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I firmly believe that nobody can replicate your personal brand or style the way that you can so here’s to learning to do it yourself.

Here are the steps I used…

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From being told my wedding size is not priority and therefore would not be able to be held on a weekend day to being rejected by planners for having a “low budget,” I had almost resorted to eloping. I kept hitting dead end after dead end.

And I know I’m not the only one in that same position, feeling like your dream wedding day was never going to happen and mourning that idea in your head. But I am SO glad I gave wedding planning a second chance and I want to show you that it’s possible as well.

Week 2 Expenses

The next step after booking my planner was to secure my venue. As I’ve previously written about, I chose my venue first before finding my planner however, during our first meeting I asked her to send me a couple more options just so I could be 100% sure I picked right. I am so glad that I asked because she sent me a ton of incredible options with notes, some that I hadn’t even heard of on my own.

Another great thing about having my planner is that she communicated with my venue for me which allowed them to hold the venue with my dates for a week while I made my decision. As you may have heard before, Europeans can be a bit slower to respond and so this alleviated a lot of the stress on me knowing that she had it covered.

My venue required a 30% deposit on the 3-night rate which I have found is common for most vendors across the U.S. and Europe. We use the app Wise to transfer money. I will include the amount, conversion rate, and fees below.

3 night rental: 13,000 euros

30%: 3,900 euros

US dollars: $4,461.33

Fees: $21.32

Discount: $3.65 ??

Total: $4,443.66

Week 2 total

After my initial deposit to my planner and deposit on venue that brings the grand total that I’ve spent so far to:

$6, 728

I plan to reserve my photographer next so stay tuned for next weeks updates :)

XOXO

Cam

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Luxury Impruneta Family Estate

This villa is managed by two sisters, Cate and Ceci, who can also double as your wedding planners should you choose! I was referred to them through my friend Lauren who had her wedding here (@laurenhemmert on tiktok). This villa is perfect for an intimate wedding week with close family and friends.

Sleeps: 12

Distance from Florence: 30 minutes

Cost: around $9,000 for 3 nights depending on season

Additional fees: planning not included

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I have an unpopular opinion on this topic because I truly believe picking your venue (or at least narrowing it down to a few) first will save you a LOT of time at the beginning of the wedding planning process for two reasons.

1. Your venue will most likely be one of the highest line items on your wedding budget. If you pick your venue first, you are more likely to be able to find a planner within your price range.

2. Your venue or villa, in my opinion, also sets the tone or vibe for your entire wedding so if you have that picked out, it’s easier to find a planner who works with your specific venue and has the same style.

I personally wasted a lot of time up front inquiring with planners hoping one could help me find a venue to get minimal responses and a lot out of my budget. By doing the research myself, I also got super familiar with multiple other venues, pricing, etc. that helped me later on.

And once you pick your planner, you aren’t tied to your venue either. I had my planner send me a few options of other locations she has worked at to make sure I felt 100% confident I chose the right one.

Local or US planner?

Deciding between a local planner and a U.S. planner can be tough. A lot of people think they need to bring one from the U.S. to avoid the language barrier, conversion rate, or they believe they will get better service. While some of this may be true, I truly believe going local is your best bet.

To put things into perspective, I was given two quotes for planners for my exact venue. A U.S. planner quoted me a minimum of $20,000 and only worked with weddings above $200,000. My planner quoted me around $4,000 and assured me I can have my dream wedding on my budget.

How to find your perfect match

Now, this is where choosing your venue first comes in handy. Most venues have a social media page or at the very least are posted across Facebook and even Reddit. I stalked my venue and pulled inspo from weddings they had previously hosted. From looking at their tagged photos or posts, you should be able to see vendors and planners who have worked there. Essentially, I inquired with these planners who I knew had direct experience working with my venue.

Another thing I suggest is to reach out to actual couples who have worked with your vendors or venue. I got an amazing recommendation from someone who used the same planner.

Lastly, do the interview. Make sure you like them and their work! This is the most important part.

Notes on European planners:

1. I have heard that it is standard for your planner to collect some commission on vendors they use. I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing but be mindful of it. Do your own research and be knowledgeable on how much other people are paying for things. If the price feels inflated, ask.

