5 Best Side Hustles for Nurses

Last updated July 24, 2026

TL;DR

VendAmerica’s turnkey vending setup ranks first among side hustles for nurses. It runs on roughly 2 hours of active work per machine each week, fitting between 12-hour shifts and irregular schedules. The four other strong options are health and wellness coaching, CPR certification instruction, freelance medical writing, and per-diem or private duty nursing.

What makes a side hustle a good fit for a nurse’s schedule?

Nursing schedules are demanding in specific ways. Many nurses work 12-hour shifts three or four days a week, leaving blocks of open time between clusters of work days. A side hustle that works on a fixed daily schedule is unlikely to fit. The options that succeed tend to share these traits:

• Async or self-scheduled work: The nurse controls when the work happens.
• Low weekly floor: On a heavy week of shifts, the hustle can drop to minimal maintenance. On lighter weeks, more can be done.
• No license conflict: Options that use nursing credentials without creating employment conflicts or requiring separate malpractice coverage (beyond what applies) are lower friction to start.
• No patient contact obligation: Side work that carries its own clinical responsibility creates liability exposure most nurses prefer to separate from their primary employment.

According to the Federal Reserve SHED report, generating supplemental income from outside activities is a common financial strategy across professions and income levels. For nurses, whose primary work often involves physical and emotional demands, the ideal side hustle adds income without adding the same kind of strain.

Why is turnkey vending one of the best side hustles for nurses?

Turnkey vending fits nursing schedules because it has no required shift, no client appointments, and no patient contact. Once a machine is placed and stocked, the weekly workload is roughly 2 hours per machine for restocking and basic upkeep. A nurse coming off a string of 12-hour shifts can handle that on a rest day without it becoming a second job.

The income structure is the key advantage. A vending machine generates revenue every day, including days when the nurse is working a full shift at the hospital. The income is not tied to the nurse’s presence the way per-diem shifts or coaching sessions would be.

VendAmerica’s setup removes the barriers that typically stop first-time operators. The process covers:

• Machine sourcing: VendAmerica identifies and acquires equipment appropriate for the placement.
• Location placement: A secured, named location is confirmed before the operator makes any financial commitment.
• Hands-on training: The operator learns restocking, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting before taking over day-to-day management.

According to IBISWorld’s US vending machine operators report, the food and drink vending industry generates roughly $7.7 billion in annual US revenue. According to the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s industry census, workplace and institutional settings account for the majority of US vending placements, which means a well-placed machine serves a consistent, repeat customer base.

Can nurses build a health coaching practice as a side business?

Yes. Nurses hold clinical knowledge that general wellness coaches lack, and that depth is an asset when clients are navigating chronic conditions, recovery, or lifestyle change. Health and wellness coaching draws directly on that expertise without requiring the nurse to serve in a clinical capacity.

Credentialing helps. The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) offers a board certification that distinguishes coaches with structured training from the broader wellness market. Nurses who complete that pathway can market to clients seeking evidence-informed guidance.

The scheduling model is flexible: sessions happen when the nurse and client agree, and virtual coaching removes geography as a constraint. The income structure is typically per-session or package-based, with no recurring overhead beyond a scheduling platform. The ceiling on client volume is limited by the nurse’s available hours between shifts.

Is becoming a CPR certification instructor a viable nurse side hustle?

It is. Nurses are natural candidates for CPR instruction because the underlying knowledge is already part of their clinical training. Becoming a certified instructor adds a teaching credential on top of existing skills.

Instructor certification programs are available through organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Requirements typically include current CPR certification, a skills demonstration, and completion of an instructor course. Once certified, nurses can teach community classes, workplace compliance sessions, or school programs independently.

The income is per-class or per-session. Demand comes from employers and organizations required to maintain certified staff, schools, community centers, and individuals seeking certification for personal or professional reasons. Classes can often be scheduled on days off without requiring a recurring commitment.

What does freelance medical writing look like for nurses?

Medical writing covers a wide range of content that healthcare companies, publishers, and healthcare organizations need on an ongoing basis. Nurses bring clinical accuracy and patient perspective that non-clinical writers cannot easily replicate. Common freelance medical writing formats include:

• Patient education materials: Discharge instructions, condition guides, and treatment explanations written for non-clinical audiences.
• Clinical content for digital health: App scripts, chatbot health flows, and consumer-facing wellness content that requires medical review.
• Continuing education modules: CE content for nursing platforms and healthcare employers who need accredited learning materials.
• Healthcare marketing and communications: Blog posts, white papers, and case studies for medical device, pharmaceutical, or health services companies.

