For decades, many nurses have followed a well-worn career path: start in the hospital and get experience, get sick of the restrictive and grueling schedules, move to an outpatient setting for more scheduling flexibility…rinse and repeat.

There is nothing wrong with this trajectory, if it is what you desire. But many nurses admit they miss the higher acuity, technology-heavy hospital nursing they used to practice, and they only left because of the strain it placed on their personal lives.

Years of working nights, evenings, weekends, and holidays have left us feeling burnt out, or simply wanting to enjoy life on our own terms. For too long, nurses have been forced to choose between our careers and our personal lives—but what if we didn't have to? Thanks to new staffing solutions from connectRN, now we don't.

connectRN is a revolutionary app that offers innovative staffing solutions and provides nurses with limitless flexibility through PRN shifts. We spoke with one of their nurses, Jerry Enget, RN, to discuss his passion for nursing, what he likes most about connectRN, and his advice for anyone considering switching to the PRN life.  

Nursing Hospital Headaches

Jerry Enget, RN, is thriving in his nursing career, but it took him a few career changes to discover it. After serving in the U.S. National Guard for six years, he started a career as a corrections officer and found it wasn't right for him.

After some thought—and encouragement from his aunt, who was a nurse—he enrolled in an LPN program and has never looked back. Since then, he became an RN and has worked in countless practice settings as a travel nurse, including med/surg, telemetry, ED, LTC, and Pediatrics, though med/surg is his favorite.

"I love the variety of med/surg. You can see a different patient population each shift and I always feel challenged seeing a little bit of everything," Enget says. After working as a nurse for ten years, he's deeply satisfied with his career choice and takes pride in the knowledge that he can help people with his skill set anywhere, anytime.

Enget recalls one trip he'll never forget, during which he used his nursing skills to save a life on vacation. While waiting in line for a ride at Universal Studios, Enget's wife noticed a commotion in the crowd. After pushing through, he saw that an infant appeared to be choking and was lifeless and blue.

His training immediately kicked in; he took control of the situation and began CPR. Miraculously, after just a few moments, murmurs from the crowd rose, and Enget saw movement from the infant. "That was a really neat experience," he says.

Despite his passion for nursing, however, Enget began to feel frustrated with the expectations of acute care nursing. "Expecting me to attend a staff meeting in the middle of a med pass or stay for a meeting that could have been an email after night shift really started to bother me," he shares.

And he's not alone. Year after year, nurses express their desire for more scheduling flexibility and greater autonomy. Still, few hospitals have been able to find a solution. This mismatch contributes to nurses leaving the profession at a time when they are needed most.

After four years working for a large health center in Tampa, Florida, Enget had had enough and decided to look for his next opportunity. His wife stumbled upon connectRN by chance, and after starting with them in 2023, Enget says he has never been happier.

Variety and Freedom Without Compromise

connectRN is a unique hospital staffing solution that offers RNs, LPNs, and CNAs unparalleled flexibility and control over their schedules through PRN opportunities at facilities in their community.

From ICU to ED, and home health to rehab, the connectRN app offers numerous shift types in many different specialties and settings, commitment-free. This allows nurses to still provide hands-on patient care in their specialty without the strict hospital requirements.

Unlike a direct PRN employment arrangement with the hospital, connectRN has:

• No shift or hour minimum
• No nights, weekends, or holidays required
• No contract obligations

Plus, you can get paid the day you work a shift through the app, access 24/7 support, and receive additional benefits like a 401k and medical, discounts, and more. Visit connectRN to learn more and sign up!

Since joining connectRN, Enget has received a significant pay increase, gets regular shift bonuses, and says that picking up the shifts he wants is a breeze. "I work three shifts a week: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, mirroring my wife's schedule, which is so nice. We travel frequently and love our life here in Tampa, Florida, thanks to connectRN," Enget says.

connectRN Offers Nurses the Best of Both Worlds

Nurses have felt pressured to choose between the job they enjoy and their personal lives for too long. But it doesn't have to be this way. With connectRN, nurses can provide the skilled care they take pride in while taking control of their careers through PRN nursing opportunities.

Enget strongly recommends connectRN to experienced nurses who enjoy working in the hospital, but desire more flexibility and freedom with their schedules. "Just like travel nursing, you need to have strong clinical skills and be flexible, so I don't recommend it to new graduates. But if you know what you're doing, it doesn't get better than connectRN." Enget says.

Are you ready to rediscover your passion for nursing without sacrificing your personal life? Join the connectRN community today and experience the freedom and flexibility of bedside care on your terms. Don't wait for burnout to hit—get started today and discover the wonderful opportunities that per diem nursing offers!

This article is sponsored by connectRN.