Nursing Jobs You Can Do From Home
Remote work and telehealth gained traction during the pandemic, and patients and healthcare providers embraced its convenience and accessibility. Remote work and telehealth appeals to work-from-home nurses, particularly parents, who need to maintain a work-life balance and require flexibility.
Telehealth can have different meanings depending on the provider, but in general it is the long-distance delivery of healthcare that relies mainly on electronic communication like video conferencing or online platforms. Remote work does not necessarily include delivery of healthcare services but can include other nursing-related jobs such as freelance writing.
A nationwide shortage of nurses has led to 2019-2029 job growth rate projections of 7% for registered nurses (RNs) and 52% for nurse practitioners (NPs) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Individuals in rural areas and elderly, home-bound patients benefit from telehealth services, leading to increased demand for telehealth professionals.
MSN programs take 2-3 years to complete, and typical application requirements include a BSN, an RN license, a 3.0 GPA, GRE scores, and 1-2 years of nursing experience. Each licensure applicant must pass a national examination in their specialty area from an organization such as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Credentialing Center, or Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can RNs do from home?
RNs can find remote work in telephone triage, legal consulting, nurse education, freelance writing on nursing topics, and nursing informatics. Other positions include checking insurance claims for coverage, overseeing clinical trials, and recruiting healthcare staff. Telehealth options include seeing patients during virtual visits or preparing them for physician consultations.
Can nurses do telemedicine?
Work-from-home nurses often provide telehealth services, such as scheduling appointments, providing referrals, and consulting with and advising patients through phone and video calls. Patients can log on for face-to-face visits with their practitioners to discuss physical and mental health concerns.
How much do telemedicine nurses make?
According to PayScale, telehealth nurses earn an average base salary of $64,220 as of June 2021. Nurses in the lowest 10% salary bracket make an average of $43,000, while the highest 10% earn $78,000. Experience pays for telehealth nurses, and those with more than 10 years on the job can see a significant climb in their incomes.
How do I become a virtual nurse?
Telehealth nurses must possess an RN license, which requires an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and a passing score on the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN). Virtual nurses undergo training in telecommunication, including video conferencing, email, and messaging. Most practice for a few years caring for patients in person before transitioning to telehealth and earning telehealth certification. Depending on the state and telehealth company, the RN may need to be licensed through a multistate or compact license agreement.
Requirements for Work-From-Home Nursing Jobs
Most work-from-home nursing jobs require an RN license, along with an ADN or a BSN. These undergraduate programs prepare graduates to pass the NCLEX-RN for state licensure.
Nursing school applicants typically need high school diplomas or GED certificates, a 2.5-3.0 GPA, and coursework in anatomy, biology, physiology, and statistics. Students develop skills in patient care, critical thinking, and healthcare resources. An RN looking to advance their career can pursue a master of science in nursing (MSN) to specialize in specific patient populations and areas like healthcare education and administration.
MSN degree-holders experience significant pay increases in more job opportunities. Many become advanced practice registered nurses, a licensure category that includes NPs. NPs perform many of the same duties as physicians, particularly among underserved communities and areas with high patient loads.
MSN programs take 2-3 years to complete, and typical application requirements include a BSN, an RN license, a 3.0 GPA, GRE scores, and 1-2 years of nursing experience. Each licensure applicant must pass a national examination in their specialty area from an organization such as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Credentialing Center, or Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Popular Nursing Jobs You Can Do From Home
1. Telephone Triage Nurse
According to Lina Velikova, M.D., Ph.D., “Telephone triage is becoming more prominent since it allows doctors to manage their time better and tend to patients with more severe conditions, while nurses assess symptoms and advise patients over the phone.”
Telephone triage nurses recommend whether a patient should go to the emergency room or urgent care immediately. They may also suggest that the patient schedule an appointment to see their physician. Though data is limited, PayScale reports that they can earn $29,000-$74,000 as of June 2021.
2. Nurse Case Manager
Case management involves communication with patients, care providers, and insurance companies regarding services needed and coverage eligibility. They may also communicate with employers for work-related injuries and conditions.
“Case management can turn into a lucrative career path for nurses who desire to work remotely,” Velikova says.
PayScale data indicates that case managers earn an average salary of $73,690 as of June 2021.
3. Insurance Claims
Nurses working in this field can find employment in hospitals and insurance companies. Like case managers, they check patients’ insurance policies for coverage of the required services. They also recommend care adjustments to clinical review boards.
Insurance claims nurses usually have RN licenses and backgrounds in clinical nursing and administrative work. As of June 2021, these professionals earn an average salary of $71,990, according to PayScale.
