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Nurses Week, celebrated each May and ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, is a time to recognize the impact nurses make every day.
At Vivian Health, we’re marking the moment by amplifying real nurse stories highlighting how nurses are growing, pivoting, and building careers that truly fit their lives.
This is Allie Hall, a pediatric float nurse and clinical instructor from Southern California (who has spent most of her nursing career in North Carolina).
Her path reflects the reality of many nurses today building a career across roles, settings, and experiences while continuing to grow along the way.
Here’s her story.
What did “being broke as a nurse” actually look like for you day to day?
I was working 1-2 overtime shifts every week my first year as a nurse, barely able to afford the bills I had. I was so overwhelmed and burnt out by year two. I said no to everything because I couldn’t afford it. I skipped trips back home to spend time with my family. I didn’t make friends because I didn’t have the money to spend. I spent every day thinking about money and about how I could not keep working like this as a nurse for 20-30 years.
Was there a rock bottom moment for you where you thought: “I shouldn’t feel this way doing this job”? And what made you finally start taking control of your finances or job situation?
One day in 2016, I sat at the gas station, the day before payday on my way to another overtime shift with maxed out credit cards and no money in my account. I had to choose credit on my debit card just to have it come out the next day. That was the day my life changed and I decided I had to figure out my finances.
How did you start finding better-paying opportunities—and what made the difference?
I networked and discussed pay with other people. I worked weekends only as a nurse (which gave me a premium) that way I could work less days for more money.
How can you and others find jobs that actually paid what you’re worth?
When I was moving, I wanted to compare pay at different hospitals and possible jobs. I really found Vivian helpful during my move and job search because they give you transparency so you can see pay ranges, locations, and opportunities in real time.
What does your financial life look like today compared to back then? And what does being debt-free mean to you?
Back then, my financial life felt reactive. When I started as a nurse, I was making money, but I didn’t have a clear plan for it. I’d pick up extra shifts when I felt behind, save inconsistently, and hope I was doing enough (it wasn’t). Now, everything is intentional, my money has a job before it even hits my account, I’m investing consistently, I have systems in place, and I’m not relying on overtime to feel “ahead”. Being debt-free to me isn’t just about having a $0 balance it’s about having options. The option to rest, to walk away from jobs that do not align with my values or worth and to choose how I spend my time.
What would you say to another nurse who feels underpaid and stuck right now?
I’ve been there, feeling underpaid, overworked, and like nothing was really going to change. What helped me was realizing I had more control than I thought. I started looking at what other nurses were making, applied to better roles, took control of my finances and stopped settling. You don’t have to have everything figured out, you just have to take the first step.
What tools do you use to help find what works best for your budget?
You can use the Vivian Salary tool to see what nurses are actually getting paid in different cities, specialties, and settings. This is super helpful if you are thinking of relocating too! From there, you can compare that pay to your current expenses and goals! Whether that’s paying off debt, saving, or investing, it helps you figure out if your current job is supporting your budget, or holding you back.
Allie’s story is just one of many showing how nurses are building careers that evolve with them.
This Nurses Week, we’re highlighting real nurse stories across specialties and paths, alongside exclusive content, resources, and appreciation offers built for nurses. Explore Anna’s journey HERE and Brianna’s story HERE.
Don’t forget to check out our Nurses Week discounts, freebies, and exclusives → HERE
