What Types of Remote Nursing Jobs Offer a Flexible Schedule?

This question comes up all the time from nurses who are looking to create a more flexible work-life balance: “What types of remote nursing jobs offer a flexible schedule?” And like my response to “What’s the highest-paying remote nursing job?”, the answer depends on a few things. Flexibility is personal – what one nurse might consider flexible could look entirely different to someone else. 

When I first thought about switching from my “three days a week” bedside schedule to a more traditional 9-to-5 remote role, I was worried about the shift in routine. I remember wondering, “How do people manage mid-week appointments with a Monday through Friday job?“

I remember wondering, “How do people manage mid-week appointments with a Monday through Friday job? “

I’d gotten used to having the weekday flexibility and was concerned I might lose that option entirely. But as it turned out, the company I worked for had a policy allowing for schedule adjustments to accommodate appointments (flex time policy), as long as we submitted requests according to policy guidelines. 

I never had one denied, and I found myself enjoying the structure of my new M-F schedule. Evenings, mornings, and nights felt more open and relaxed, and I realized that on my days off from bedside nursing, I often didn’t have the energy to do all those things I thought I’d get done because I was so exhausted.

What Does “Flexible Schedule” Mean to You?

“Flexible” is one of those tricky, vague terms. For some, it might mean being able to pick up and drop off your kids from school. For others, it’s the option to easily schedule mid-week appointments or do block scheduling like bedside nursing often offers. 

Each nurse has different reasons for seeking out a flexible remote nursing job; some just want the option for additional income without the need for overtime bedside shifts, allowing for a little breathing room from the hospital’s hands on setting (this may also help reduce burnout). And for other nurses, it means working from home and making their own schedule. 

Lots of companies have what they call a “flex-time” policy, which could mean the ability to adjust your schedule around personal needs, like appointments & childcare, but the highly sought-after “work my own hours” type of remote nursing job just isn’t the norm (although there are some nontraditional options).

Often, these schedule details aren’t listed directly in the job description, so asking about schedule flexibility during a recruiter screening phone call is the best place to get more specifics.

There are also PRN (per diem) and part-time remote roles, but experience is often preferred or required for these reduced-hour roles. After about a year of experience in a remote nursing position, more flexible options, such as PRN or part-time, tend to open up. While it’s not the norm to land a PRN or PT role without experience (same as specialty bedside nursing jobs), some unicorns pop up where nurses have landed these jobs before.

Remote Nursing Jobs & Their Potential for Flexible Schedules

Here’s a breakdown of some remote nursing roles with their deets on schedules:

1. Freelance Nurse Writer or Health Writer

Nurse writers create everything from blog posts and educational content to NCLEX questions and accredited certification materials. Many writing positions work well for nurses with an entrepreneurial mindset – especially if you’re looking for flexibility to work during nap time, after bedtime, or even while traveling abroad/internationally. 

Some full-time writing roles are available, especially for nurses with a portfolio or prior writing experience, but freelancing tends to offer the most flexibility in regards to making your schedule. If you’re interested in getting started in nurse writing, my favorite resources to get started are: Savvy Nurse Writer Facebook Group and Savvy Nurse Writer Course/Membership (free for 30 days). Willow Bark Writing is another nurse who offers courses and coaching for freelance writing. Some nurse freelance writers to follow on Instagram are @thernhealthwriter & @thefreelancenurse.

Best for nurses who have an entrepreneurial spirit, love to write, and want to make their own schedule.

2. Clinical Data Abstraction (Quality)

Clinical data abstraction roles generally provide a lot of schedule flexibility, sometimes allowing you to set your own hours each week. Hospitals often hire for this role & provide training, but the title may not include the word “nurse.” Nurses overlook these roles sometimes because the pay can be lower than bedside (as they can be done by non-licensed staff), but they can offer a great schedule balance if that’s your priority. 

Q-Centrix, for example, is a known company in this specialty that will hire nurses without prior experience, offer training, and let you create your own work hours schedule each week (although they usually only hire training cohorts once or twice a year). 

HEDIS seasonal roles are also a good option for stay-at-home nurse moms looking for short-term seasonal contract work. It’s challenging to land the first role, but once you do, companies often ask their nurses back year after year (half the off!) and potentially offer a flexible work schedule (companies vary with schedule flexibility).