4. Legal Nurse Consultant
These specialists assist attorneys working on medical cases. While the job does not require formal legal training, nurses need medical chronology and case analysis skills. Some universities offer MSNs with a concentration in legal nurse consulting.
Kealy Hawk, RN, says, “They primarily work from home and can assist lawyers in a variety of ways because of their medical training. They can consult with lawyers over the phone or internet.”
PayScale figures indicate that legal nurse consultants make an average salary of $79,740 as of June 2021.
5. Freelance Nurse Writer
“Nurses who have a passion for writing can pursue careers as medical writers and work from anywhere in the world,” suggests Velikova. Freelance nurse writers need “extensive knowledge of medical terminology and procedures,” she adds.
Medical writers also need the versatility and skills to write for various audiences, including healthcare professionals and patients. According to June 2021 data from PayScale, freelance writers earn an annual average salary of $40,850, while medical writers average $73,590.
6. Nursing Informatics
These work-from-home RN jobs require a background in clinical nursing and experience with electronic health records. These nurses maintain medical software and hardware, train medical staff to use patient care applications, and perform system updates and troubleshooting.
The job requires a minimum of a BSN, but many employers prefer candidates with master’s degrees in health informatics, healthcare management, or quality management. Nursing informatics jobs pay an average salary of $79,630, according to June 2021 PayScale data.
7. Online Nursing Instructor
Virtual instruction has become a popular online nursing job. These professionals teach classes and design curriculums for online nursing programs. Clinical educators provide nursing staff training, develop continuing educational materials, and evaluate clinical staff performance.
PayScale data indicates that, as of June 2021, clinical nurse educators earn an average salary of $77,280, while college instructors earn an average salary of $50,640.
8. Healthcare Recruiter
This work-from-home nursing job ensures adequate staffing in hospitals and medical centers. Recruiters conduct telephone or online candidate screenings and interviews, submit qualified applicants, and serve as liaisons between job seekers and employers in the hiring process.
Healthcare recruiters earn an average base salary of $47,800, according to June 2021 data from PayScale.
9. Remote Disease Intervention Specialist
In this work-from-home RN job, public health nurses promote awareness and provide advice on understanding communicable diseases, treatment options, home care procedures, and resources.
Nurses identify at-risk communities and groups, and the job may require some onsite visits. As of June 2021, disease intervention specialists earn an average salary of $39,050, according to PayScale.
10. Virtual Clinical Trial Manager
BSN-level and MSN-level nurses with management experience can find positions overseeing clinical trials, recruiting participants, and developing protocols. These professionals also monitor progress, budgeting, and reporting. This online nursing job from home may require some travel and, as of June 2021, pays an average salary of $98,140, according to PayScale.
Where to Find Work-From-Home Nursing Jobs
Anthem
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Anthem ranks among the largest healthcare companies in the U.S. and offers work-from-home RN jobs in insurance claims.
Carenet Health
Offering telehealth and clinical support from its San Antonio headquarters, Carenet hires work-from-home clinical care advisors and care coordinators. Carenet commonly offers signing bonuses for some positions.
Conifer Health Solutions
Conifer provides managed health services from its offices in Frisco, Texas. The company hires remote coders, clinical supervisors, and personal health nurses. These roles may require some travel.
CVS Health
CVS hires telephonic RNs to help patients and caregivers with medication education and support. RNs work from home, providing advice over the telephone.
Inland Empire Health Plan
Based in San Bernardino, California, this health insurance companys RN work-from-home opportunities include insurance claims nurses, quality assurance nurses, and care managers.
Nurse Telephone Triage Service
Located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the RN-owned NTTS hires telephone triage work-from-home nurses with experience in intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and emergency room nursing.
Professional Dynamics
This Folsom, California-based managed care service company hires work-from-home nurses as remote case managers and telephone advice nurses.
RPM Healthcare
Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, this company offers reimbursable remote patient monitoring and hires nurses as care coaches to conduct telephone outreach and patient care and check-ins.
UnitedHealth Group
This health insurance company in Minnetonka, Minnesota, employs work-from-home RNs in case management, care advocacy, and clinical analytics.
Wheel
Austin, Texas Wheel provides telehealth services and hires RNs and NPs with experience in family medicine, primary care, urgent care, emergency care, or pediatric care.
Related Resources
Reviewed by:
Elizabeth Clarke (Poon) is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who provides primary and urgent care to pediatric populations. She earned a BSN and MSN from the University of Miami.
Clarke is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. Learn more about our review partners.
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