those skills to use by starting a blog about something you love. 

You can share your experiences, advice, and tips with other students who are going through the same thing as you, and you can make money from your blog by selling advertising space to interested companies.

To start a successful blog, the first step is to choose a topic or niche that you are passionate about and have some expertise in. This could be anything from nursing school, parenting to fitness, gardening to travel, or home decorating to personal finance.

Once you have chosen your niche, it's time to create content for your blog. This means writing regular posts on a variety of topics related to your niche. 

As your blog grows in popularity, you will begin to attract more visitors and, as a result, more potential advertisers. To maximize your earnings, it's crucial to research advertising rates for similar blogs in your niche and price your own rates accordingly.

With a bit of hard work and perseverance, you can quickly turn your blog into a full-time job—or at least earn a significant amount of money while in nursing school. 

Just keep creating great content, building your audience, and selling advertising space to interested parties, and you will be well on your way to making a solid side income as a blogger.

8. Check into earning a CPR certification

If you've ever gotten CPR training, you probably got it through a local company that specializes in teaching CPR. Did you know that many of those companies offer instructor certification courses?

Now's the time to look into it! As a nursing student, you're already CPR-certified—and if you take an instructor certification course, you can teach others how to do CPR and make money on the side.

Look for one of these companies in your area and check whether they offer an online option for the course so that you can take it no matter where you are (even when your residency is keeping you from being home!). 

Then, find places that need people to do regular CPR training sessions. For example, if there are office buildings around where you live or go to school, see if they have their employees get certified every year or two.
That way, they'll need someone like YOU to come in and show them how it's done!

9. Become a mystery shopper

If you love to shop and don't mind spending a bit of money doing it, becoming a mystery shopper could be the perfect side job for you. Mystery shopping involves posing as a regular customer at a store or restaurant in order to evaluate the quality of the service.

While mystery shopping won't make you rich, it can be a fun way to earn some extra cash while you're out and about. Best of all, you can mystery shop anywhere—meaning you can do it even while you're on clinical rotations!

To get started, sign up with a mystery shopping company like Market Force or Intellicheck. Once you create an account, you'll be able to view available assignments that fit your schedule, and you'll get paid for each one you complete.

Some companies will even offer reimbursement for travel expenses, which means that you can mystery shop on-site at a sporting event or theme park and still earn money! 

So what are you waiting for? Start earning extra cash today by becoming a mystery shopper.

10. Start selling handmade jewelry

If you're looking for a creative way to make some extra money, why not start selling handmade jewelry? This is one of the best flexible side jobs for nursing students. 
Using polymer clay, you can create unique and beautiful pieces that are both stylish and affordable.

Best of all, you can work from home (or anywhere else with an internet connection) and set your own hours. So if you're interested in making some extra cash and doing something a bit different, consider starting your own jewelry business using polymer clay.

Polymer clay is a versatile material that can be used to create all kinds of jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, and more. You can choose from an endless variety of colors, shapes, and textures to create one-of-a-kind pieces that will impress.

To get started, you'll need a few basic supplies like polymer clay, jewelry findings (such as chains and clasps), and an oven or microwave to harden the clay. With just these simple tools, you'll be able to create beautiful pieces that will sell quickly.

So if you want to start making money in a creative and fun way, consider starting your own jewelry business using polymer clay. With just a bit of practice and some creativity, you can easily become a successful seller of unique and stylish jewelry!

Reddit Discussion: How Nursing Students Are Making Money

A few weeks earlier, we asked all the users of Reddit about the best side jobs for nursing students. And we got some pretty unique ideas about what nursing students are doing to earn some extra cash to handle their expenses.

Let's have a look at what students are doing:

One of the nursing students said:

"I deliver food for doordash and uber-eats! I can go online whenever I have the time, and I can cash out instantly. I make about $20-$30 per hour, so it's fast money in a short period of time." 

Well, it seems an excellent pay to us too, and the guys seem pretty happy with this side hustle. 

Let's see what this girl has to say:

"I'm a phlebotomist! It's super fun; I get patient care but also a really technical skill and knowledge that I can carry into nursing:)."

We already told you in our blog, 12 Most Rewarding Jobs For Pre Nursing Students in 2022, that phlebotomist is worth it. If you are the one who wants to get some skills while studying, then you should consider a phlebotomist job.

You need to read this; this guy is earning a really good amount:

"I do Grubhub and UberEats, which is nice because you work whenever you want. I probably make about $700/week even when I don't work more than 30 hours."

So you see, there are many side jobs for nursing students that any nursing student can have. They are easy and will build your skills while giving you some extra cash.

Can A Nursing Student Work As A PCA?