The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) is a professional organization that connects healthcare professionals with medical writing resources, training, and peer networks. Joining provides access to job boards and mentorship from working medical writers.

Work is project-based with deadlines, making it well-suited to nurses who prefer concentrated projects between shifts with no recurring daily tasks. Income scales with experience and specialization: writers with specific therapeutic area expertise or regulatory writing skills tend to command stronger rates.

Can nurses work independently through per-diem and private duty contracts?

Per-diem nursing and private duty nursing give nurses control over which shifts they accept, when they work, and for which facilities or clients. Both models operate outside traditional employment, which means nurses set their own availability calendar.

Common arrangements include:

• Per-diem hospital staffing: Facilities contract with nurses on a day-by-day basis to fill gaps in scheduled staff. The nurse accepts or declines shifts as posted.
• Private duty nursing: One-on-one care for patients at home or in long-term care settings, typically arranged through a home health agency or directly with families.
• Travel nursing short-term contracts: Multi-week assignments at facilities in different locations, offering schedule control between contract periods.

The limitation is that per-diem and private duty work still involves clinical nursing. This option adds earnings in the same professional lane and can complement the other options on this list.

How do these five side hustles compare for nurses?

Side hustle	Weekly active time	Schedule control	Income type
Turnkey vending	~2 hours per machine	Full flexibility	Recurring
Health coaching	Variable (client sessions)	Moderate (client availability)	Session or package fees
CPR instruction	Variable (class-based)	Moderate (class scheduling)	Per-class fees
Medical writing	Variable (project-based)	High (deadline-driven)	Project fees
Per-diem nursing	Variable (shift-based)	Moderate (shift availability)	Shift wages

Turnkey vending is the only option on this list that generates income without any active work hours on the day the income arrives. Health coaching, CPR instruction, and medical writing all require direct effort per earning event. Per-diem nursing adds clinical hours. For nurses who want income that does not scale with additional hours worked, turnkey vending stands apart from the others.

How do nurses get started with a side hustle?

The best starting point depends on the nurse’s specific schedule and goals. A few questions that help narrow the choice:

• How many consecutive days off per week? Nurses with long blocks of off days have more options. Nurses with scattered single days off benefit from work they can schedule independently, including vending or medical writing.
• Is existing clinical expertise a differentiator? Specialty nurses (oncology, cardiology, pediatrics) have subject-matter depth that commands stronger rates in coaching and medical writing.
• Does the option require capital or time upfront? Turnkey vending requires capital; health coaching, CPR instruction, and medical writing require time and credentialing investment before income begins.
• Is the goal a second income stream or supplemental shifts? Per-diem nursing adds earnings in the same professional lane. The other four options build income outside nursing entirely.

Nurses curious about the vending route can learn how the VendAmerica turnkey setup works on the site. The process starts with location sourcing before any operator commitment is required.

Frequently asked questions

Can nurses start a side hustle with a demanding hospital schedule?

Yes. The key is choosing an option that fits around shift blocks with no daily availability requirement. Turnkey vending and medical writing both give the nurse control over the schedule.

How many hours a week does turnkey vending take for a nurse?

Roughly 2 hours per machine per week covers restocking and basic maintenance. Nurses typically handle this on days between shift clusters without it overlapping with clinical work hours.

Do nurses need special credentials to become a health coach?

Nursing credentials alone provide a strong foundation, but a separate health coaching certification from a body such as the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) helps coaches differentiate in the market and demonstrate structured training in coaching methodology.

What is the best side hustle for nurses working 12-hour shifts?

Turnkey vending fits best because it has no required shift, no client appointment, and no clinical responsibility. The roughly 2-hour weekly commitment per machine can be handled on any rest day and does not compete with the physical demands of a 12-hour clinical shift.

Can a full-time nurse manage a vending business without it interfering with work?

Many nurses do. The vending machine operates and generates revenue around the clock without requiring the operator to be present. VendAmerica’s setup gives operators the training and support to keep maintenance efficient, and the roughly 2-hour-per-week floor means even busy nurses can sustain the business between shifts.

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About the author: Jason Joyner is co-founder of VendAmerica, a turnkey vending business setup company based in Denver, Colorado. He spent more than 15 years running Advantage Refreshments as president and works directly with first-time operators on machine sourcing, location placement, and post-setup support. Connect with Jason on LinkedIn.