Everyone knows nursing is hard. Right?
Nurse jobs often involve four 10-hour shifts or three 12-hour shifts per week. Maybe they’re all in a row or spread out over seven days—it isn’t up to you; it’s up to the scheduler. Perhaps you have to work mornings, nights, weekends, or holidays. Workplace politics, stressful settings, and high-pressure environments can be a lot for a nurse to balance day in and day out.
But what if nursing didn’t have to be hard?
Have you heard about soft nursing? Not everyone who has a passion for providing care for others thrives in high-pressure situations, but that doesn’t mean they have to eschew the nursing profession entirely.
Originally written in 2024, this guide explores how soft-life nursing continues to trend as nurses look for predictable schedules, lower physical strain, and better work-life balance.
What is soft nursing?
Soft nursing describes nursing jobs that offer a less stressful work environment and a better work-life balance compared to traditional bedside nursing roles. These positions often have more flexible working schedules, fewer physical demands, and may include perks such as predictable work hours and holidays off. On the other hand, these roles may pay less on average, compared to more demanding nursing roles and specialties.
Soft nursing recently gained popularity on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to categorize a working lifestyle that is less stressful than the traditional bedside nursing positions that carry a more labor-intensive reputation.
It’s no secret that nurse burnout exacerbates the nation’s nursing shortage. While advocates, researchers, administrators, and educators explore strategies and solutions for mitigating nurse burnout, soft-life nursing is gaining momentum.
Soft-life nursing jobs aren’t new. Many of them simply don’t garner much attention. Perhaps this is because many don’t fall in the category of the highest-paying nurse specialties. Overlooking these low-stress nursing opportunities is understandable because nurses invest so much time, energy, and money into their education. It only makes sense for nurses to consider salary projections when determining their path.
Pros and cons of soft nursing jobs
There is also a certain allure to working in a setting, unit, or specialty that is dynamic and high-intensity; the phrase “high risk equals high reward” comes to mind. These settings tell nurses every moment that they are needed, and for some, that validation drives a sense of purpose that motivates and inspires.
However, not every nurse thrives in these environments. Take a look at the main benefits and drawbacks of soft nursing jobs:
Pros of soft nursing
- Predictable schedules: Many roles follow Monday–Friday, daytime hours with weekends and holidays off.
- Lower physical demands: Less lifting, fewer sprints, and reduced risk of injury compared to high-acuity bedside care.
- Reduced stress: Calmer work environments with fewer life-or-death crises.
- Work/life balance: More time for family, hobbies, and recovery; less burnout risk.
- Autonomy and flexibility: Options like per diem or telehealth allow nurses to choose shifts and settings.
- Professional longevity: Easier to stay in the field long-term without compromising health.
- Opportunities to specialize differently: Roles in education, case management, or telehealth expand skillsets outside bedside care.
Cons of soft nursing jobs
- Lower earning potential (in some roles): Many soft nursing jobs pay less than ICU, ED, or OR specialties.
- Fewer differentials/overtime bonuses: Day-shift, weekday schedules often exclude lucrative night/weekend pay.
- Credential requirements: Some positions (e.g., nurse educator, case management) may require advanced degrees, certifications, or prior experience.
- Limited advancement in certain specialties: Aesthetic nursing or school nursing may offer fewer leadership pathways.
- Reduced exposure to acute care: Nurses who thrive on high-acuity, adrenaline-driven environments may find these roles less fulfilling.
- Competition for roles: Because they’re often seen as “easier” or more balanced, soft nursing jobs can be harder to land.
What jobs count as soft-life nursing?
The soft-life nursing trend calls for nurses to consider what they value in a career, and those values often reflect a desire for more balance. Some key characteristics of a soft-life nurse job include the following:
- A traditional Monday through Friday schedule
- Autonomy and flexibility in scheduling
- Holidays off
- Time for lunch breaks
- Lower stress environments
- Predictability
- Getting paid well
- Healthy work-life balance
When you think about soft-life nursing, what comes to mind? One of the great characteristics of this label is that it’s not terribly restrictive and can encompass a broad range of nursing jobs. Check out our expanded list of excellent soft nursing jobs.
1. School nurse
Remember the nurse who bandaged your scratched knees after recess and checked your temperature when you felt sick in elementary school?