2. In general, people in Europe are a lot more laid back. Be okay with not getting an immediate response to some things. For me, this actually feels refreshing. I didn’t feel rushed to book my planner or venue because they didn’t make me feel this way.

Again, this is just my experience. I’ve heard people pick their planner first and still have an amazing experience. It is your wedding so do what you think is best for your special day! I’m putting together a list of vendors for you all and can’t wait to keep sharing.

XOXO,

Cam

As a little recap, I am planning a 3 night, 4 day wedding weekend in Italy for August 2027. After speaking with my planner, the plan is to do a welcome party day, a wedding day, and a farewell brunch. She thinks we can pull this off with my budget (I’m a little bit less hopeful) but we will see. I’m going to be doing these check-ins so you guys can follow along with the process as well.

Okay so time for what we have all been waiting for…. expense #1 reveal.

My first expense for a grand total of $2,284.36 went to my planner who is local to Italy. She told me about the Wise app, which I believe I’ll be getting more and more familiar with as this process goes on. It’s basically just an app that allows you to wire transfer to people in other countries. Now keep in mind that there are additional fees associated with sending money this way, the most expensive fees being if you use a credit card. I’ll share a breakdown below.

Her fee: 2,000 EUR

Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8795 EUR

Wise fee (for checking acct): $10.46 USD

Total: $2,284.36

At the end of the planning process, I will owe her an additional 1,600 EUR which is about 1,800 USD for a total planning fee of around 4,000 USD.

If you follow the rule of spending 10-15% of your wedding budget on your planner, I think this is pretty accurate. My planner gave me the option of 1, 2, or 3 day planning and I opted for the full 3 days. More details on that coming soon!

Below is my updated spreadsheet for items I budgeted for vs. what they actually cost. As a reminder, I am choosing to help out with my guests accommodations but I am keeping these costs separate from the actual wedding budget for people who may choose not to cover accommodations. I will still provide update on those costs!

Stay tuned for the upcoming weeks as I finalize venue, etc. I plan to share all of my vendors, this is something I wouldn’t ever gate keep, I’m just figuring out the best way to share while maintaining some privacy!

XOXO

Camryn

It’s 2025.

You just got engaged to your college sweetheart after years of dating and finally feel like your life is coming together.

Now it’s time to plan the wedding…

You inquire with 5 of your dream venues. You think, “I’ll have a small guest list… maybe 50 people. Surely this will be somewhat affordable.”

As the quotes trail into your inbox, your hope for having an “affordable” intimate wedding slowly dwindles. You start to realize the wedding of your dreams isn’t as possible as it seems and you’ll have to cut corners somewhere.

I know I can’t be the only one out there in this position. In the age of social media, our feed is constantly filled with beautiful luxury weddings, making us feel like spending $100k or more is the norm. We need the big waterfront venue, the extravagant tent, the elegant florals but that shouldn’t be at the expense of our future.

I spent nearly a year inquiring with venues all over the U.S. trying to find that one hidden gem that would check all my boxes without breaking the bank. I refused to settle for a bare bones wedding just to be able to put on a show to people I barely talk to. This is my special day. I should be looking forward to it. But I wasn’t.

Fast forward to this Spring where I was on the verge of just eloping. I decided to look into European elopement packages. I messaged girls in similar positions who had gorgeous intimate weddings and elopements all over Europe and finally a lightbulb went off. It was like a breath of fresh air.

I realized I could have more than just an elopement. I could have the wedding I always dreamed of with my family and friends closest to me AND in Europe for significantly less than what I was being quoted in America.

The past few months I’ve conducted research on the pros and cons, the differences in pricing, what’s a good deal and what’s not, vendors, pricing, budgets, etccccc and I plan to share everything.

So if you’re in the same boat, I invite you to follow along for my entire planning process. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And we will see if I can really pull this thing off…

Full budget breakdowns coming soon..

🤍Camryn

Your new luxury on a budget bestie

Networking isn’t about being transactional.
It’s about being strategic and genuine.

And once you understand that…
it’s not about sending more messages.

It’s about sending better ones.

I’m going to give you the exact scripts I used when I was pivoting out of nursing plus why they work.

