You Don't Have to Start in Med-Surg as a new Grad nurse

In reflecting on my career, I'm reminded of something I heard a lot of as a student: start in Med-Surg. I got lots of reasons. In hindsight, It would've been better to do the thinking myself regarding what I wanted instead of listening to those telling me how it is supposed to go.  Do You Have to start in Med-Surg as a new graduate nurse? No. That is my opinion after working in different specialties of nursing. It is not a bad idea to start in medical-surgical nursing but it is not a requirement or an absolute necessity. If you get the opportunity to work in a specialty you would like to end up in, please go ahead and take that opportunity. Your body will thank you later.  When I was graduating from college, a professor I admired told me to start in med-surg. And back then, it wasn't uncommon to here people say "start in med/surg". One of the reasons I sort of recall was so you can learn the basics of nursing and what not. Another rationale was that because you ar...
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Can a Nurse attain FIRE?

Yes. Nurses can attain Financial independence and Retire Early or FIRE. Nursing is a good way to reach FIRE and you don't have to do travel nursing to do that. You can do it working a regular staff job and practicing what I call Financial Prudence. This involves investing. And there are various ways to do that. All investments require risk. And no matter how risk tolerant or risk averse you are, you can work your way toward Financial Independence and Retire Early as a nurse. You FIRE yourself. 

So if you ever wonder: Can a nurse reach FIRE? Can a nurse attain Financial Independence and Retire early?
Again: Yes. Nurses and other "non-tech" professions can also reach their FIRE goal. You don't have to be a tech worker to gain financial independence and retire early.

I'm writing this because I've seen posts on Reddit where people want to know if people working "regular jobs" can reach FIRE. Because a lot of times, you have people with high-paying tech jobs posting about having a net worth of 1.6 million and asking: "do you think I can fire in 8 years?"
I'm actually laughing reading what I just wrote. If you've got that much and you want strangers on the internet to assure you of your ability to retire in 8 years, please invest some of that money into yourself. 

And yes, sometimes, people are there to humble brag. I do understand that most of the ones who post on there are those who want to show off what they have. But there are also others who work regular jobs like some of us did and wonder if it can be done since they are not making 200k or more a year. And I like it when a person who doesn't work in tech posts. One that I vaguely recall was a 36 year old Female accountant who shared her journey after reaching fire. And she graduated with student loans around 2012. She's currently traveling - at least last I saw. I enjoy seeing that because it shows others that young millennials can do it working "regular jobs". Unfortunately, I don't post because I only have one Reddit account and I'm not looking for DM's. I'm a millennial and I also say it can be done. And no, I did not have an inheritance or extra props to help set me up. 


So, if you are reading this wondering if you can retire early as a nurse, I'm here to remind you that not only is it possible, I think would be good to aim for that. Why? Because nursing is hard, period. It's not an easy job. It takes a toll on your body and that's not all, there's the emotional and mental toll. And if you want to know what a toll is, think of the "toll" you pay to go across the bridge or through the tunnels. It's a cost and nursing simply takes it from you. The earlier you stop paying that toll, the better. Think of those who work construction, there are some who are in their late 60s and take an Advil each morning before getting to the job site. 

So yes, you can be financially Independent and Retire Early as a Registered Nurse.  Dare to dream, because dreams do come true. 

Are you a nurse who is aspiring to FIRE? Please share with me. And if you've reach FIRE, congrats. 

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