School nurses typically operate alone and are responsible for all the students in the school. School nurse salaries are modest but paid throughout the year, which means many pick up other jobs, like per diem shifts during the summer months, to supplement their income.
School nurse soft-life nursing advantages
School nursing embodies the soft nurse trend in many agreeable ways, such as the following:
- Monday through Friday work week schedule, typically 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Weekends and holidays off
- Summer months off
- Establishing positive relationships with kids over the years
- Low physicality at work
- Less time on your feet
2. Nursing educator
Nurse educators are in very high demand. Every year, thousands of qualified nursing student candidates are denied entry to nursing programs because schools don’t have the staff or sufficient clinical placements to accommodate them all.
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is usually a requirement for nurse educator positions, although state boards of nursing occasionally issue exceptions for BSN nurses. Unfortunately, the moderate salary for these positions is one of the factors contributing to the shortage of nurse educators, as MSN nurses working in direct practice can earn far more.
Are you passionate about learning and mentoring? How do you feel about public speaking? Nurse educators’ salaries are admittedly a drawback for the role, but the job has other advantages that may balance that out enough for you.
Nurse educator soft-life nursing advantages
Take into consideration the soft-life nursing advantages offered in this job:
- Work hours often align with a Monday-through-Friday schedule—unless you agree to teach an evening or weekend class; exact hours will depend upon your class schedules.
- You have summers off unless you agree to teach a summer class.
- You have weekends and holidays off unless you need to grade or plan assignments. You determine the appropriate turnaround time.
- Classroom settings mean that any physical labor is generally low-level.
- This position is purpose-driven, with a visible impact on raising future generations of nurses.
- The position involves mentoring aspiring nurses and creating positive professional relationships with other faculty members.
- You spend less time on your feet.
3. PACU Nurse
Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nursing jobs may be found in hospitals or outpatient surgical clinics. Although PACU is a critical care setting, it is typically quieter than other high-acuity units and functions at a slower pace. PACU nurse salaries are on par with general bedside nurse salaries.
PACU nurse soft-life nursing advantages
Some say PACU nursing is the best-kept secret in the industry due to the following:
- Quiet setting
- Routine tasks
- Limited range of health conditions
- Regular office hours
- Low patient-to-nurse ratios (one nurse to one or two patients at most)
- Limited time with patients (stabilized patients move to another unit or go home)
4. Aesthetic/dermatology nurse
The beauty and personal care market in the US is booming, and aesthetic or dermatology nursing is rising alongside it.
Base salaries for aesthetic nurses are modest but typically augmented with commission-based scaling. Depending on the nurse, this is either a drawback or an advantage, as the potential for high earnings is ultimately determined by whether or not nurses can build a robust client base.
Aesthetic nurse soft-life nursing advantages
Aesthetic nurse jobs are usually in outpatient clinics, a setting that lends itself naturally to the core tenets of soft-life nursing, such as the following:
- Work schedules depend on the clinic's hours, but working Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., is common.
- Saturdays may or may not be free; some aesthetic nurses prefer a weekday off instead of Saturdays off.
- Holidays are typically off.
- Commissions are a standard pay structure in aesthetic nursing; the more treatments you administer, the more you earn.
- Nurses enjoy the satisfaction of helping patients feel confident in their looks.
- These jobs are typically low-stress.
- Nurses may obtain discounts on treatments at their clinics.
- Nurses typically spend less time standing.
5. Infusion nurse
Infusion nursing is versatile. You can find infusion nursing jobs in hospitals, outpatient clinics, or with a home infusion company. Infusion nursing requires deft hands and high competency in IV therapy, administering chemotherapy, fluids, electrolyte replacements, and blood components.
Infusion nurses typically have extended periods with each patient; whether that is an advantage or disadvantage depends entirely on the personality and character of individual nurses. Infusion nurse salaries are comparable to general med-surg nurse salaries.
Infusion nurse soft-life nursing advantages
For some, infusion nursing is an excellent use of their hard-earned nursing skills coupled with the advantages of soft nursing, such as the following:
- In outpatient and home infusion settings, nights and weekends are typically free.
- There is predictable scheduling due to the importance of organized, timely IV treatments for patients.