Best for nurses who want a regular W2 job plus make their own schedule.

3. Triage Nurse or Telehealth Nursing

Triage nursing skill sets align closely with bedside nursing skills, making it a great option for those quickly wanting PRN or part-time remote work. These roles tend to offer a variety of schedule options, including 10- or 12-hour shifts, with the potential for self-scheduling, after-hours, or weekend options that allow you to work around your bedside shifts or family needs.

The company Cortex offers several very flexible roles for nurses in this specialty. Don’t forget to check local hospitals and those within your state for triage roles.

Best for nurses who want a PRN or PT remote job fast with multiple shift options.

Having a compact license is highly valued in the roles.

4. Nurse Coach, Advocate, Case Management Nurse or Coordinator/Navigator

Some case management or care coordination roles, particularly those with experience in home health or hospice, may offer PRN or part-time options for nurses without prior remote experience. Having this type of clinical background gives you an edge, as these roles often require a bit of case management experience. If you’ve done discharge planning or have experience with social determinants of health, highlight those skills on your resume to boost your chances of landing these PRN or part-time roles.

This specialty tends to have a lot of phone time, so it may not be the best option for all nurses, but this role could potentially offer schedule flexibility to accommodate children’s drop-off and pick-up school times. You’d need to get more specific information about the expected schedule during a recruiter screening because every role and company has very different schedule requirements for this role.

Best for nurses who have discharge planning, home health, or hospice experience to land a PRN or Part-time remote nursing role.

5. Legal Nurse Consultant

For those looking for high flexibility and autonomy, legal nurse consulting usually allows you to set your own schedule, especially if you subcontract or run your own business. It’s ideal for nurses seeking a flexible, independent schedule! To learn more about legal nurse consulting, check out this blog post.

Best for nurses with an entrepreneurial spirit, who love auditing records, and want to make their own schedule.

6. Utilization Review (UR)

UR roles, including prior authorization, concurrent review, and retrospective review, typically have standard 8-hour shifts, though some offer 10-hour or weekend shifts. Prior authorization or concurrent review roles tend to have more schedule restrictions due to deadlines but could potentially offer flexibilty for childcare drop and pickup, as well as potentially offer after-hours shifts. Retrospective review might offer even more flexible scheduling since it doesn’t usually involve much phone time and potentially have less restrictive deadlines.

Best for nurses who can work full-time to get training and then switch to a job with their preferred schedule/hours.

Retrospective UR roles tend to offer more schedule flexibility than prior authorization or concurrent review.

7. Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI or CDIS)

CDI roles can offer flexible schedule options, however, they generally require 6+ months of training and mentoring, making them less ideal for nurses who want to jump straight into part-time or PRN remote work without prior experience. 

Hospitals and companies typically hire CDI roles as full-time positions to allow for thorough training, so this role is a better fit if you’re looking for flexibility down the road after getting some experience. The full-time roles tend to offer a flexible schedule after training but this variable based on the hospital/company policies. 

Side note: The volume of PRN and part-time CDI roles has been low this year, which means they are also extremely competitive to land.

Best for nurses with emergency room or critical care experience who can work full-time to get training and then go for a PRN, part-time, or contract job if more flexibility or reduced hours options aren’t available at your current job.

Finding Your Flexibility: Next Steps

When it comes to finding remote nursing roles with flexible schedules, understanding what flexibility means to you personally is the first step. While roles like freelance nurse writing or legal nurse consulting can give you complete control over your hours as an entrepreneur, other jobs—such as triage nursing or data abstraction—may offer flexible options as a regular employee with a company. For most remote nursing positions, flexibility depends on both the organization and the specific role, so asking about scheduling policies early in the hiring process is a must!

If you’re looking for more guidance on which flexible role might be right for you, take some time to think through your own priorities: Is it about managing school drop-offs, earning extra income around another job, or maintaining a part-time schedule with minimal phone time? With remote nursing, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but finding the right role can help you achieve the balance you’re looking for.

To help make this part of the job search easier, there’s a ‘flexible‘ filter option on the free job board (under the schedule filter). 

Remote Nurse Connection is proudly Ad-free. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read full disclosure here.

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