At Nursa, we’re always looking for ways to better serve clinicians and healthcare facilities. One way we do that is to get direct feedback and insight from the clinicians and facility managers who use our platform.
Recently, a few members of the Nursa team chatted with Utah registered nurse (RN) Fernando. Fernando started as a nurse apprentice during the pandemic and became a licensed RN a little over two years ago. He has a daytime job and uses the platform to pick up shifts on the side. He’s now on his way to becoming a nurse practitioner.
Here are insights we learned from him and a bit of his story.
Note: The interview was recorded and transcribed with Fernando’s permission.
Nursa does more than address the nurse shortage
It’s easy to get caught up in looking at the challenges of the nurse staffing shortage and searching for ways to better facilitate connections between clinicians looking for work and facilities that need them.
Fernando’s personal experiences offered insight into how the platform benefits clinicians in many other practical ways. Here is what we learned.
PRN shifts can help clinicians meet savings goals
We know that PRN shifts offer clinicians flexibility at higher hourly rates. However, Fernando shared how that flexibility helped him personally.
“The first time I used Nursa, I thought, ‘Hey, I'd like to take my family on a trip to the Redwood Forest. It was kind of a bucket list.’ I was like, ‘Okay, it's not in the budget, but maybe if I pick up some extra shifts, I can do it.’ And sure enough, I was able to pay for the whole trip through nursing.
“I was actually able to save up enough money through Nursa to buy a house. They told me I needed to come up with a certain amount in under a month…so I had to do it the good old-fashioned way—by working as an RN. Fortunately, Nursa came in clutch.
“What the platform actually allowed me to do was not only help with trips, but if there was a family emergency or a crisis, or in my case, I'm going back to school to be a nurse practitioner, it has actually helped me pay for tuition.
“It has helped me come up with those extra funds as needed without the stress of getting burnout at my regular job.”
PRN shifts can foster skill development
Fernando shared that picking up shifts requires confidence, adaptability, and time management. Through his experiences, he was able to develop those important skills.
“Nursing is phenomenal because there are so many opportunities. And thanks to you guys, I really feel like I can handle anything that's thrown at me.
“I’m really grateful for you guys because those facilities you work in can be tricky. You have to prioritize and time manage everything. It's sometimes a tough situation. They need help, and that’s why they’re reaching out to us. But if it weren’t for Nursa, I wouldn’t have the time management skills I have now to continue my schooling.”
PRN shifts offer perspective
Fernando suggested that picking up shifts in other settings can help nurses broaden their perspectives.
“And I think part of the thing I'm very grateful for specifically with your platform is that you get to work in some facilities where it’s not the best of circumstances. They’re needing the help—they don’t have the regular staff.
“So, you're able to be a voice of reason to a lot of the employees you work with on a day-to-day basis. Like, ‘Hey, I know it might seem like the grass is greener on the other side, but you’ve got to realize how much this is a better situation for you.’
“You can also look at how to improve other processes. It just gives you a bigger perspective, if that makes sense.
“And you're able to pass that along to coworkers, like, ‘Hey, yeah, I can see you're kind of getting burnt out. That's fair, that's valid. Pick up a shift, nurse. See how other people get burnt out. See what fits for you.’
“There’s so many different things that you could potentially do, and it [the Nursa platform] gives you that option to see all that.”
PRN shifts have a flexibility that travel nursing doesn’t
Fernando has experience in several different healthcare settings. He’s done travel nursing and tried other PRN apps but prefers the flexibility and reliability of using Nursa.
“I've traveled to multiple states—Florida, Texas, California—during the pandemic to help out. I also have worked here throughout the state of Utah. I've done everything from emergency room, step down, ICU, PCU, med-surg.
“And honestly, the one thing I will say about you guys—because I did a little bit of local traveling too—the thing I really loved about Nursa versus local traveling is the ability to pick up shifts and break them down as needed.
“When you're doing a local traveling gig, it's incredibly stressful because you're working those long shifts—12 hours, 10 hours, eight hours—depending on what you sign up for.
“With Nursa, you can pick the hours you need and be in control. The only way you can do that with local traveling is if you're signed up for a block schedule. But with you guys, you don’t have to be in a contract, and that flexibility is so much easier.
“It might even be a better option than traditional travel nursing. Nurses could pick up shifts in other states…
“For example, I can go to Idaho or Wyoming, pick up shifts there if they’re available, and I’ve known other nurses who have done that too. So, you guys have a unique opportunity to offer that, especially for nurses with compact licenses.
“I tried another app, and I got frustrated with it. They kept popping up with different recommendations or qualifications for shifts. The issue was I sent all my licenses and paperwork, but then something else would pop up.
“The good thing about Nursa is once you’ve done all the paperwork and answered the questions, you’re good to go. You’re out the gate running, able to do what you need to do. To me, that’s phenomenal compared to the other app.”
Contract PRN shift work doesn’t come with employee benefits
Fernando shared that the flexibility of the platform is a key reason he was able to go back to school. However, the lack of insurance benefits prevents him from using it as his primary source of income.
“If I only relied on the app, and that was my primary source of income, it would be incredibly easy to go back to school and do everything.
“I'm in a unique situation where I need the insurance, which is one of the downsides. Unfortunately, you guys don’t offer insurance, but I was able to do everything I needed to, like getting funds for the trip and for the home.”
As he pointed out, contract work through our platform doesn’t come with traditional health insurance coverage.
However, we recently partnered with Hooray Health to offer clinicians supplemental healthcare plans starting at $15 a month.
Key takeaways
Fernando maximized Nursa to achieve savings goals, develop some important nursing skills, and advance his career as a nurse clinician.
While our mission is to place a nurse at the bedside of every patient, his story reminds us that we are also impacting the lives and careers of nursing clinicians along the way.
How is PRN shift work helping you?
Pick up some shifts on Nursa and share your experience with us in the Nursa Community.