First, the rule that changed everything:

Your message should not feel like a request.
It should feel like a conversation worth responding to.

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When you hear the word networking, you probably think:

• boring LinkedIn messages

• forced small talk

• annoying “Hi, can I pick your brain?” messages

• sending connection requests and hoping something magically happens

• attending awkward “networking” events

And if that’s your definition… no wonder it hasn’t worked for you.

Because that’s not networking.
That’s just asking strangers for favors with no strategy.

Here’s the truth no one says:

Networking is not about being likable.
It’s about being valuable and building relationships.

And I know that might sound harsh, but stay with me.

The reason people ignore messages…
The reason your applications go nowhere…
The reason it feels like everyone else is “getting lucky”…

Is because they’re not networking the way you are.

They’re not just connecting.
They’re positioning themselves correctly and following up.

Most people approach networking like this:

“I need help getting a job.”

So their messages sound like:

• “Hi, I’d love to learn more about your role”

• “Can I pick your brain?”

• “Do you have any advice?”

Which, again, feels harmless… but it’s low leverage.

Because you’re putting yourself in a one-down position immediately.

You’re asking.
They’re giving.

And busy, high-performing people?
They don’t respond to that energy.

What networking actually is:

It’s getting into the right rooms and making people see you differently.

Not as:

• “just another nurse trying to leave bedside”
  But as:

• someone who already thinks and operates at the next level

That shift alone changes everything.

Let me say something that might sting a little:

If you’re constantly being ignored…
It’s not because people are mean.

It’s because your message doesn’t give them a reason to care.

High-level people are asking (subconsciously):

• Does this person get it?

• Are they sharp?

• Do they bring anything to the table?

• Is this worth my time?

And if your message doesn’t answer that…

You’re getting skipped.

Networking is not about asking.

It’s about:

• how you present yourself

• how you communicate

• how you make someone feel in a conversation

It’s subtle.
But it’s everything.

The shift that changed everything for me:

I stopped trying to “get something” from people…

And started focusing on:
how I could position myself as someone worth knowing.

That meant:

• speaking with more clarity

• caring about getting to know them

• showing I did my own research

• not over-explaining or over-apologizing

And most importantly…

Not acting like I needed them.

Because here’s the reality:

The people getting referred…
Getting interviews…
Landing roles without applying…

Are not better than you.

They just understand one thing:

Opportunities come from real relationships, not applications.

So if networking feels fake, awkward, or exhausting…

It’s probably because you’re doing it the way everyone tells you to.

And that way?

Doesn’t work anymore.

Start thinking about networking like this instead:

Not:

“Who can help me?”

But:

“How do I show up in a way that makes people want to help me?”

That’s the game.

And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

If you take one thing from this:

Stop focusing on sending more messages.

Start focusing on:

• how you sound

• how you position yourself

• and how you’re perceived

Because that’s what actually gets you in the room.

And in this job market?
Getting in the room is everything.

In Wednesday’s post, I’m breaking down the exact messages, scripts, and strategies I used to turn conversations into interviews without sounding awkward or transactional.

Because there is a way to do this that works.

And once you know it, everything moves faster.

My resume is the same as everyone else’s

You’re not alone.

Most nurses are taught how to be a nurse, but not how to position themselves on paper.

And that becomes a problem when you’re trying to:

• move into outpatient or a clinic role

• apply for a higher-paying position

• transition into a new specialty

• or explore opportunities outside of nursing

Because your experience isn’t the issue.

How you present it is.

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You pick a major in college.
You take a job in that field.
You move up.
You retire there.

And if you don’t?

You’re “starting over.”
You’re “behind.”
You’re “wasting your degree.”

As nurses, this narrative is even stronger.

Graduate.
Pass the NCLEX.
Get a hospital job.
Stay long enough to “gain experience.”
Then maybe go back to school or move into management.

That’s the path we’re shown.

But what no one really talks about is this:

Your career doesn’t have to be linear.

The Pressure to Stay on One Path

When you’ve invested time, energy, and money into becoming a nurse, it can feel like you’re locked into that identity.

There’s pressure to:

• stay in the hospital

• prove yourself

• “stick it out”

• follow the expected path

And if you start thinking about something different?

It can feel like you’re doing something wrong.

