Nurse might be cool, you get to help save people's lives and make a real difference without as many barriers as becoming a doctor. Googling the average salary, though, it's 1/4 what I earn as a developer. So no way.
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/working-in-the-nhs/pay-and-bene...
Band definitions here:
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/nursing/pay-f...
One might say that's not a lot of money for the stress and responsibility, but it's still starting at the UK average salary.
1) My buddy said their bill rate was from $60+/hour
2) he did a 70 / 30 split if you were W2 and a 90/10 split if you were 1099. He also hired a security company to escort the nurses to and from the parking lot. This is a concern at some hospitals.