66% of Nurses Have Side Hustles, Study Finds
- A study by Saint Thomas University found that four in five nurses have side hustles outside of nursing due to the increase in financial burdens.
- Nurses with side hustles earn 17% of their total income from ways other than nursing, while only 11% save the money earned.
- Social media, including TikTok, is one of the main reasons many nurses start a side hustle and utilize the platform for engagement and publicity.
St. Thomas University (STU) released a new study finding that four in five nurses have a side hustle outside of nursing. The study found that many are faced with significant financial burdens, including:
- Rising cost of living
- Student loan debt
- Burnout leading to decreased shifts
The study specifically looked at side hustles and how they are connected to nursing, whether furthering education could better support the nursing profession, or if nurses are seeking side hustles for enjoyment.
STU’s results were rather interesting but not surprising, given the ongoing changes to the nursing profession.
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Side Hustles Nurses Are Pursuing
- Per diem/travel nursing shifts (20%)
- Rideshare/delivery – Uber, DoorDash, Instacart (17%)
- Content creation – TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, podcast (16%)
- Health and wellness coaching or consulting (12%)
- Medspa, beauty, aesthetics services (5%)
- 41% worry about burnout.
- 38% don’t have time outside nursing.
- 34% don’t know how to start a side hustle.
- 28% said their nursing income is sufficient.
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Why Are Side Hustles on The Rise?
- Inflation/Rising cost of living (71%)
- Student loan debt (34%)
- Entrepreneurial ambition (27%)
- Burnout/Poor work-life balance (27%)
- Desire for creative fulfillment (24%)
- Career dissatisfaction in nursing (15%)
The most interesting statistic to come from the study is that over 1 in 5 nurses (21%) have actively considered leaving the nursing profession to pursue their side hustle full-time. If this happens, it would only contribute to the ongoing nursing shortage.
The Role of Social Media in Nursing Side Hustles
The study found that the majority of nurses who have one or more side hustles utilize social media to spread the word and promote their side hustle. When asked about the social media platforms that drive nurses' side hustles, the majority responded with TikTok (45%), but most other major platforms were mentioned including,
- Facebook (34%)
- Instagram (31%)
- Reddit (28%)
- YouTube (27%)
- X (16%)
- Pinterest (9%)
- LinkedIn (9%)
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