The 10 Best Remote Careers for Nurses

While most nurses work in hospitals, medical offices, or other traditional care settings, a growing number are finding jobs they can perform from home.

“Work-from-home opportunities for nurses are more varied than people may realize,” says Jerrica Sheridan, DNP, FNP-C, CNE, and the MSN program chair for the FNP program at Purdue Global’s Master of Science in Nursing program. “In addition to providing virtual care to patients, there are several more unconventional careers that call for a background in nursing.”

Types of Work-from-Home Nursing Jobs

Nurses may find remote opportunities in the following areas:

1. Telehealth

Telehealth refers to any health-related services that are performed over video call, phone, or text message — as opposed to an in-person visit. Telehealth nurses can help address health issues that do not require immediate care.

2. Call Center or Triage Nursing

A call center or triage nurse works with patients over the phone, assessing the patients’ needs and determining the level of care required. Based on their evaluation of symptoms, they may recommend that patients visit an emergency room or schedule an appointment with a health care professional.

3. Health Informatics

Nurses working in health informatics organize and analyze health care data with the goal of enhancing access to electronic health records. A career in health informatics may be a good fit for nurses who have strong analytical skills and enjoy working with technology.

4. Nursing Research

Nurses have the opportunity to perform research that can help shape health care practice and policies. Nurse researchers may work with universities or professional nursing organizations such as the National Institute of Nursing Research.

5. Online Education

Nurses are well positioned for a role in nursing education, as they can incorporate their own clinical experience into their teaching. Nurse educators may work in hospitals and other health care settings, or they may serve as faculty in nursing education programs.

6. Case Management

A nurse case manager is responsible for managing long-term health care plans for patients with chronic conditions. They offer guidance to patients and families and may assist with tasks such as booking appointments or following up with insurance providers.

7. Legal Nurse Consulting

Legal nurse consultants work closely with attorneys to provide information on medical issues. For example, they may analyze medical records related to a criminal case and pass their findings along to an attorney.

8. Insurance Claims

Individuals with a background in nursing may find remote jobs in insurance claims processing. Known in the field as utilization review nurses and/or utilization management nurses, these roles work closely with insurance companies and health care providers to ensure that claims are being processed efficiently. Utilization management nurses may also provide expertise in insurance investigations and in reviewing insurance denials.

9. Recruiting

Another work-from-home job for nurses is to become a nurse recruiter. Nurses who work in recruiting help employers find and evaluate qualified health care professionals.

10. Freelance Writing

Professional writing is a skill required in many nursing roles. If you’re looking for a remote job that allows you to leverage your writing skills, you may want to look into becoming a freelance writer. You could start a nursing blog, become a contributor for a nursing website, edit articles for a medical journal, or be a textbook author.

>>Read More: 10 Top Non-Hospital Nursing Jobs for Nurses

What Does a Typical Day Look Like for a Work-from-Home Nurse?

Your day-to-day responsibilities as a work-from-home nurse will vary greatly depending on the type of job you have. For example, if you work in health informatics or research, you might spend most of your time analyzing data and collaborating with colleagues. If you work as a telehealth nurse or triage nurse, you will spend much of your time directly interacting with patients either over the phone or on a video call.

“If you’re working as a telehealth provider, you may meet live with patients, or you may chat with the patient back and forth asynchronously without holding a live call,” says Sheridan. “This largely depends on the telehealth laws of the state you’re working in as well as the platform you’re using to provide care.”

Nurses interested in remote roles should be aware that not all remote nursing jobs allow you to work flexible hours. If you frequently meet with patients, students, or colleagues, you may have set hours you are required to work.

Sheridan describes her own experiences working in academia. “Even though our faculty at Purdue Global teach remotely, they do hold live, synchronous seminars with students,” she says. “Other duties include responding to students' questions, mentoring students, managing clinical experiences, and coordinating professional development opportunities.”

>>Read More: Telemedicine, Nursing, and the Future of Health Care

How to Decide If a Remote Nursing Job Is Right for You

Working from home isn’t for everyone. There are several factors you should consider before committing to a remote nursing position:

Read the Job Description Carefully

Don’t apply for a job just because it’s a remote position. You’ll want to make sure that the job duties match what you’re looking for and the position qualifications align with your education and experience. You should also consider whether the job requires a full-time or part-time commitment and the types of benefits the company offers.

Make Sure You Have the Required Equipment and Workspace

This includes internet connectivity, internet security, phone equipment, and other technology requirements. Access to a quiet, dedicated space is also key, especially if the position requires video visits or calls.

Consider Your Personal Strengths and Weaknesses

Remote positions typically require someone who is tech-savvy, flexible, self-motivated, and organized. “It’s all about your personal preference,” says Sheridan. “Some people find it difficult to stay motivated when they’re working from home, while others find they work more efficiently at home than in the office.” Also consider personal situations that may affect your ability to work effectively. For example, simultaneously caring for a young child at home and working remotely may be too distracting.

It’s important to remember that working from home comes with a set of unique challenges. “There are advantages, such as a potentially more flexible schedule and no daily commute, but there are also disadvantages,” says Sheridan. “Some of these disadvantages include feelings of isolation, blurring of work and home life due to lack of clear separation, and a total dependence on technology.”

Where to Find Remote Nursing Jobs

Sheridan recommends looking for remote nursing jobs by filtering for remote opportunities on employment websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, or ZipRecruiter. Professional nursing associations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), also have areas on their website where employers can post job opportunities.

“You can also search the company career pages on the sites of major health care providers and insurance companies,” Sheridan says.

When you find a job you would like to apply for, be sure to tailor your nursing resume or CV for the specific role. “If you’re applying for a remote position and haven’t worked remotely before, you’ll want to list qualities on your resume that show you would be a good fit for this type of work,” says Sheridan.

Sheridan explains that many nurses have transferable skills for remote work but do not always know how to effectively describe these skills on their resume or during an interview.

“For example, assume you’re a registered nurse working in the ICU and would like to teach nursing courses for an online university. You have likely spent time teaching families and patients about their care and may have even assisted nursing students completing clinical experiences in the ICU. You’d want to highlight this on your resume and during your interview.”

>>Read More: How Nursing Students Can Prepare for Telehealth Opportunities

Prepare for Remote Opportunities With a Nursing Degree from Purdue Global

Whether you’re new to nursing or hoping to advance within your existing nursing career, Purdue Global offers a range of online nursing programs that can help you meet your career goals. Explore our online nursing degree programs, or reach out for more information.