Working freelance is becoming an attractive option for many, especially so for healthcare workers like nurses and caregivers, as going freelance would mean that you will have greater flexibility in your work schedule. While working in a healthcare institution like a hospital can be rewarding as they provide you with a lot of experience in a fast-paced environment, long shifts can lead to burnout in many healthcare workers. Being able to manage your own schedule as a freelancer can be a breath of fresh air for many nurses and caregivers.
However, doubts may still persist as going freelance is akin to going into unchartered territories. Does going freelance mean you have to give up financial security? Would working freelance mean you always need to work at odd hours? In this article we address 6 common myths about being a freelance nurse or caregiver in Singapore so that you can make a more informed decision about whether going freelance would be good for you.
Myths about being a freelance nurse or caregiver
1. You always need to work at odd hours if you become a freelancer
Freelance work is frequently associated with having to do “odd jobs” that make freelancers work at strange hours. However, that is often not the case. Being a freelancer means that you are able to better manage your schedule and only select jobs that would fit well with your schedule. As a freelance nurse or caregiver with Homage, you have the flexibility to choose to do a job any time you want and not just cases late at night or early in the morning. If you are busy and only have time to do short jobs, you also have the option to do ad-hoc jobs at times that are convenient for you.
If you prefer working a fixed schedule, you can also choose to work at fixed shifts on a part-time or full-time basis for a hospital or one of our community partners, and can choose to work either short-term or on a longer basis. With the flexibility to choose between freelance, part-time and full-time work you don’t have to worry about only being able to do jobs at certain hours. This arrangement would be especially helpful if you face changing circumstances and want to change your working hours.
Flexible work schedules, better work-life balance
2. You can’t choose what jobs you do as a freelance worker
In many freelance jobs, you might think that you will be assigned your jobs which leaves you without much freedom to choose. However, that is not the case – in fact, one of the biggest draws to being a freelancer is that you can choose what jobs you want to take up.
With Homage, you can choose from the different types of visits that are listed on the Homage mobile application. These visits would differ by locations, duration (1 to 12 hours), and care type required, amongst other variables, which you can choose based on your comfort level and experience. There is no minimum commitment required, thus, if there are moments where you are busy and cannot take on so many assignments, it is also fine not to take on requests for some time.
3. You can’t earn good money as a freelance nurse or caregiver
There is a common misconception that a freelance job offers less financial security than a 9-to-5 regular job and so one would have to make a tradeoff between a stable income and work-life balance when they start working freelance. However, at Homage, our nurses receive a competitive salary that’s higher than the average income of most nurses.
The hourly pay for work done by different types of Homage Care Professionals are as follows:
- Caregiver: up to $19 an hour
- Enrolled Nurse: up to $23 an hour
- Registered Nurse: up to $27 an hour
Rates may differ depending on whether the job was done on a weekday or a weekend and the time of the day. Jobs that are done late at night will generally have a higher payout than jobs done in the middle of the day.
Some of our Care Pros have even earned up to $5,000 a month just by doing jobs with Homage! To find out more about how you can also maximise your earnings as a Homage Care Pro, you can check out this article here.
4. You can’t upgrade yourself as a freelancer
Are you worried that you will have to give up opportunities to upgrade your skills when you become a freelancer? As a freelancer, as you will be better able to manage your time, you will be able to allocate more time to yourself for learning and development if that is what you would like to prioritise. Certain organisations will even offer workshops and courses for their freelancers to upgrade themselves with the required skills.
Here at Homage, our Care Pros have the chance to go through various upskilling opportunities with us – ranging from training in niche areas of care such as dementia with our partner organisations like the Alzheimer’s Disease Association or with in-house specialists. You can also pick up tips on home care and nursing through the videos that you can find on the Homage Academy platform available in our app and working with Homage can also be an avenue through which you can grow your skills and experiences.
5. You have to be certified if you want to work as a freelance caregiver
You might think that you would need proper certification to be working in healthcare, however you’d be surprised that not all roles require that!
If you are passionate about wanting to help the elderly around you but don’t know where to start, being a freelance caregiver might be a good option. If you are still studying, why not get some caregiving experience first while you study? As a Homage caregiver, you do not need to have any formal certification. Helping others does not necessarily mean that you have to be qualified to do medical procedures, you can also help your clients with tasks that they do in their everyday life, such as buying groceries, cooking, or escorting them to medical appointments. No matter how much experience you have with care work, you can start making a difference with Homage straightaway.
💰 Get caregiving experience and earn a side income as you study
6. You won’t have any company benefits as a freelance nurse or caregiver
Another common misconception about being a freelance worker is that going freelance means you will have to make do without any company benefits or insurance. You can be rest assured to know that at Homage, all of our Care Pros can contact the Care Operations team during their visits, and are covered by insurance and personal accident coverage so that they can carry out their duties with a peace of mind. Freelance Care Pros will receive their salary every two weeks while short-term contract Care Pros will receive their salaries on a monthly basis. As a Care Pro, you can our Homage Operations team is always happy to help you with your questions and we will try our best to support you.
Take better control of your schedule today
If you are looking for a job that allows you to work at your own pace while still leveraging your professional skills in medical care, or if you are someone who wants to make a difference in the lives of people, Homage might be a great place for you to get started.
Find out more about what you stand to benefit as a Homage Care Pro as well as our various job opportunities and roles here.
Apply to be a Care Pro with us today!
