#62: My Nursing Salary Progression (15 Years) & Money Trap to Avoid

#62: My Nursing Salary Progression (15 Years) & Money Trap to Avoid

Author: Ellaine Maala November 10, 2025 Duration: 20:22

Achieving Financial Freedom as a Nurse: A 15-Year Journey of Salary Progression and Smart Investing    

 

Ellaine, a nurse practitioner and founder of Nursing FlowSheet, discusses her 15-year journey towards financial freedom and the importance of combining income growth with investing. She shares her personal salary progression from a bedside ICU nurse earning $28 per hour to a nurse practitioner making $250,000 to $270,000 annually. Ellaine emphasizes that merely increasing income is not sufficient—investing wisely is crucial to building wealth. She offers practical advice on avoiding lifestyle creep, using raises purposefully, and tracking expenses. Ellaine also advocates for job switching as a significant income lever in nursing, supported by data showing that job switchers earn more than those who stay put. Lastly, she stresses investing in assets, particularly the stock market, to combat inflation and secure financial freedom.    

00:00 Introduction: The Journey to Financial Freedom

00:39 The Reality of Chasing Income

00:56 Key Truths About Income and Investment

01:20 My Salary Progression as a Nurse

11:03 The Importance of Job Switching

14:08 Avoiding the Salary Trap

18:23 The Power of Investing

19:23 Conclusion: Building Financial Freedom    

FREE INVESTING CLASS: Enroll Here

 Scrubs and Stocks Podcast is a podcast hosted by Ellaine Maala, RN, NP who is a finance educator, nurse, and owner of NursingFlowsheet LLC, which is a finance and career blog for nurses. This podcast is created to help nurses build wealth through investing in the stock market, real estate or in their own businesses.

Nurses deserve options whether they want to retire early or work until retirement.

If you want to connect with Ellaine, follow her on:

Instagram: @nursewhoinvests

TikTok: @nursewhoinvests

Blog: nursingflowsheet.com , nursewhoinvests.com

Download my free investment cheatsheet

 


Ellaine Maala, a registered nurse and finance educator, hosts the Wealthy Nurse Podcast: Money, FI, Investing for Nurses. She speaks from a place of genuine understanding, navigating the unique financial pressures and irregular schedules that come with a nursing career. This isn't about generic money advice; it's a focused conversation on building security and freedom specifically for healthcare professionals. Episodes delve into practical strategies for investing in stocks and real estate, alongside exploring entrepreneurial paths for nurses looking to create their own businesses. The dialogue centers on achieving financial independence-whether that means designing an early exit from traditional work or gaining the confidence to continue in a beloved career without monetary stress. Through straightforward discussions and relatable stories, this podcast provides a resource for nurses ready to transform their financial knowledge into tangible wealth. It’s a space where clinical expertise meets financial literacy, all aimed at expanding what’s possible for nurses beyond their shifts.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 73

Wealthy Nurse Podcast: Money, FI, Investing for Nurses
Podcast Episodes
#12: Workplace Violence & Why You Need "F U Money" as A Nurse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:14
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#9: Side Hustles for Nurses that You Can do to Make Extra Money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:11
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#6: Three Investments to Make if you have $1000 Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:43
February 19, 2024 Episode 6: Three Investments to Make if you have $1000 Now In this episode, Ellaine talks about what would be the best investment if you are starting out in your investing journey as a nurse. If you hav…
#5: Five tips on how you can invest your first $100k as a nurse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:08
February 12, 2024 Episode 5: Five Tips on How You can Invest Your First $100k as a Nurse In this episode, Ellaine talks about why the first $100k invested is the hardest - and she shares 5 tips on how you can invest your…
#4: Here is why you can't retire as a nurse just by saving money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:43
February 5, 2024 Episode 4: Here is why you can't retire as a nurse just by saving money In this episode, Ellaine talks about saving vs investing for your retirement. You can't save your way to your retirement. She also…
#3: Why I like investing in the Stock Market as a Nurse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:43
January 29, 2024 Episode 3: Why I like investing in the Stock Market as a Nurse In this episode, Ellaine talks about the reasons why she invest in the stock market. She talks about real estate investing vs stock market i…