Like you’re giving up too soon.
Like you’re not cut out for it.

But the truth is, outgrowing something doesn’t mean you failed at it.

What No One Tells You About Career Growth

You don’t have to build your career in a straight line. It’s 2026, we now know that switching companies, or industries, can actually increase your income exponentially from what it would be staying in one place. Not to mention, diversifying your skills can be what sets you apart from everyone else in your field. This is what allows you to take a HUGE leap vs. a microscopic promotion once a year.

My Own Non-Linear Path

When I first became a nurse, I thought my career would stay within the hospital.

That’s what I was trained for.
That’s what I thought success looked like.

But over time, I started exploring different environments:

Bedside nursing
Outpatient surgery
Private practice
And eventually, medical device sales

At the time, those transitions didn’t feel like a “strategy.”
They just felt like me trying to find something that fit better.

But looking back, every role taught me something:

How centers drive growth and revenue
How to build relationships quickly
How to think critically and adapt

Skills that now apply directly to what I do today.

My career didn’t follow a straight line but it built on itself in ways I couldn’t see at the beginning.

You’re Not Starting Over

One of the biggest fears nurses have when thinking about leaving bedside is this:

“I’m going to have to start over.”

But you’re not starting from zero.

You’re starting from:

• clinical experience

• communication skills

• problem solving

• adaptability

• emotional intelligence

Those are skills that many industries actively look for.

The challenge isn’t that you don’t have experience.

It’s learning how to see your experience differently and learning to sell yourself.

There Are More Options Than You Think

One thing I wish I realized earlier is how many careers exist beyond the hospital.

Nurses work in:

• medical device sales

• pharmaceutical sales

• healthcare startups

• research

• outpatient settings

• aesthetics

• consulting

The hospital is just one environment, NOT the only one.

And for many nurses, it’s not the one where they’ll thrive long-term.

If You’re Feeling Stuck

If you’ve been feeling like your current role doesn’t fit anymore, that feeling is worth paying attention to.

It doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice becoming a nurse.

It doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

It might just mean you’ve outgrown your current environment.

And growth often looks like change before it looks like clarity.

Introducing the Career Glow-Up Series

This is my second post in my Career Glow-Up Series, where I’ll be sharing insights, strategies, and resources for nurses who want to explore new opportunities and build careers beyond the traditional paths we’re shown.

In upcoming posts, I’ll be covering:

• resume strategies for nurses

• networking tips and scripts

• careers nurses don’t know exist

• breaking into medical sales

What to Do Next

If this is something you’ve been thinking about, the next step isn’t to have everything figured out.

It’s to start getting curious.

Exploring what’s out there.
Understanding how your skills translate.
And learning how to position yourself for different opportunities.

Because your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line to be successful.

Sometimes the best opportunities come from the paths you didn’t plan.

I didn’t wake up one day, quit my job, and magically land in a new career.

There was no perfect plan.
No “right time.”
No moment where I felt 100% ready.

What I did have was a growing feeling that I couldn’t ignore anymore:

Something has to change

And if you’re reading this, you probably feel that too.

So instead of giving you vague advice, I’m going to walk you through exactly what I did and how you can apply it to your own pivot.

Read more

“I wish I knew this before I chose this career.”

Not because nursing is a bad profession.
Not because you regret it completely.

But because there are so many parts of it that no one fully explains to you beforehand.

1. The Schedule Isn’t as Flexible as It Sounds

“Three 12s” sounds amazing in theory.

More days off. More freedom.

But what people don’t tell you is:

• you’ll miss weekends

• holidays won’t feel like holidays

• your schedule rarely aligns with your friends and family

And those “extra days off”?

A lot of the time, you’re just recovering.

2. There Are Certain Things Only Nurses Understand

• the dark humor (because if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry)

• the anxiety of calling a doctor in the middle of the night

• how one shift can feel like an entire week

• and how you can go from calm to chaos in second

• the nurse curse

3. There’s Not as Much Growth as You Think

When you first go into nursing, it feels like there are endless opportunities.

But once you’re in it, the paths can feel surprisingly limited:

• bedside → charge → maybe management

• or go back to school

And if neither of those feels aligned?

It can feel like you’re stuck.

5. Your Skills Are More Valuable Than You Think

One of the biggest misconceptions is that nursing experience only applies to nursing jobs.

Not true.

You develop:

• communication skills

• critical thinking

• the ability to work under pressure

• relationship-building

These are valuable in:

• medical sales

• corporate healthcare

• aesthetics and wellness

• clinical specialist roles

The problem isn’t your experience, it’s how it’s positioned.

6. Leaving Bedside Isn’t the End of the World

Most nurses only see what’s directly around them.

But there’s an entire world of careers outside of bedside that:

• pay more

• offer better schedules

• give you more autonomy

You just don’t get exposed to them unless you go looking.

7. You Don’t Have to Stay Just Because You Started

This is the one that keeps people stuck the longest.

“I’ve already invested so much time.”
“I should just stick it out.”
“This is what I went to school for.”

But staying in something just because you started it…

is how you end up years into a life that doesn’t actually fit you.

The Truth No One Tells You

Nursing can be a great starting point.

But it doesn’t have to be your ending point.

If You’re Starting to Question It…

That doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.

It usually means you’re ready for something more.

I’ve been documenting this entire process in my Career Glow Up series from realizing I outgrew bedside to how I actually pivoted into something better.

If you’re in that “what now?” phase, start there.

And if you’re ready for a step-by-step plan, I break down exactly how to pivot (without starting over) in my paid post.

You’re allowed to want more.
And you’re allowed to go after it.

Graduate.
Pass the NCLEX.
Get a hospital job.
Work your way up from there.

Most nursing programs present one very specific version of what a nursing career should look like. And while that path works for some people, it’s far from the only reality.

Looking back, there are several things many nurses were told in school that simply aren’t true or at least aren’t the full picture.

Here are four of the biggest ones.

1. “You Have to Start in Med-Surg”

False.

Read more

No one really talks about this part.

Not burnout.
Not “I hate my job.”
Not even “I need a break.”

But the quiet, uncomfortable feeling that…

voice in your heading telling you you’re meant for more

And that’s harder to admit because nothing is necessarily wrong.

You’re just not the same person you were when you started.

1. You’re Not Learning Anything New, You’re Just Repeating

At one point, everything felt new.

You were learning, growing, gaining confidence.

Now?

You could do your job on autopilot.

And while that might sound like a good thing… it starts to feel like you’re standing still.

2. The Schedule No Longer Feels “Worth It”

Three 12s used to feel like a dream.

Now you’re thinking about:

• missed weekends

• holidays away from family

• the emotional toll before and after shifts

And you start questioning if the trade-off still makes sense for your life.

3. You Feel Drained in a Way That Rest Doesn’t Fix

This isn’t just being tired after a long shift.

It’s the kind of exhaustion that:

• follows you into your days off

• makes you dread going back

• doesn’t go away with a vacation

Because it’s not physical anymore, it’s misalignment.

4. You Catch Yourself Wondering “What Else Is Out There?”

You start noticing:

• nurses leaving for corporate roles

• people working remote

• careers with more flexibility and income growth

And instead of thinking “that’s not for me”… you start thinking:

“Wait… why not me?”

5. You’re Craving Growth But There’s Nowhere to Go

You want more:

• more income

• more autonomy

• more challenge

But the only options feel like:

• going back to school

• staying in the same environment

• or moving into another version of the same role

And none of it actually excites you.

6. You Feel Disconnected From the Version of You Who Started

The job didn’t change, you did.

What once felt aligned now feels limiting.

And it’s confusing, because you chose this path.

But growth will do that to you.

7. You Keep Telling Yourself “I Should Be Grateful”

This is the one no one wants to admit.

You have a stable, respected career.
You worked hard to get here.

So you tell yourself:

“I should just be thankful.”
“Other people would love this job.”

But deep down, you know:

Gratitude and misalignment can exist at the same time.

Outgrowing Something Isn’t Failure

It’s evolution.

You didn’t make the wrong choice.
You just made a choice for a previous version of you.

And now you’re allowed to choose again.

The Hard Truth

Staying somewhere you’ve outgrown will eventually turn into burnout.

Not because the job is bad but because it’s no longer right for you.