- Nurses can establish rapport with patients during the administration of IV fluids.
- Home infusion jobs mean time alone in the car between patients to decompress.
6. Per diem nurse
Per diem or PRN nursing with Nursa means you pick up PRN shifts in healthcare settings appropriate for your experience and on the days and times that align with your preferred schedule.
Working as an independent contractor removes you from the politics often accompanying in-house staff jobs. Show up for your contracted shift, work hard, provide a stellar end-of-shift handover report, and clock out.
Per diem nurse soft-life nursing advantages
PRN nursing has versatility and multiple advantages that align with the concept of soft-life nursing, such as the following:
- You can select the settings and shifts you want to work.
- You can schedule shifts that don’t interfere with your personal commitments and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
- If you work a shift in a setting that is too stressful, you don’t have to go back; simply do not request PRN shifts in that setting in the future.
- Hourly pay rates are often higher than those of in-house staff jobs.
- With Nursa, you receive quick payouts (twice weekly or immediately after the shift).
- You interact with new patients and healthcare professionals.
7. Virtual/telehealth nurse
Telehealth nursing brings patient care to the phone or video screen. These nurses handle triage, symptom checks, education, and care coordination from home or a clinic hub.
Schedules are organized in call blocks or virtual visit slots, and the work leans heavily on assessment, communication, and documentation.
Virtual/telehealth nurse soft-life nursing advantages
- Predictable, appointment-based workflow
- Minimal lifting and lower exposure to workplace hazards
- Options for weekday, business-hours shifts
- Work-from-home or clinic command-center settings
- Strong focus on education, coordination, and charting
- Fewer high-acuity surprises than many bedside roles
8. Occupational/employee health nurse
Employee health nurses support a single employer or health system. The work centers on screenings, vaccinations, fit testing, injury prevention, and return-to-work coordination—often in collaboration with HR and safety teams. The focus is on prevention and planned activities.
Occupational/employee health nurse soft-life nursing advantages
- Mostly weekday, business-hour schedules
- Predictable, planned workflows
- Low physical demands with emphasis on prevention and education
- Ongoing relationships with staff and departments
- Opportunities to lead wellness and safety initiatives
- Holidays typically follow employer calendars
9. Case management or utilization review nurse
Case management nurses guide safe discharges and transitions of care, and review medical necessity against criteria. This role is primarily desk-based, with structured collaboration across providers, payers, and inpatient teams. Clear communication and organized follow-through are the daily staples.
Case management/utilization review nurse soft-life nursing advantages
- Desk-based work; many roles are hybrid or remote
- Structured hours and predictable workload
- Minimal lifting and lower exposure to acute events
- Clear outcomes tied to coordination and planning
- High collaboration with multidisciplinary teams
- Builds on documentation speed and critical thinking
How to land a soft-life nursing role
You don’t need a new degree to land the best nursing jobs for an optimal work-life balance. Most nurses already have the core clinical judgment, documentation speed, and patient-education skills these jobs value. A little targeted upskilling and a resume refresh go a long way.
1. Gain skills that transfer easily
Not sure if you’ve got the skills to switch to the role you want?
Here’s a list of skills you may already have and what soft-life nursing jobs they could transfer to:
- Patient education and care coordination: Case management/utilization review, virtual/telehealth nurse, school nurse
- Phone triage and fast documentation: Virtual/telehealth nurse, per diem (lower-acuity/clinic shifts)
- IV starts, line care, and pump management: Infusion nurse, ambulatory infusion nurse (outpatient)
- Pediatric experience and first-aid response: School nurse
- Teaching, precepting, and mentoring: Nurse educator
- Recovery monitoring, airway, and PACU exposure: PACU nurse (hospital or ambulatory surgery)
- Aseptic technique and injections: Aesthetic/dermatology nurse
- Ergonomics, safety reporting, and vaccine clinic work: Occupational/employee health nurse
- Chart review, authorizations, and discharge planning: Case management/utilization review
- Adaptability across settings and quick onboarding: Per diem/PRN nurse
2. Take training for building skills necessary for soft nursing
Organize your calendar and set aside time for these ideas for micro-learning, training, or a shadow block.
