7 best side hustles for nurses to make extra money

Earning a little extra cash can lead to big gains toward securing your financial freedom. The nursing field has skyrocketed in recent years and is poised for continuous growth. Although nursing jobs pay comparatively well in the US, earning additional income is always a plus. So, what are the seven side hustles you should explore? For nurses, taking paid medical surveys, working in immunization clinics, becoming a freelance health writer, taking on telehealth nursing responsibilities, and selling used scrubs and gear can supplement your nursing income. A couple other avenues that don't require healthcare experience are renting out your space and pet sitting or dog walking. For more details on how to get started in any of these side hustles, check out the full article. Read more

The 6 types of COVID-19 —

COVID-19 may not be just one disease, but six distinct types, a new British study claims. Researchers recently analyzed data on 1,600 people who shared their symptoms through an app. The variety of symptoms manifested into six discrete groupings:

1. Headache, loss of smell, muscle pains, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.
2. Headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.
3. Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.
4. Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.
5. Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.
6. Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

Interestingly, these groupings aligned with severity, hinting at the fact that there may be concrete severity levels, or tiers, of contraction. Read more

Surge in child hospitalizations from COVID-19 —

Weeks before schools are set to reopen across Florida, the state is seeing a 34% increase in new COVID-19 cases among children within an eight-day period, with a 23% increase in hospitalizations during this same time frame. Moreover, the test positivity rate has also gone up in in recent weeks. With schools ordered to reopen next month, many parents, teachers, and doctors are worried. If these numbers are at all similar in other states, then there may be more to think about before sending kids back to school so soon.Read more

Less smoking and drinking, fewer hip fractures? —

According to a recent study, between 1970 and 2010, a significant decrease in smoking and heavy drinking among Americans played a major role in decreasing the occurrence of broken hips. The change was found in both men and women, but particularly among the elderly. In the '70s, people were suffering from broken hips at a rate of 2,018 per 100,000 people, yearly; come 2010, this number dropped to 759 per 100,000. Researchers point to the fact that smoking rates fell from 38% to 15% during this time, while heavy drinking rates decreased from 7% to 4.5% as well. While correlation does not imply causation, there are strong indications that these trends are connected. Read more

The flu shot to prevent Alzheimer's? —

For years, health experts have had to tell people that getting the flu shot does not, indeed, lead to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Recently, however, there is actually evidence that getting vaccines to protect against the flu and pneumonia may decrease chances of getting the disease. A study from the University of Texas found that people over 60 who got at least one flu shot have a 17% reduced risk, while people who got regular vaccinations saw their risk drop a total of 30%! The data is still early, but hopefully more research into this topic will continue to shed some compelling insights. In other exciting news, our understanding of Alzheimer's just one-up'd itself, as a long sought blood test for Alzheimers may soon be in reach. Read more

Legos: the building bricks of anaesthesia skills —

Legos could be used as a practical tool to train doctors in anesthetic skills. According to new research, a simple task using the building bricks can help improve technical skills — a finding that could improve medical training and patient safety. It will be interested to see how these findings apply to other skills and areas of medicine as well. Read more

A humerus distraction —

Because we could all use a little humor right here, here's a list of the top 30 trending memes in nursing! Read more

Upcoming Events —

LGBTQ+ Care: Filling the Educational Gap / Wed, Aug 5, 3:00 PM (PDT)
Transgender health care is a common knowledge gap for healthcare providers, but it does not have to remain that way. In this session we will cover the in’s and out’s of gender affirming care, the role of the bedside nurse in assessing risk, and communication tips to foster an inclusive patient-provider relationship. The first half of this hour-long session will be dedicated to education and resource sharing, and the second half will be live Q&A. All nurses are welcome to this event, just make sure you RSVP! RSVP