So What Do You Do Next?

You don’t need to quit tomorrow.

You don’t need to have your entire life figured out.

But you do need to start paying attention to that feeling.

Because it’s usually pointing you toward something better.

I’m building out this Career Glow Up series to help you figure out what’s next. Whether that’s exploring different paths, increasing your income, or pivoting out of bedside entirely.

If this hit a little too close to home… you’re exactly who this series is for.

And if you’re ready for the how, I go deeper into actual strategies, career paths, and step-by-step pivots in my paid posts and Guidebook.

You’re not stuck.
You’ve just outgrown where you are.

“What else am I even qualified to do?”

It’s a question I hear constantly from nurses who feel burnt out but aren’t sure what comes next.

For a long time, I thought the same thing.

When you work in a hospital, it’s easy to believe that your skills only apply to nursing roles. You’re told you’re only a “nurse,” so you start to see yourself only through that lens.

But the truth is, nurses develop some of the most valuable professional skills of any industry.

The problem isn’t that nurses lack transferable skills, it’s that we’re rarely taught how to recognize or articulate them.

Once you start looking at your experience differently, you realize that many of the things you do every day translate directly into other careers.

Here are some of the most powerful skills nurses have that often go unrecognized.

Read more

The good news? A nursing degree is one of the most versatile degrees you can have. The clinical knowledge, patient communication skills, and critical thinking you’ve developed are extremely valuable in other industries.

Many nurses don’t realize there are entire careers where your nursing background is a competitive advantage, often with better schedules, higher pay ceilings, and less physical burnout.

Here are 10 career paths nurses can pivot into outside of bedside nursing — plus the job titles you should actually search for when applying.

Read more

The day before my shifts, I would feel the anxiety creeping in. I’d try to relax, distract myself, go to bed early but my mind was already running through worst-case scenarios. Short staffing. Difficult patients. Admissions back-to-back. Charting piling up.

Driving to the hospital, there was always a pit in my stomach. I reached a point where I couldn’t drive myself, my boyfriend dropped me off.

Sometimes I’d sit in the car for a minute before going inside, mentally preparing myself for the next 12 hours.

And the thing is, everyone around me acted like this was completely normal.

“You’ll get used to it.”
“That’s just nursing.”
“Everyone has pre-shift anxiety.”

So I convinced myself that the dread I felt before work was simply the price you pay to be a nurse.

But looking back now, I wish someone had told me something different.

Severe pre-shift anxiety isn’t something you’re supposed to live with.

When Burnout Becomes “Normal”

One of the biggest problems in healthcare is that burnout has become normalized.

Nurses are some of the most resilient, hardworking people out there. But that resilience can sometimes work against us. We push through exhaustion. We tolerate environments that drain us. We convince ourselves that if we just work harder or get tougher, things will eventually get better.

And when everyone around you is experiencing the same stress, it’s easy to assume the problem is just the profession itself.

But there’s a difference between normal job stress and feeling constant dread before every shift.

Losing sleep before work.
Feeling physically sick before going in.
Crying after shifts, or before them.

That’s not just “part of the job.” That’s a sign that something isn’t sustainable.

The Moment I Realized Something Had to Change

For a long time, I thought my only options as a nurse were within the hospital.

Bedside nursing felt like the default path, and stepping away from it almost felt like quitting or failing.

But over time, I started to realize something important:

The problem wasn’t nursing itself. It was the environment I was in.

When I began exploring other roles, outpatient settings, private practices, and eventually the medical device industry, I started to see a completely different side of healthcare.

A side where nurses’ skills were valued in new ways.
Where relationships and education mattered.
Where the pace and culture looked very different from the hospital floor.

And for the first time in a long time, work didn’t feel like something I had to dread.

The Truth No One Tells Nurses

Nurses are incredibly skilled professionals but many of us underestimate just how transferable those skills are.

Think about what you do every day:

You communicate with patients and families during high-stress situations.
You build trust quickly with people who are vulnerable.
You manage multiple priorities at once while making critical decisions.

Those aren’t just “nursing tasks.” Those are valuable professional skills.

And they translate into far more careers than most nurses are ever told about.

Careers Nurses Often Don’t Realize Exist

When I was at the bedside, I thought my options were limited.