- Telehealth etiquette + RPM overview (60–90 min)
- IV therapy refresher + pump competencies (skills lab; ~90–120 min)
- Utilization review basics (InterQual/Milliman primers; 60–90 min)
- Occupational/employee health essentials (OSHA logs, vaccine clinic flow; ~60–90 min)
- School-health fundamentals (care plans, EpiPen, and emergency drills; 60–90 min)
- Aesthetic nursing theory intro (skin anatomy, injection safety; ~60–120 min)
- Discharge planning and payer authorization walk-through (case review; ~60–90 min)
- Documentation speed drills (smartphrases/templates in your EHR; ~60 min)
Related: Navigating nurses’ notes: A useful guide with examples
3. Update your resume and professional profile
Small wording shifts can help recruiters connect you to soft nursing roles—focus on outcomes and the right keywords.
- Lead with low-acuity outcomes: Education completions, call-resolution times, no-lift compliance, throughput improvements.
- Add keywords recruiters scan for: “Care coordination,” “utilization review,” “telehealth,” “ambulatory,” “occupational health,” “predictable schedules”
- Quantify where possible: For example, “Coordinated 25+ discharges/month” or “reduced readmit risk via follow-ups”
4. Practice interview talking points
Frame your real working experiences in a way that demonstrates structured thinking, collaboration, and calm practice. Consider the following:
- How you de-escalate, educate, and coordinate across teams.
- Times you used protocols/criteria to make consistent decisions.
- Your comfort with structured workflows and documentation speed and accuracy.
How to try out soft nursing: a 30-day roadmap
This is a low-risk way to test softer roles without quitting your current job until you are sure you’re ready for a career change.
Week 1: Identify and shadow
Start by narrowing to one or two roles that fit your strengths and life rhythm, then get a quick look behind the scenes.
- Pick one to two target roles you’re interested in.
- Ask a manager/educator to shadow for 2–4 hours or observe a clinic block.
- Note skills gaps you observe (e.g., pump workflows, UR criteria, tele-visit flow).
Week 2: Micro-upskill and prep
Give yourself focused hour blocks to build just-enough proficiency for a trial shift.
- Complete a few classes or earn certifications, such as telehealth etiquette/RPM, or IV refresher, etc.
- Create 2–3 smartphrases/templates in your EHR for education or triage notes.
- Add one resume/profile bullet highlighting soft-life skills (education, coordination, documentation speed).
Week 3: Sample the work
Put your learning into practice in a controlled way and pay attention to what it feels like day-to-day.
- Pick up a PRN shift (clinic, outpatient infusion, triage) or a half-day float in the target unit.
- Track stress, energy, commute time, and family time on the day of and the day after.
- Debrief with a preceptor/lead on fit, gaps, and next steps.
Week 4: Compare and decide
Use simple metrics to decide whether to keep sampling, pivot, or pursue a transition plan.
- Compare hours, stress, sleep, and recovery vs. your current baseline.
- If it’s a fit, outline a 60–90-day plan (more PRN shifts, internal transfer, or external job search).
- If mixed, try a second role from your list to compare before deciding.
What to track: A quick checklist
A brief, repeatable checklist will help you make an objective call. Consider tracking the following:
- Schedule predictability: Did work start and stop on time?
- Physical strain: Lifting, steps, sprints, and exposures
- Cognitive load: Interruptions, patient volume, decision complexity
- Documentation time: Note shift length and after-hours charting
- Satisfaction markers: Patient education wins, teamwork, autonomy, and how you feel at the end of the shift
Guardrails
Just a few quick guardrails to keep your pilot idea clean and compliant.
- Review employer policies on floating or PRN contracting and any conflict-of-interest rules at the facility where you work.
- Confirm licensure, vaccines, and competencies needed for the trial setting.
- Communicate clearly with your manager about your goals and availability.
What do you think? Is soft nursing for you?
Soft-life nursing incorporates the old adage, “Work smarter, not harder.” Lower stress, better balance, autonomy, good pay, time off, and preferred scheduling are all elements of soft-life nursing.
What concepts of soft nursing appeal most to you?
You don’t have to have it all figured out right away. Try out PRN nursing and experience the soft nursing advantages of autonomy, flexibility, balance, and high pay rates. Sign up today and explore PRN jobs near you.
Sources:
