Nurse burnout is the state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion caused by sustained work-related stressors such as long hours, the pressure of quick decision-making, and the strain of caring for patients who may have poor outcomes.1
While nurse burnout is still very real, there has been a growth in new opportunities for nurses to thrive in less stressful positions that offer more flexibility.
Teaching online nursing classes, running triage by telephone or being a nurse consultant are just a few the different types of work from home nursing jobs we explore in this article.
The expansion of telehealth
Telehealth made enormous strides during the pandemic, both from a technological standpoint and from patients’ perspectives. Telehealth use during the initial COVID-19 peak (March to April 2020) increased from less than 1% of visits to as much as 80% in places with high pandemic prevalence.2
Income Protection for Nursing Professionals
While telehealth nursing has been around for decades, the COVID-19 pandemic made it unsafe to see patients in person, forcing virtual nursing to become the new norm. Investments in virtual care and digital health skyrocketed, regulatory changes facilitated the expansion of telehealth, and patients and providers had to adapt to new technology quickly.
Aside from offering nurses more flexibility than the traditional hospital environment, remote nursing has led to many benefits, including:3
- Reduction in care costs
- Increased efficiency
- Faster access to patient records
- The ability to give better one-on-one patient care
- Improved access for patients to get care
- The ability to monitor patients remotely
- The ability to manage chronic conditions better from home
- Time savings for patients and health care staff
- Less risk of the spread of infection
As a result, nearly 40% of surveyed consumers stated that they believe they will continue to use telehealth going forward—up from 11% of consumers using telehealth prior to COVID-19.4
Remote nurse jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for registered nurses is expected to grow 7% between 2019 and 2029.5
Woligo compiled the different freelance nursing jobs and work from home opportunities so you can begin applying right away. If you’ve been thinking about moving to a less stressful position that gives you more control of your life, it’s time to make your move to a nursing job you can do from home!
Advanced nursing degrees
If you have an advanced nursing degree — you may be able to teach online nursing classes to college students. For example, to teach BSN coursework, you would need to have an MSN or Ph.D. To teach MSN nursing classes, you would need to have a Ph.D. However, doctoral degrees can be taught by someone who has a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree or Ph.D.
Remote nurse jobs if you have an RN license
In order to become a registered nurse (RN), the first thing you’ll need to do is graduate from a nursing program through an accredited school. Then you have to apply for a license with your state board of nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN exam, although specific requirements may differ from state to state. If you take these steps, there will be plenty of opportunities to become a freelance nurse and work from home.
Telephonic Case Manager
Case Management is probably the most well-known work-at-home nursing job. As a Case Manager, you’ll oversee your patients’ care plan, ensuring that they receive the appropriate care, resources, and referrals to have a successful outcome. Since most of your work can be done over the phone or through email, case management is a perfect work from home position for skilled and experienced nurses familiar with the healthcare industry.
Remote Diabetic or Disease Educator
These positions usually require a Bachelor’s degree, along with an RN or an RD (Registered Dietitian) license. In this role, you will work with individuals with chronic health issues and empower them to make choices that lead to fewer disease complications, less frequent hospitalizations, and healthier lives.
Freelance nurse writer jobs
Medical writing is a challenging field that requires extensive knowledge of medical terminology and procedures and strong writing skills. The medical field relies on a variety of well-researched materials used among professionals and published and distributed to the general public.
Telephone triage nurse
Busy medical facilities and doctors often run triage by telephone which allows highly qualified nurses to speak with patients, assess their symptoms, and recommend the best course of action before they receive healthcare services. Nurses in triage can often answer patient questions, preventing unnecessary visits and keeping other healthcare professionals and support staff focused on the patients in the clinic.
You can also think beyond your local medical clinics and hospitals when searching for these kinds of nurse jobs. Some national companies like CVS Pharmacies hire telephonic nurses to help their customers.
