After the intensity of a medical school program, you can't wait to hit the road. While many people may choose to take a cross-country road trip or hike through Europe while waiting for their licenses to process through the state system, you're looking for more adventure. Travel programs for medical professionals exist all over the country and internationally. Nurses, for example, can choose a new location to visit every few months where there's a nursing shortage. A physical therapist can fill in at clinics in different parts of the country. Then, you can explore new areas on your days off or in between assignments.
These travel programs are often quite lucrative because you're willing to be flexible. But in between assignments, you might need a little extra cash to continue your adventures. Here are five side hustles you can take on as a traveling medical professional.
1. Medical Transcriptionist
As a medical provider, you are familiar with collecting and documenting health information for your patients. When you work as a medical transcriptionist, you can earn extra cash doing something you are already very familiar with. You work from home, so it doesn't matter where your travel job takes you, and you'll have a stable income.
2. Insurance Claim Reviewer
When a patient submits an insurance claim, the insurance company calls on a third-party physician to review the claim and give their input about its validity. For example, when a family requests a full-time nurse and equipment for long term care Washington State, the insurance company will ask a physician to review the claim. You'll look at the patient's history and their doctor's notes and decide if you agree that the patient requires long-term or hospice care. You can contract with a company to be an insurance claim reviewer. Each company is a bit different, so you may have to look around to find one that jives with your regular work schedule. This is another great side hustle for a medical professional because you don't need any extra training to do this job.
3. Tutor
Help the next generation of nurses, doctors, or therapists be successful and become a tutor. You remember how challenging all those licensure exams were. If you have great tips and strategies for memorizing information and keeping cool under pressure, sign up with a tutoring agency to support upcoming medical professionals. You can make your own schedule and take on as many students as you want to earn extra money and still have time for your activities.
4. CPR Instructor
Every person can benefit from taking a CPR and first aid class. The local YMCA, school, or library may already offer courses and need a backup instructor. If not, you could pitch the idea to a local organization to host you and provide a weekend series. Some childcare facilities like to hire someone to come to their staff on a professional development day and recertify everyone at the same time. As a CPR instructor, you can share your skills with the public, earn extra cash, and still maintain a lot of free time.
5. Freelance Writer
Maybe you're totally over the medical stuff by the end of the week, and you want a side hustle that uses a different part of your brain. As a freelance writer, you can choose to work for an infinite number of companies writing about anything. You can freelance with a health magazine or a gym to write a monthly advice column if you're really into diet and exercise. Maybe you want to write about gardening or home renovation or travel. A quick internet search will give you many options to exercise your creative side while earning cash for your next adventure.
After years of hard work to earn your medical degree, you deserve some adventure. Use a side hustle to give yourself the financial boost you need to play hard now.
About The Author
stash member Vincent Stokes
Vincent Stokes is an outdoor enthusiast and an experienced world traveler. He also writes writes for the National Parks and works to promote pride in homegrown travel destinations. (@TravelingGlobal)