Among the greatest things about being a nurse (patients, job security, mental stimulation… the list can go on forever), flexibility and pay may not be high on that list.
Focus groups and medical surveys are a stimulating side gig to pursue for some extra cash in the meantime. And it’s totally in line with the impact you make as a nurse. Market research companies pay you to share your expertise and influence the industry as a whole.
By participating in paid research studies for nurses, you can help patients, peers, and even global communities by being on the frontlines of product and medical development. All while putting some extra lunch money in your pocket.
Below we list the best choices you should check out first, specifically for nurses. We also address common concerns like HIPAA and data security, which we recognize is a huge condition to participate.
Keep reading below if you want to start earning some money through paid focus groups!
Are Focus Groups Safe for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals?
The short answer: Yes … mainly*
Most market research studies for healthcare professionals take responsible measures such as ensuring anonymity and not selling data to third parties. Many are also accredited by various regulatory agencies.
However, you should always vet any focus group and survey site for legitimacy. Being a healthcare professional, it is especially important to make sure that you are not exposing yourself or your patients to potential data & HIPAA breaches.
Always check the terms & conditions and privacy policy before you sign up for a study. This is always a good practice, but in healthcare it’s a necessary precaution to legally protect sensitive data (and your job!)
Luckily, we took the step to scout the top-ranked focus groups for nurses like you accounting for these factors. As noted above, you should still check with your industry and agency guidelines to ensure safety and protection.
What kind of Paid Studies are available for Nurses?
Keep in mind that you are a part of healthcare community and many market research firms are REALLY interested to know your opinions on things you use everyday or might use in the future.
Think Medical devices, medicine, pharmaceutical items, medical equipment, etc.
So if you don’t mind answering questions and providing your opinions on work, colleagues, medical decision makers etc, this is your best best to get top dollar for your participation.
Top 5 Focus Groups for Nurses You Should Check Out
I don’t have the heart to keep you waiting any longer. Here are our top picks for market research studies for nurses! Of course, there are more than this. But we wanted to pick the best considering the extra precautions in healthcare as well as our criteria for general medical research and medical industry studies. You can read about those here.
1. MNOW:
Our top choice for the best focus group companies for nurses is MNOW. It comes highly recommended and reviewed by healthcare professionals.
The most notable feature we appreciate about MNOW is their exclusivity. With most other focus groups, this is a turn-off. In the medical field, though, gatekeeping is critical for maintaining high integrity and reputation.
MNOW is accredited by healthcare market research associations such as PBIRG and EphMRA. This ensures that they are following privacy and legal guidelines, which I explained above.
The average pay is between $25-100 dollars, and each study usually lasts about 30 minutes. Compensation is made through check, prepaid credit cards, or vouchers. At this time, they don’t accept digital payment options such as PayPal.
2. InCrowd:
This HIPAA compliant market research firm is unique in that it leverages ‘microsurveys’ – minisurveys that take around 2-5 minutes to complete.
This means you can potentially earn money in between rounds or breaks. The pay isn’t great compared to longer studies, but considering it only takes a couple minutes to complete, I imagine it compounds quickly.
Payment is through PayPal or Tango, and you can cash out once your account hits $25.
3. M3 Global Research:
Another well-known firm in the medical community, this conglomerate is actually listed as Forbes’ leading public companies in Forbes Global 2000.
If that isn’t enough credibility for you, they are also BBB accredited with an A- rating. M3 also follows BHBIA industry standards.
They offer a diverse range of study options including: focus groups, , medical studies, tele-interviews, in-person interviews, chat groups, and more!
Studies last about 20-30 minutes and payment can be withdrawn from your account within 2 business days. It is unclear how much they compensate, but there doesn’t seem to be any complaints from participants on that front.
4. Schlesinger:
We tried to include focus groups specific to nurses because so most market research firms open at least some studies to medical professionals. However, we’d be remiss to not mention Schlesinger’s medical division for healthcare professionals.
Schlesinger is a giant in the market research/focus group space and has many branches nationwide. In fact we have written a detailed focusgroup.com review in case you are interested. They always offer quite a few studies, so chances are you will qualify for a few. This one should be on your burner, for sure.
5. Curizon:
Curizon’s site looks pretty outdated and is not very informative, but it was mentioned enough on medical and student forums that we feel it is a solid choice. It is also backed by Toluna, a site we recommend often for online surveys.
They compensate through cash or gift cards, which can be redeemed once your account hits $10.
Tips for Success in Paid Research Studies for Nurses
More studies is better:
We always recommend that you sign up for a few companies at a time to maximize your earning potential. Survey frequency varies across platforms, so a dry spell on one site can mean more opportunities on another.
Plus, on some sites, the more you participate, the more chances you will get. Recruiters tend to pull from their most active participants, if possible. Turn on email notifications from your favorite firm to stay engaged, or set up a routine of checking with a frequency that suits you.
We don’t make the rules, but it helps to play by them.
Be specific with your specialty:
If you are a psychiatric nurse, oncology nurse, emergency, etc… shout it from the rooftops! As with most industries, the riches are in the niches.
Make sure to denote your speciality upon registration. Some sites will ask you directly, but even if they don’t try to squeeze it in there somehow.
Don’t worry about disqualifying yourself from future studies. As a nurse, you have the basic knowledge that all these firms are looking for. Having more specialized knowledge can only help you.
Sure you may not qualify for an oncology study if you note that you are a psych nurse. On the other hand, you will qualify for likely all mental health studies and even be preferred if recruiters know to look for you.
Refer & earn more:
There are often pretty generous rewards and incentives for referring your fellow nurses and medical professionals. This is a great way to leverage studies you may not qualify for. Even if you aren’t in a specialty you can refer your fellow doctor or nurse to the platform so they can participate. Win-win!
Keep this in mind as you sign up and browse studies so you can share your link!
Final Thoughts
We know participating in focus groups won’t make you rich. But they are a fun and engaging way to make extra money when you aren’t saving lives. Plus, they are an additional way to help serve your patients and medical community.
You spent so much time and effort in your education and training… capitalizing on your wealth of knowledge by joining focus groups is another way to cash your ROI!
Have you ever considered focus groups as a side gig? Is there anything holding you back? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from our medical heroes.
I am a father to a beautiful baby girl, a husband and a serial gigster 🙂 I live in Toronto, Canada. My claim to fame: I made thousands of dollars from focus groups and surveys over the last 15 years. Studied Marketing in Ryerson Univerity and worked in Marketing and Marketing Research for the last 14 years+ My mission is to educate others how to be successful with side hustles. You can contact my be email or on Facebook.
