How did you feel when you got your first nursing paycheck?

[Joe V]

All that time in nursing school had to pay off sooner or later. I'm sure many felt elated, many were ecstatic, and many just wanted to blow it all away. Do you remember your first paycheck? How did you feel? Did you celebrate? Please share your stories...

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[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

I got my first RN check in July 2011 and I still look at every check the same way. I like my job, I work hard and I earn every stinkin' penny.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

After being a stay at home mom for ten years, I felt GREAT!

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I almost passed out I was so happy. I couldn't run to the post office fast enough to pay my bills with a huge smile on my first. This month was my first paycheck where I had extra money left over after paying all the bills (and post-Holiday season). So instead of stuffing it in my savings I treated myself to a new wardrobe. I haven't had a closet full of new clothes since high school. I deserve it

[ivikatasha]

My day is coming soon! start my job the 27th, my pay plus shift deferential will be over 3 times what I make now..... I am going to flip out.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I made about twice what I got as a secretary but my expenses also went way up including large student loans and a car payment. So I definitely didn't feel rich, many years I felt angry at how much of my hard earned money was being wasted on student loans and wondered if it was worth it! The student lenders certainly made alot of money off me, esp when interest was so high back in the day. Student loans suck! Then to find years too late that I should have qualified for loan forgiveness, but this is no where advertised by the govt, lenders, or employer and still stuck paying student loans to this day! I will be so happy when the student loans are paid off and never want to take out student loans again as long as I live! I have so many coworkers with crushing student loan debt, some nurses, some not even and no way they'll probably pay it off in their lifetime! Student loans are worse than crack if you ask me!

[Nola009]

1250 was my first check for two weeks of full-time work. I felt like it wasn't enough for all the crap I did and the mean nurses I had to work with!

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

Honestly, I looked and thought "Where the He## did all of it go?" as I looked over all the deductions...

[naptimeRN]

I agree with the two posts above me! With all the union dues and taxes...where is the money I earned??? Blah!

[Wrench Party]

I think I was excited for 5 minutes, then realized I had to turn around and pay all my bills. I think I came out about

$200 richer for that 2 weeks.

Looking good now, especially with overtime and holiday pay in there.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I was like, "This is it?! I have been in college for seven years (two bachelor's degrees) and I'm only making a couple hundred bucks more per paycheck than my last job that only required a high school diploma?" And I think I whipped out the alcohol and regretted going to college at all at that point...

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I thought "well, after rent and student loans, that leaves me with about $6."

[RNJeff73]

Lol, thats awesome! I remember my first paycheck. I worked a lot of hours and picked up shifts in the same pay period and the check was pretty big.......and then it was gone in 3 days!