In reality, there are entire industries built around healthcare expertise where nurses thrive.

Some examples include:

• Medical device sales

• Pharmaceutical sales

• Clinical specialist roles

• Research nursing

• Outpatient surgery centers

• Concierge or private nursing

• Aesthetic medicine

These roles still allow you to use your clinical background but often in environments with different schedules, cultures, and opportunities for growth.

If You’re Feeling This Right Now

If you’re a nurse who feels overwhelming anxiety before work, I want you to know something:

It doesn’t mean you’re weak.
It doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for nursing.
And it definitely doesn’t mean you’re stuck.

Sometimes it simply means the environment you’re in isn’t the right one for you anymore.

There are more paths in healthcare than most of us were ever shown in nursing school. And discovering those options can completely change the way you see your career.

A Final Thought

For a long time, I thought the dread I felt before work was just something I had to accept.

But life on the other side of that realization looks very different.

Work can still be challenging. Healthcare will always demand a lot from the people in it.

But it doesn’t have to feel like something you’re constantly bracing yourself for.

And if you’re a nurse who feels like there has to be something more out there for you, you might be right.

Here are the 5 reasons why you haven’t been successful and how to change.

1. You are applying blindly

   This is the biggest one I see

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“What actually pays the most?”

and more importantly

“What role is most realistic for me?”

Not all roles are created equal. Some are stable with lower ceilings. Others are high-risk, high-reward with serious earning potential.

5. Pharmaceutical Sales ($90K- $160K)

   Pharma is typically the most structured and accessible entry point.

   You typically:

   • Call on primary care or specialists

   • Promote branded medications

   • Manage a geographic territory

   • Focus heavily on relationship-building

   Pros:

   • Predictable schedule

   • Strong corporate training

   • Lower clinical intensity

   Cons:

   • Lower income ceiling compared to device

   • Heavy regulation

   • High competition

   Pharma can be a solid launchpad, especially for career changers who want stability while building business acumen.

4. Spine & Orthopedic Sales ($120K- $250K)

   This is a highly- competitive and highly-intense specialty

   Spine and ortho reps:

   • Cover surgeries regularly

   • Manage large/ heavy inventory

   • Work closely with surgeons

   • Build deep loyalty within accounts

   Compensation scales with surgical volume.

   Pros:

   • Very high earning ceiling

   • Strong surgeon relationships

   • High industry prestige

   Cons:

   • Early mornings

   • Long cases

   • Physical + mental intensity

   This space rewards resilience and hustle.

3. Surgical Implant Sales ($120K- $400K)

   Surgical implants offer high commission potential

   Why?

   Because:

   • They are revenue-generating

   • They are procedure-dependent

   • They are high-margin products

   Top performers in strong territories can see substantial income growth year over year.

   But it comes with:

   • Significant OR time

   • Inventory management

   • High responsibility

   • Performance pressure

   This is where clinical knowledge + business drive intersect powerfully.

2. Cardiac Device Sales ($150K- $500K)

   Cardiac is high-stakes and procedure-heavy

   You may work with:

   • Pacemakers

   • Defibrillators

   • Structural heart devices

   • Electrophysiology technologies

   Pros:

   • Strong earning potential

   • Deep clinical respect

   • High barrier to entry

   Cons:

   • Call-heavy

   • Intense OR or cath lab presence

   • On-call responsibilities

   This is not a 9–5 role. It’s performance-driven and demanding — but financially rewarding.

1. Capital Equipment Sales ($150K- $800K+)

   These reps sell very high- cost equipment

   These deals are large, complex, and often take months to close.

   Pros:

   • Large commission checks

   • Executive-level selling

   • Strategic conversations

   Cons:

   • Long sales cycles

   • High performance pressure

   • Territory strength matters significantly

   This role requires patience, business sophistication, and comfort operating at a high strategic level.

NOTE: These income ranges are estimated based on averages across the board.

Income in medical sales depends on:

• Territory quality

• Product demand

• Compensation structure

• Leadership

• Your ability to generate revenue

The title alone doesn’t guarantee six figures.

Understanding which specialty aligns with your personality, lifestyle goals, and risk tolerance matters just as much as income potential.