In recent blogs, we’ve looked at the nursing shortage and – paradoxically – why it’s still hard to find a job as a newly-graduated nurse.
One solution to this could be to start working as a freelance nurse.
Whether it’s a way to break into the healthcare industry or a change of pace after years of full-time wok at a hospital or clinic, freelancing might be just the ticket for you.
Here are some of the plusses and minuses to a few aspects of freelance nursing:
Independent Contracting: Pros
An independent contractor, formerly known as a private duty nurse, can diagnose and treat a patient in the client’s home and is paid directly by the patient or a representative of the patient.
Nursing care must follow the nurse practice act of whichever state you’re working in, just like that provided by a staff nurse. (In some states, physician collaboration or supervision is required.)
The advantage here of being in business for yourself is that you set your own hours, charge a rate slightly above the amount a staff nurse would make, and your earnings are only limited by the number of hours you work in a day. Continue reading “Pros and Cons of Going Freelance as a Nurse”