What is soft nursing?

[Jenna Nurse]

Soft nursing refers to positions that are less physically demanding or stressful compared to high-acuity roles. As staffing needs evolve, many nurses are shifting from travel to PRN or full-time to PRN. This transition allows them to maintain their licenses while enjoying greater freedom and work-life balance. How have you adapted your nursing career to find better work-life balance? What tips do you have for others considering a similar move?

[Miranda Belcher]

I love the concept of soft nursing. Helps avoid burnout while staying active in the nursing profession.

[Jeremy Booher]

PRN shifts is a great way to experience soft nursing

[Miranda Belcher]

Have you heard of soft nursing? What do you think about this label for part-time and PRN nurses?

[Lisa Hunter]

As far as the "Soft Nursing" label, I am a bit confused as to what the label is defining. The definition above states the label is for less physical, lower acuity positions, but also says it's travel or PRN nursing that is "soft" nursing. Are they saying PRN or gig ICU positions are "soft" compared to full time ICU positions? 

In my personal opinion that is created from my own experiences, I don't feel travel, PRN, or gig work in the same field or specialty is easier or "softer" than a full time position-it's just different.

Each individual nurse can decide if they are cool with a constantly changing lifestyle and being able to see the world, or if they enjoy the structure and stability of being full time.

I don't think either is soft. I'm really glad we have so many choices to help with burnout and all the stressors that come with nursing, but I don't think the "soft" label fits any of us - nursing is hard, extremely rewarding, but hard in any specialty. 

[Miranda Belcher]

8 hours ago, Lisa Hunter said:

As far as the "Soft Nursing" label, I am a bit confused as to what the label is defining. The definition above states the label is for less physical, lower acuity positions, but also says it's travel or PRN nursing that is "soft" nursing. Are they saying PRN or gig ICU positions are "soft" compared to full time ICU positions? 

In my personal opinion that is created from my own experiences, I don't feel travel, PRN, or gig work in the same field or specialty is easier or "softer" than a full time position-it's just different.

Each individual nurse can decide if they are cool with a constantly changing lifestyle and being able to see the world, or if they enjoy the structure and stability of being full time.

I don't think either is soft. I'm really glad we have so many choices to help with burnout and all the stressors that come with nursing, but I don't think the "soft" label fits any of us - nursing is hard, extremely rewarding, but hard in any specialty. 

I love this, and I agree fully it's a bit different what it means to each individual. To me - I understood it as working less and getting paid more. Like to me, soft nursing means picking up a shift or two per week - working hard and working butt off in that time, but overall, working less so that it's less burnout and still get high pay. Maybe I misunderstood the concept. In the case of travel, I would consider soft nursing, taking a break from nursing in between contracts - in other words - not going hard 36+ hours a week all year, but working for higher pay and fewer hours. Maybe I interpreted the topic wrong though.

[Karin Zonneveld]

16 hours ago, Lisa Hunter said:

As far as the "Soft Nursing" label, I am a bit confused as to what the label is defining. The definition above states the label is for less physical, lower acuity positions, but also says it's travel or PRN nursing that is "soft" nursing. Are they saying PRN or gig ICU positions are "soft" compared to full time ICU positions? 

In my personal opinion that is created from my own experiences, I don't feel travel, PRN, or gig work in the same field or specialty is easier or "softer" than a full time position-it's just different.

Each individual nurse can decide if they are cool with a constantly changing lifestyle and being able to see the world, or if they enjoy the structure and stability of being full time.

I don't think either is soft. I'm really glad we have so many choices to help with burnout and all the stressors that come with nursing, but I don't think the "soft" label fits any of us - nursing is hard, extremely rewarding, but hard in any specialty. 

You're right about that! Nursing is always hard!!! Caring for people is extremely difficult and should not be taken lightly. Anyhow, if you get less hours and get better pay, maybe that could be defined as soft nursing? I'm thinking of hard work, but less hours. I'll keep thinking about this, though.