What's the most expensive part about being a nurse (aside from nursing school)?
Your mental health.
The physical and mental toll on your body.
Therapy.
Time with your young children that you won't get back.
Mental health! Take care of you any form of self care WILL BE NEEDED!
The wear and tear on your body.
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Physical, mental, and emotional health can be put at risk if you work for a company who does not care about your well being.
The time you lose away from your family that you can never get back. I say this as a nurse for 21 yrs. I love what I do, but I regret all the things I missed with my kids as they were growing up.
The time YOU LOST BEING WITH YOUR FAMILY is PRICELESS and can never but REPAIDED. I learned this the hard way. I reached the apex of my career and my daughters had the joy of seeing me receive my MSN👩🏻⚕️a necessary step because my daughter had Cystic Fibrosis. I needed to be knowledgeable and vigilant in her care.
We lived in a small town with limited resources and access to specialist to care for her , they new less then I did, because it we a Orphan disease little was known about is and it was dubbed the "Baby Killer".
Shortly after the relocation to another state to have her closer to Rainbows B&C Hospital she was in numerous medical journal and TV interviews. After childbirth, six months later, Diamond succumbed to the disease. If not for being a nurse, I knew her chances would be slim to none. I had her for 23 years an she left me with a great son who will graduate from Medical School next year, he also started as a RN.
Each day I dread the price I paid for being a RN but my daughter encouraged me every step of the way, she was my cheerleader🫡 This was the MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF BEING A NURSE.
The damage I have done to my body - screwed over my circadian rhythm by working nights, lack of sleep due to shift work sleep disorder and disordered sleeping, really effed my metabolism up and gained weight a d can't get it off no matter what, hurt my back due to constantly bending over and lifting, and had a traumatic back injury at the bedside catching a young patient having a tempur tantrum and falling on purpose (ain't nobody got time for falls paperwork). And definitely the loss of sanity, metal clarity, and all around good attitude. I'm a cranky vampire who hates people now. It sucks. But I LOVE what I do.
Being under staffed and having violent psych patients daily.
Paying for CEUs, certificates, and certifications. Find a program that will pay for these things that improve your practice and widen your choices for employment.
If FT with a family this takes a toll on family life. You can always work, you can't get back that time with your growing children.
Thinking you need certain things such as a new car, a fancier house once you graduate and are making more money. Live simply. Buy used cars, avoid making payments, and invest wisely.
Work someplace with a good union and pension plan. So many non-profits seem to be wonderful in theory but tend to run their place on the backs of the nurses who often receive poor ongoing training, little support, and low compensation, with high responsibility.
Do not stay at a job you dislike, it will wear down your soul, a heavy price to pay. Conversely, don't stay someplace year after year just for the money or perks. If you find your work meaningful, it will nourish your soul as long as it pays enough for you to live as you choose.
Finally, consider the changes that occur as you age. Some RN work is physically strenuous. Injuries can sideline a career and ruin your finances. Consider options so you can have longevity in your practice.
Lunch in the cafeteria. Lol!
Cost of living. The top hospitals in California are in communities that are unaffordable for nurses to live in— forcing them to work extra shifts, take on overtime, and take on multiple jobs. This also costs nurses the inability to have a proper work/life balance and can also negatively impact their mental and physical health.
Raising your spending level to match your new income…
If you spend what you spent when you were working whatever your pre-nursing job was, you’ll be fine. But everyone buys a brand new SUV, new boobs, a whole new wardrobe, an oversized new house… and then wonders why they’re making more but still have no money.
Take time and care of you .Most jobs want even send a dollar store card if unfortunately you become ill. If we are not healthy how can we take care of the unhealthy ..God, Family then Work. DIVINE ORDER!
All the money you will spend on booze and chocolate
Your physical health. Your lack of sleep. Your garbage nutrition. The amount of stress and cortisol you put your body through. Your mental health from all the things you see and deal with on a daily basis.
Mental and physical, also a good pair of walking shoes
Searching for employment being a new graduate with less then a year experience can be discouraging but I know that there is a place for me that I will enjoy and that will provide me with the training that will help me to be a successful nurse and provide the opportunity for growth.
