Financial Planning for Nurses: 10 Step Checklist to Manage Salaries, Benefits and Retirement

Nurses play a central role within the broad landscape of healthcare, dedicating their lives to the well-being of others. However, nurses encounter unique opportunities and challenges that require a thoughtful approach to financial planning.  

A nursing career offers great financial opportunities with steady income and potential for career growth. From career advancement to leveraging employer-sponsored retirement plans, building a solid financial foundation is possible. 

At the same time, nurses often grapple with challenges such as managing student loan debt, coping with irregular working hours, burnout and planning for unexpected expenses related to healthcare while balancing long term financial goals. Understanding the differences between these issues is key to financial planning for nurses.

Why nursing offers more than just a job: Top opportunities

Successfully completing nursing school unlocks various opportunities. Below are factors that impact your finances throughout your nursing career. 

Unlocking the full potential of nursing benefits beyond the paycheck

Reflecting the in-demand nature of the profession, a nursing salary is often competitive in the market. Additionally, for retention purposes healthcare institutions are incentivized to provide comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans and tuition reimbursement. These factors can offer peace of mind financially, providing a solid foundation for financial stability if optimized properly.

How flexible scheduling can advance your nursing career

The nursing field offers plenty in forms of career progression and flexibility. Pursuing advanced degrees or certifications can open doors for higher-paying nursing jobs, such as a nurse practitioner or nurse manager. 

Investing in your education is an element to consider earlier on in a career and financial plan to maximize your earning potential over the long term. Whether it’s working per diem or as a travel nurse, non-traditional working flexibility can also be available down the line to explore for income replacement or advancement opportunities.

Why every nurse should consider student loan forgiveness

Nurses need to consider taking advantage of government and employer-sponsored student loan forgiveness programs. Understanding how a potential forgiveness path could work for you early on can empower you to channel more funds toward savings or investments.

What no one tells you about personal finance and career challenges for nurses

Although nursing healthcare professionals have a lot to be optimistic about, this career path faces a handful of challenges, too. 

How do nurses cope with student loan debt?

While education is an investment in your future, it often comes with the challenge of student loan debt. With this education debt comes uncertainty about the most worthwhile repayment plan or forgiveness program to be on.

The hidden impact of shift work in nursing: What are the costs?

The traditional 9-to-5 workday doesn’t exist often in the nursing world. As rewarding and fulfilling as a career can be, being a nurse can be physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting. The demands of nursing often involve irregular work shifts, which can impact work-life balance and contribute to eventual burnout.

Why retirement planning as a nurse is hard

Many nurses underestimate the importance of early and consistent contributions to retirement. Over a full career, a nurse could potentially work within a few different hospital groups. Keeping track of various retirement plans or pensions can be an organizational pain point that makes it difficult to assess retirement readiness throughout your different life stages.  

Help for the financial blind spots every nurse has

Sometimes, it takes the help of a professional to reach financial health. Working alongside a financial planner who understands the challenges nurses go through can be the leap you need to reach your goals. Here are the different areas in which a financial planner can support you.

The benefits puzzle in nursing: Are you missing a piece?

Salary is often a big motivator for changing jobs, but working with someone to weigh benefits packages with you could be a crucial factor. For nurses who appreciate the flexibility of moving in and out of the workplace in different capacities, job benefits can make a big difference in retirement savings and limiting burnout with planning for proper time off.

For retirement, while some may have access to pension programs, many nurses can use a company 403(b) plan (not-for-profit institutions) or a 401(k) plan (for-profit institutions) to save.

A financial planner can help you understand the various programs available, optimize contributions, guide investment choices, and project retirement income to assess retirement readiness throughout your career, not just when you’re getting ready to retire.

The student loan strategy no nurse should ignore

A financial planner who’s well-versed in nursing and student loans can help create a student debt repayment plan. They can also help you explore loan forgiveness programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or even forgiveness programs for nursing professionals like those within the Nurse Corps. 

Working with a financial planner who can help integrate other financial goals — while managing student loan debt strategically and efficiently — can lead to steady net worth increases over time.

A financial plan should also incorporate a potential tax strategy within it. For example, filing tax returns as married filing jointly (MFJ) versus married filing separately (MFS), and whether you live in a common law state vs. a community property state, are all considerations that impact your PSLF payments under an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. 

These are the kinds of annual decisions and planning considerations that a financial planner can assist with.  

Building your safety net with an emergency fund and insurance

Nurses might face unexpected health issues and costs due to the nature of their work. A financial plan should consist of building an emergency fund. Additionally, it should include selecting appropriate insurance coverage if you’re underinsured to mitigate financial risks associated with health emergencies.

Work with a planner to understand how short-term disability due to injuries or illnesses might impact your financial security. Navigating these possibilities through insurance and savings can help keep your financial plan on track. 

Homeownership decisions: A nurse’s roadmap to buying a home

When exploring opportunities for homeownership for nurses, outside of down payment costs and monthly living expenses, cost-benefit evaluations should also consider work location and schedule. Shift work might require maintaining a certain proximity to healthcare institutions and facilities. 

One house might look like it could cost upfront $10,000 to $20,000 more and easily get overlooked. However, if its location offers a greater quality of life over the next few years, and this leads to potential long-term career advancement, that should be taken into consideration.

Tap into your future potential with tailored guidance for your financial situation

Recognizing all these distinct aspects, a partnership with a financial planner who truly gets the nuances of the nursing profession can become invaluable. A financial planner with subject matter expertise and exposure in this area can offer tailored guidance and financial advice. 

Start navigating your financial goals, optimize your cash flow, and secure the financial future that your nursing career offers. Schedule a call with an SLP Wealth planner today.