RN insurance jobs
In this role, you will review medical records to ensure that the code billed was appropriate for the services rendered. These positions require some technical writing skills, as you will contact providers for additional information and denial of payment notices. Other keywords to search for if you’re interested in this position are Concurrent Review RN, Clinical Appeals Nurse, RN Appeals Writer, Review Nurse, and Surveillance and Utilization Review (SURS) Nurse.
Virtual Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
Clinical Research Associates oversee all aspects of pharmaceutical research studies, from recruiting and monitoring to budgeting and reporting. These positions require a Bachelor’s degree, an RN nursing degree, or experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC). While the majority of these positions are home-based, they may require some travel.
Disability Insurance for Nurses
Nurses work hard to take care of others – and disability insurance can help take care of you.
Opportunities for RN, LPN, OR LVN
A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) is a term used in California and Texas, while a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is the term used everywhere else in the United States – for pretty much the same position.
No matter which acronym you use – you don’t need an Associate Degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to work as an LPN or LVN. You do, however, have to complete a formal training program and pass a state-administered exam known as The National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).6
Remote Quality Improvement Nurse
As a Quality Improvement Nurse, you will review hospitals’ nursing record documentation for completeness, accuracy, and appropriate level coding. These positions usually contain a teaching element, where the nurse educates the staff on the importance of proper documentation and coding practices. If you’re interested in applying for this position, you can also search for: Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist, Data Abstractor, and Nurse Consultant.
Freelance nurse consultant
As a freelance nurse consultant, you could consult on various issues for a variety of clients. If you consulted for a law firm, you might assist attorneys in cases involving health care and medical problems, such as malpractice. Standard practices within law firms include summarizing medical records, conducting medical literature searches, and locating and communicating with expert witnesses.
Or, if you served as a consultant for an insurance company, you could work as a case manager, a utilization review specialist, a medical bill auditor, or as a policy development coordinator and claims adjuster.
Recruiter for healthcare professions
As a nurse recruiter, you could help hospitals keep adequate staffing levels which helps bedside nurses provide the best care possible. You will interview candidates and act as a liaison between the hiring unit and the candidate during the hiring process.
Opportunities for travel nursing
This article wouldn’t be complete if we left out the vast opportunities for travel nursing. Travel nurses are registered nurses who work in short-term roles at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Travel nursing pay is often based on demand for nurses, and under normal circumstances, many travel nurses have the potential to earn over $3,000 per week. Travel nurses can bring in over $50 per hour, plus company-paid housing accommodations, making it entirely possible for travel nurses to make well over $100K per year.7
Best freelance nursing jobs
If you are ready to jumpstart your virtual nursing career from the comfort of your home, you can check out these websites and many more to find your next career:
- Clipboard Health: Clipboard Health provides a way for healthcare professionals to work on their own terms. It doesn’t matter if you have a full-time career, are working part-time to balance your life, or want to be your boss – there is an option that will fit the needs of everyone!
- Travel Nurse Across America: Our full-team model pairs nurses and allied professionals with industry-leading support as they travel.
- Nurse Recruiter: Want a high paying per diem nursing job? Sign up today to find your next shift.
Enjoy the freedom in remote nursing
Web designers and photographers are commonly known freelance occupations, but they are not the only ones. As the demand for telehealth continues to grow, freelance nursing and virtual nurse care will allow nurses to care for patients in a flexible and less stressful environment.
Sources:
- https://www.usa.edu/blog/nurse-burnout/
- Telehealth: A post-COVID-19 reality? | McKinsey
- https://nurse.org/articles/nursing-jobs-you-can-do-anywhere/
- https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/telehealth-a-quarter-trillion-dollar-post-covid-19-reality
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
- https://www.lpn.com/lpn-vs-lvn/
- https://nurse.org/articles/how-to-make-the-most-money-as-a-travel-nurse/#:~:text=Under%20normal%20circumstances%2C%20many%20travel%20nurses%20have%20the,nurses%20to%20make%20well%20over%20%24100K%20per%20year