Physical therapy, mental health and continuous education
Damn loans
40 years in nursing. Physically and mentally exhausting. Toxic work environments. Its all about money or numbers. So many demands from leadership relentlessly hounding nurses to be in meetings, committees and get more letters behind your name. They care more about that then actual patient care. Nursing has become elitism. All of healthcare is in trouble. Short staffing. Work more with less. No real appreciation. I can go on and on… 4 more years and I retire. Cannot wait.
Good SHOES!
Your emotional and mental well-being. You have to make time for self-care. Your first line of defense is always self-protection.
Back surgery and knee surgery, lol.
Your soul! When you realize you’re a part of the problem and not any solutions that is why I left nursing
Finding the right shoes for walking and standing. I have been through many pairs of shoes for work. Also scrubs, if your employer doesn't provide them for you.
The last four years of my daughters childhood. I'll never get it back.
BUY suppportive well fitting shoes. ("Your feet have to take you anywhere you need to go in this world", said my favorite Anatomy teacher. Use shoe covers when working in high risk areas. Blood, mud and feces can be unpleasant to remove. Buy something you can run in if necessary or wear outdoors in changing weather. I've worn Clogs from Sweden, Birkenstocks from Germany and Z Coils from the USA. Good Luck. Welcome to my world.🖖👵
The toll it takes on your health long term. Pending on shift your time and relationships too.
I paid just $7 per credit hour when I was in school. I believe the whole thing cost about $3258.00 total turnkey. Books, credit hours, tuition, graduation gowns, etc. I started as an RN-A at $13.05 and after 1 paycheck there was an across the board raise and I received $15.57. Made back my entire education in a few weeks,
Taxes!
Heh... Render unto Caeser what is Caeser's. 😏 😒
The pain of wanting to make everything OK and realizing you are only human.
daycare & scrubs (if your work doesn’t provide them)
It’s very hard on the psyche. There will be things you will wish you could unsee. You can’t be this up close and personal with disease, deformity, decrepitous, disorder, death and dying… and not be affected deeply and profoundly.
Lashawn hit it right on the nose… I realized how much my kids were without me while I concentrated in school and work.. i remember falling asleep at games and practices 🥹🥹
The booze
Scrubs. Shoes (people don’t realize that with all the steps we take, shoes should be replaced pretty often). Food, you’re going to spend so much on door dashes, drive thru coffee, treats. And health. Heck ya, please take care of yourself. No job is worth your well being. You worked for this career, but it’s not a prison. You can change
Getting your license renewed. In PA it cost 165$ plus now we have to get our own background checks which cost 22$. And don’t forget your 30 credits of education which cost between 40-60$ so add to that if your a dumb bunny like me and thought it could be renewed quickly but it isn’t … not even a little bit. So even though we are spending well over 225$ it is the slowest it’s ever been. So here I sit waiting on my license and NOT making money So yeah there ya go ….
traveling to an from work . Maintenance up keeps on and gas prices for vehicles. Relationships staying connected with family is valuable.
State licensure & certifications (if employer does not cover cost of certification).
Buying the nursing books and driving to clinicals.
Family and fun
Massage therapy for my back
Your time. The days that you work ( especially if you work 3 days back to back like I do) are hard to get things done when you're off. There's so many nights where i would have to uber food because I'm so hungry and didn't have time to cook or meal prep.
Your body, mind and spirit over tasking creating PTSD, physical toxicity and chronic illness that stays with you for decades after you finally leave the toxic manipulative and very unhealthy environment.
-Reflection may be a costly matter.
-Introspection
--The Nurse will see many pathologies such as self induced multi-organ failures that nurses change things for self, family, Friends and others; responsibility. Your nursing studies begin to change your life for the better as you make the changes. It might be expensive to see how crazy things are as related outside the hospital or where you practice. Some family and friends are in need of more care than imagined.
Our
Childcare to accommodate these shifts.
Continuing education can be costly. Especially if not paid time for seminars.
Certification (and Re-certification) especially if your employer doesn’t assist financially