Can nursing students work as a PCA? It's a question that gets asked a lot. The short answer is: yes, many can and do. But there are a few things to keep in mind before taking on this extra job.

First of all, it's essential to consider your school's guidelines. Some have strict rules about outside employment for their students, so make sure you're not breaking any rules.

It's also best to take the time to contact your state's board of nursing to find out what the requirements are for working as a PCA (personal care assistant) in your state—the answer will vary from place to place.

Additionally, you need to be fully aware of how much time you'll have leftover once your schoolwork is taken care of. 

Nursing students tend to have a lot on their plates, so adding another task might not be wise unless you know exactly how much time and energy you'll have left after you've finished everything else.

If you think it will be too much, then it probably is—and that's okay. You can always try again when the time is right. But if you do decide it sounds like a good fit for you right now, then go ahead and give it a shot!

Can I Study Nursing And Work Full Time?

If you're thinking about studying nursing, but you're also wondering if you can work full time while you do it—the answer is yes.

You can work and study, but the key is to make sure you're able to balance the two and that your job doesn't end up getting in the way of your studies.

The first thing to consider is your schedule. If you have a full-time job and it's not very flexible, then studying nursing will be more challenging because classes might not fit into your time off. Even if they do, it's unlikely you'll have enough free time to dedicate to assignments and study.

If your employer is flexible with hours, then there's a better chance that studying could work for you. Being able to work some days and attend classes on others means you won't be missing out on income. 

But even with flexible work arrangements, your study will still depend on whether or not there are classes available at times that suit you.

But what if there are no classes or courses that fit your full-time job? Then part-time study could be an option. If you can only afford to take a couple of subjects at once—or even just one subject every so often—then that's okay.

We have an entire blog dedicated to this; check out our blog "Working in Nursing School: 10 Tips for Success" you will get a detailed guide on how you can manage nursing school while working full time.

Summary - How To make money during nursing school?

So still wondering what are the best side jobs for nursing students? Well, you don't have to!

If you are currently in nursing school or know someone who is, hopefully, this post has given you a few ideas of ways to make some extra money. 

The best part about many of these side hustles is that they can be done on your own time, so you can still focus on your studies while earning some additional income. 

Have you tried any of these side hustles? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!

FAQs

Is it hard to work while in nursing school?

It is certainly possible to work while in nursing school. Nursing school is designed to be a full-time commitment, and working a full-time job in addition to attending classes and completing clinical rotations can be very challenging. 

That being said, some students do choose to work part-time jobs while in nursing school. If you are considering this option, be sure to speak with your academic advisor to ensure that you will still be able to complete all of the required coursework and clinical hours.

How do nursing students manage their time?

Nursing students manage their time by creating a study schedule and sticking to it.

They also make time for exercise and social activities so they don't become too burnt out. And they use smart techniques like flashcards to help them learn large amounts of information quickly. 

Finally, they stay positive and motivated through it all by reminding themselves that the hard work will pay off in the end.

Is a nursing assistant the same as a healthcare assistant?

No. Nursing assistants provide primary care to patients, whereas healthcare assistants have more clinical responsibilities such as taking blood or giving injections.

Nursing assistants are responsible for tasks such as helping patients with bathing and dressing, serving meals, and changing bed sheets. They may also be asked to monitor patients' conditions and report any changes to a nurse. 

Healthcare assistants, on the other hand, are more clinically focused and are responsible for tasks such as taking blood samples, giving injections, and recording patient information.

How many hours should I work in nursing school?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount of time you'll need to devote to your nursing studies will vary depending on your individual situation.

That said, most students find that they need to study for around 20 hours per week in order to succeed in nursing school. 

Of course, the actual amount of time you'll spend studying will vary based on factors such as how easily you grasp new concepts and how much free time you have outside of class. 

If you're finding that you need to study more than 20 hours per week in order to keep up with your coursework, don't be afraid to put in the extra time - it'll pay off come exam time!

How do I work overnight and go to nursing school?

There are a few strategies that you can use to balance working overnight shifts and going to nursing school.

One option is to talk with your supervisor at work about shifting your schedule to work fewer overnight or evening shifts. This will allow you to focus more of your time and energy on studying for class rather than trying to sleep during the day.

Another strategy is to use other tools and resources to help you stay focused and energized throughout the day.

For example, you may find it helpful to set specific study goals for each week or establish a regular sleep schedule to get adequate rest during the day.

Additionally, staying organized by using a planner or calendar can help you stay on top of your schoolwork. With some planning and dedication, it is possible to successfully balance working overnight shifts and going to nursing school. 

However, the best shift to work while in nursing school is the evening shift, so whenever you get time, ask your employer to change your shift from overnight to evening.