With the average 4-year nursing degree costing anywhere from $40,000 to $200,000, it’s easy to see why so many nurses struggle with student loan debt. While the average nursing gig pays around $67,000 a year, many nurses struggle when it comes to paying their bills and keeping up with their student loan debt. That debt never goes away, negatively affecting a nurse’s financial situation decades after they’ve graduated, hurting their ability to get a mortgage or save for retirement.
If you’re looking for a way to pay off your student loan debt as fast as possible, you can try leveraging your healthcare experience in a variety of ways.
Picking Up Extra Shifts
One of the easiest ways to pay off your student loan debt is to pick up extra shifts at the hospital or healthcare center where you already work. Just tell your supervisor or the nurse manager that you’d like to work some extra shifts here and there. They’ll probably be glad to help you out, as hospitals are always looking for some extra hands. If your hospital has a strict no overtime policy, you might have to try finding some extra work somewhere else.
Interim Work at Another Healthcare Center
Hospitals always see their staff members come and go, which can lead to unexpected staff shortages. That’s why so many healthcare centers will hire nurses from other hospitals to help out on a temporary basis. You can try reaching out to other healthcare centers to see if they’re hiring interim nurses or offering per-diem shifts to qualified healthcare professionals. As helpful as these shifts can be, don’t make the mistake of burning yourself out by working too much.
Teaching Life-Saving Skills
There are all kinds of groups out there that need to freshen up their first aid and CPR skills. Whether it’s a high school or a group of employees, you can share your knowledge as a healthcare provider with other communities around your area. You can reach out to local schools and businesses to see if they’re looking for anyone that can teach first aid and CPR.
Flu Season and Pop-Up Immunization Clinics
Flu season means just about everyone is going to need an immunization shot. Your community is bound to be full of pop-up immunization clinics like those you might see at a school, church or a community health center. With all the extra patients coming through the door, you can bet some of these clinics are going to need an extra pair of hands. Find out who is responsible for handing immunization shots in the community and see if you can help out for a short period.
Nursing Over the Phone
New companies are offering healthcare advice over the phone. If you have a nursing degree, you can sign up to be a nurse at a healthcare call center. You might have to go into the office and answer the phone, or you might be able to work from the comfort of your own home and work on your schedule. If someone has a question about their health, pick up the phone and pass along some of your valuable knowledge and advice.
Don’t let student loan debt control your life. Pick up an extra shift here and there get the money you need to secure your financial future!
