Exploring Soft Life Nursing

Written by: Emma Doherty, BSN, RN

“Pivot!” – Ross on Friends.

Being a nurse is one of the best assets for pivoting your life. Whether it is leaving bedside, or just a job that doesn’t bring you the satisfaction, income, or upward mobility you thought it would, pivoting is essential to growth in nursing and life.

The “soft life nursing” trend that has taken over TikTok and Instagram has many nurses questioning whether soft life nursing is for them.

What is soft life nursing?

Soft life nursing is essentially nursing jobs that are often considered lower stress. They’re usually jobs that are less physically and/or mentally demanding. Many soft life nursing jobs include working different hours other than three 12 hour shifts per week. Soft life nursing also emphasizes a better work-life balance and is touted as preventing burnout. Sometimes this includes working Monday through Friday, no weekends or holidays and actually having a lunch break!

What are soft life nursing jobs?

Soft life nursing jobs include many outpatient clinic jobs such as dermatology, endocrinology, pulmonology, and family medicine. Interventional radiology, public health or even school nursing are often overlooked, but they make great soft life nurse jobs. Speaking of school nursing, can you imagine having summers off?

Will I take a pay cut leaving to do soft life nursing?

It all depends! Many jobs considered soft life nursing jobs make comparable amounts to bedside nursing. But again, this depends on so many facets such as years of experience, specialities, and geographic location. However, the cost of constant stress, no breaks and continued exhaustion may not be worth as much as a temporary pay cut at a soft life nurse job.

As nurses, we often push ourselves to be thrown into the fire, because we have this idea that it’s the only way we can grow within our careers. As the nursing community begins to shed light on the mental and physical demands of nursing, the shift to a better work-life balance and happiness in and outside of work is becoming more of a focus.

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