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

nija315 · Apr 7, 2014

That's probably exactly how I am going to feel lol

Folkeye · May 2, 2014

As the daughter of a long term nurse (thanks, mom, you rock!!!!) I say YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! When she gets her paychecks. I know some of that gets funneled my way when when I need help. Yeah I'm all growed up with a not so great paying job and schooling of my own to aim at nursing myself, but I'm so grateful for what she does and helps me out. Again, YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Though if I got her paycheck, I'd too would stare at it for a long time, totally amazed.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · May 2, 2014

I felt so excited to be able to buy my son Christmas gifts and birthday gifts. Just being able to buy him a new bike (he didn't have one) made me so elated.

Loving-and-Learning · May 7, 2014

Lived in California, working in a state that is one of the lowest-paying for nurses. I'll give y'all one guess how I felt. Fortunately, I LOVE my job. :)

medsurgrn95 · May 25, 2014

I worked at my facility as a CNA before graduating & passed boards mid week. The shifts I worked as an CNA were paid at that rate, and the RN ones at the RN rate as well. I was SOOO excited to get my first paycheck. I had a consolidation loan that had been in deferment from a previous degree that I didn't know would be due & the lender messed up and didn't do auto payment so I didn't know until they sent me a NASTY late notice. I got that all straightened around but that's where my first paycheck went.

SWM2009 · May 25, 2014

I cried tears of joy. I doubled my non nursing salary. As the widowed mom of 2, solely responsible for supporting my little family, I felt really good about that first paycheck.

adventure780, BSN, MSN, RN, APN · May 26, 2014

aww good for you

kmclark · Jun 13, 2014

I was hired at 13.60/hr. I was a single Mom of 2, driving a piece of crap car and barely making ends meet. Many child support issues I won't go into. I told the kids we could go shopping and get some new clothes as they to had sacrificed during nursing school. Bought a new car so I would always have that payment included in my new budget for whatever we needed. Now both my kids are nurses. One making probably 23-24 dollars and the other working SNP making about almost double that. They both were hired in at about 20 dollars in 2008 and 2009. They were fortunate enough to get in under the wire of when the retirement plan was still offered. Of course, we are told all the time this is not a guarentee. I hope to retire in 3 yrs. I digress. My son's comment with his first check was what the hell? I had no idea so much sh** was taken out of your check. My daughter who it didn't take long to figure out the week end option pay, SNP pay is making about what I make after over 20 yrs of service. Anytime her family needs are high she will pick up more shifts. I am proud of us all for our accommplishments. We earn every penny we make, while some I see are so lazy I wonder how they keep their jobs. It is a wonderful career if you go into nursing for the compassion, excitement, daily learning and helping those in need etc. If you are here for the money you have been misinformed. If you went into nursing for job security, well I am sure by now your eyes have been opened. I see so many that should not be in nursing and it is sad. They want to play with their phones and sit on their butts while drawing a decent check with no concern that they are playing with other people's lives. Ok, sorry I strayed off. I am satisfied with my pay, I love my job and I love being a nurse. :nurse:

RedInScrubs, ASN, RN · Jun 18, 2014

Well, as a single mom, my first thought was "So there's rent", haha. Honestly, though, after making barely above minimum wage for my entire life, then being unemployed for four years after I was fired while pregnant, I felt relief. And freedom. Being able to make a livable, comfortable wage secured me and my daughter and allowed us to never have to worry about being forced to listen to someone say "That's not really yours, because I paid for it" EVER again. That first paycheck set me free.

enuf_already · Jun 19, 2014

I felt rich! That $7.07 an hour I was making took the load off of my husband as being primary breadwinner. When I completed orientation and worked evenings, I got $.10 an hour shift differential. I got no weekend differential.

I bought a car to replace the beater that got me through school after orientation, passing boards, and a few months experience off probation.

I guess I should mention this was early 1981. I worked as a graduate nurse while awaiting board results (it took a little over 2.5 months for results to come via snail mail). I worked in critical care and a few years later as charge nurse, I got an additional $.10 an hour for that responsibility. I'm not sure what I did with all that extra money!

RunBabyRN · Jul 17, 2014

I'm graduating in May, and already dreaming of that first paycheck!

So, a little comedy for everyone...

My first paycheck as a registered nurse was for $8.46. Through the agency, we are paid minimum wage for anything that happens in the office, and that was for my hour of paperwork. I laughed and took a picture of it. My husband wants to frame it.

ruralnurse84 · Jul 18, 2014

I have already been working for 3 weeks but won't see my first check til the end of the month...small rural hospital paid through the county and only pays once a month...but based on the calculations I did I am going to be very happy with that check. We've been surviving on only my husband's paycheck while I've been in school so he was really excited I got a job right away. We finally get to stop living paycheck to paycheck, get a newer vehicle, and pay off debt.