It’s no secret that today’s healthcare system is grueling, demanding, and challenging. For nurse practitioners (NPs), the dream of providing compassionate care often collides with harsh realities: overwhelming patient loads, unpaid overtime, workplace toxicity, and relentless administrative demands.
It’s a recipe to burnout nurse practitioners.
If you’re a motivated nurse practitioner, the thought of working in a miserable, dead-end job for the rest of your career makes you want to vomit…
I have seen this in my own personal and professional life. People experiencing burnout in their career but feel stuck because they do not have the financial freedom or backup career to bring in an income. Instead, they are forced to stay in their miserable job.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
By starting a side hustle as a nurse practitioner, you can reclaim your time, financial freedom, and professional autonomy while creating an impact that extends beyond the walls of your clinic.
In this article, we’ll explore the systemic issues that lead to burnout nurse practitioners, why starting a side hustle is a powerful solution, and actionable steps to get started. Let’s dive in.
Why the Current Healthcare System will Burnout Nurse Practitioners
1. Excessive Patient Loads
One of the most significant stressors in today’s healthcare environment is the sheer number of patients nurse practitioners are expected to see. In many settings, productivity is measured by patient volume, not quality of care.
It’s not uncommon for nurse practitioners to see 20, 30, or even more patients per day, leaving little time to address charting, med refills, patient messages, etc. This assembly-line approach to care is emotionally and physically exhausting, stripping away the satisfaction that drew you to the profession in the first place. Excessive patient loads can cause burnout nurse practitioners.
2. Unpaid Overtime and Long Hours
Nurse practitioners frequently work beyond their scheduled hours, often without additional pay. Charting after hours, squeezing in “one more patient,” and catching up on endless administrative tasks often means sacrificing personal time. Over time, this leads to fatigue, resentment, and a lack of work-life balance.
***Make sure to check out The Nurse Practitioner Charting School for charting and time management tips to STOP charting at home.
3. Toxic Work Environments
Many nurse practitioners face disrespect from coworkers, physicians, and even employers. From dismissive attitudes to lack of collaboration, toxic workplace dynamics can erode confidence and make every shift feel like an uphill battle. Toxic work environments is one way to burnout nurse practitioners.
4. Limited Financial Growth
Despite the demanding workload, many nurse practitioners feel financially stuck. Raises are often minimal, and bonuses, if offered, rarely reflect the true value nurse practitioners bring to their organizations. Financial stress compounds feelings of burnout, leaving you wondering if all the hard work is worth it.
This lack of financial freedom causes nurse practitioners to have to stay in their dead-end day job instead of doing the work they actually love or retiring early. This can burnout nurse practitioners.
Taking Control: Why a Side Hustle Is the Key to Freedom
1. Time Freedom
A side hustle allows you to work on your own terms. Instead of being chained to a schedule dictated by your employer, you can structure your work around your life. Whether it’s a telehealth practice, health coaching, or another online business, you set the pace. This better work-life balance and help avoid burnout nurse practitioners.
2. Financial Independence
Supplementing your income with a side hustle creates opportunities for financial growth that a traditional NP job may not provide. Many nurse practitioners discover that their side business eventually surpasses their full-time salary, giving them the option to cut back on hours or leave their day job entirely.
3. Greater Impact
When you’re your own boss, you can focus on creating meaningful connections and providing value in ways that resonate with you. For example, you might specialize in a niche you’re passionate about, such as women’s health, mental wellness, or chronic disease management. The ability to build authentic relationships and make a tangible difference in people’s lives is often the antidote to burnout.
4. Professional Autonomy
Starting your own business means you call the shots. You decide how to run your side hustle, who to work with, and what services to offer. This autonomy can reignite your passion for healthcare and restore your sense of purpose.
Not Convinced Yet?
You need a backup plan as a nurse practitioner.
And if you don’t have a back up plan you’re screwed. 🫣
The risk of burnout in this modern healthcare system is at an all time high….
With push to see more patients, demanding employers, and hours spent charting at home (unpaid time), the odds are against nurse practitioners.
And there will come a time when you no longer want to work in healthcare.
But yet you’re stuck in your day job.
I’ve seen it in my personal and professional life.
- Men and women in their early 60s, no longer fulfilled in their job.
- Getting treated like crap from employers.
- Not making the compensation they deserve.
And instead of getting out, they have to continue going to their job in order to pay the bills (and because they don’t have a back up career).
I don’t want that for you as a nurse practitioner. ❤️
- I want you to build the financial freedom that would allow you to leave your day job if needed.
- I want you to have a profitable side hustle you could fall back on.
- I want you to have the fulfillment and excitement about the work you do.
Which is why I will help you build a side hustle (the right way) that will give you the time and financial freedom you need!
How to Start a Side Hustle as a NP
I put together a FREE workshop, 3 Steps to Starting a Side Hustle that creates more impact (and income) than your Full-time Nurse Practitioner Job and you should be there!
This workshop dives into the EXACT steps I took when starting my side hustle three years ago. And shares some of the lessons I learned (so you don’t make the same mistakes!). This free training is perfect for the nurse practitioner who is thinking about starting an online side hustle to create more time and financial freedom!
Save your seat and set your future self up for success!
The healthcare system isn’t going to change overnight, but you can take control of your future starting today. By launching a side hustle, you can break free from the burnout cycle and create a life filled with purpose, freedom, and financial security.
What kind of life do you want to create?
Erica D the NP Business Coach helps nurse practitioners go from burnout to building an online side hustle that creates more impact (and income) than their full-time nurse practitioner job. Learn more at www.burnedoutnp.com
For time management and charting tips, check out The Nurse Practitioner Charting School– The one stop for all documentation resources created specifically for nurse practitioners. Learn more at www.npchartingschool.com
**Full disclosure, this blog post may include affiliate links. I do receive a commission if any of the affiliate programs/services/supplies are purchased. This is at no extra cost to you but does allow me to continue to provide content as The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner! Thank you!
