WFH Nursing Looks Perfect Online…Here’s What It’s Really Like
How do you find remote nursing jobs?
This is a question that is commonly asked among the nursing community. The answer is definitely not black and white, and quality remote roles are not as easy to come by as one might think. The way I landed my hybrid nursing role was through word of mouth and applying for the job directly through the company career webpage.
What would I avoid if I were looking for a remote nursing job today? I would avoid looking on sites such as Glassdoor or Indeed because these websites are going to throw hundreds to thousands of generalized, low-quality jobs at you and make the process feel overwhelming and impossible.
Many of the roles that allow hybrid or fully remote work do not have that listed in the job title; therefore, more specific job searches are necessary. The top two places I recommend nurses go to find remote nursing roles are:
- Kelsey Rowell on Instagram @wholelifenurse. Kelsey helps her audience narrow down to very specific jobs in biotech and remote nursing to encourage nurses to transition to lower-stress jobs if that is what they are looking for.
- Go Beyond the Bedside, co-founded by David Rosenbeck and Alberto Olivio, is a platform designed to cut through the noise and streamline the job search process for nurses looking to work remotely.
Pros vs. Cons of Remote Nursing
Pro: Lower stress levels than working at the bedside. Reduced burnout!
Con: Missing the community of working as a nurse.
Pro: No commute and working from the comfort of your own space.
Con: No hands-on interaction and connection with patients (this can also be a pro depending on your experience).
Pro: Lower costs for uniforms, commuting, eating out, and other things we buy to survive
Con: Sedentary lifestyle! You now have to be intentional about movement. Going from 15,000 to 1,000 steps a day is a problem. Move it or lose it, queen.
@nursecolton These are the pros and cons of working as a remote nurse. Personally, I would not do this full time for a long period of time. Many things to consider, nurses! But a great way to provide flexibility for yourself. #nursesoftiktok #travelnurse #nursetok #nurse #nurses #nursehumor #remotework #nursingstudent #nurselife ♬ original sound - nursecolton
Personal Journey to Remote Nursing
I believe that we find ourselves through other people’s stories and journeys. I found myself at a major crossroads in my nursing career. What is that buzzword we dramatically overuse? Oh yeah—BURNOUT. I was truly and utterly burnt out. Just the thought of going to work in the ER made me tired.
Like many nurses, I was afraid to leave the bedside and “lose my skills” or become one of those nurses that people laugh at because they aren’t actually a nurse if they aren’t working in critical care, right? Wrong—so wrong.
A quick shift of mindset and inward reflection led me exactly where I needed to be. Remember, your journey through this career is personal. So own that journey! The beauty of owning a nursing license is the flexibility and options that we have.
What worked best for me when I transitioned away from full-time bedside nursing was working a hybrid role (12 hours remote and 12 hours in the office per week) while keeping a per diem status in the ER.
@nursecolton I quit my job as an ER nurse. Pivoting and trying new things is part of life’s purpose! Let go of the fear and trust yourself 💛 #nurse #nurses #nurselife #ernurse #nursingstudent ♬ original sound - nursecolton
Rapid Fire FAQs
How is the pay different for remote nursing vs. bedside nursing?
In my experience, this is highly dependent on where you live and the type of nursing you do. Salary ranges for nurses are drastically different state to state; therefore, remote roles are going to range. For me, my hybrid role paid me $20+/hour more than my bedside role in the ER.
How do you prevent distractions at home?
Pure discipline. There is no other way around this. The distractions are always there. How do you prevent distractions when working at the hospital? By understanding the seriousness of your job and having pride in the work that you do.
How does licensing work?
I would always refer to the NCSBN for licensing questions, but from my experience, the state in which you are caring for patients is where you must hold a license. For example, if my primary role is in Massachusetts and I physically live in Michigan, my nursing license would need to be current in the state of Massachusetts.
Do you still get benefits?
In my experience, yes. My job offers full health and retirement benefits.
What skills do I need to work remotely?
This is highly dependent on the nature of the job you are applying for. Personally, I think gaining proficient clinical knowledge will help you in any remote nursing role. For my job, critical care experience is vital in order to triage patients appropriately.
The Bottom Line on Remote Nursing
Working from home as a nurse is possible. Avoid general search engines when looking for jobs and refer to the resources in this article to find specific remote jobs for nurses. You are a highly skilled professional—your skills do not disappear when you take a new role. This career and license are personal. Do what is best for you, your life, your goals, your family, and your mental health.
🤔Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below!
