Empowering healthcare professionals to find and do their best work.
Nurse Discounts / Outdoors
Nurses and healthcare workers can enjoy the outdoors with new gear at discounted prices.
They’ve got you covered from the tent you’ll sleep in to the boots you’ll slip on your feet. Gear up for less!
Nurses and other healthcare workers get a 30% discount on orders.
Nurses, doctors, and other medical workers can get a one-time 15% discount.
Career Resources / Should You Leave Your Job?
You might have chosen a nursing career because of your desire to help others. Despite wanting to serve, sometimes your job may no longer be a good fit. Burnout might be a motivator in wanting to change fields. Data indicates that roughly 1 in 5 healthcare employees have quit their jobs since 2020. Yikes!
Burnout, career dissatisfaction, lack of effective leadership, or a stressful work environment, are all signs it’s time to leave your job. Some healthcare professionals know when it’s the right time to make a change, while others benefit from a checklist of clues the time has come to move on.
Recognizing the winds of change is only the first part of the process. Preparing emotionally, financially, and physically for the next stage in your career can make or break a successful transition. Let Incredible Health help you!
In this article, you will learn:
It can be easy to ignore that nagging feeling that something isn’t right with your career. You probably choose this field because of a passion for helping others and may ignore the fact you aren’t happy anymore. You see the signs all around but choose to ignore them.
On the other hand, you might not recognize the writing on the wall. Learning to recognize the red flags can help you take the necessary steps toward transitioning into a new career path. It’s time to move on for your own health and wellbeing.
Most people experience the following warning signs guiding them toward a career change. Recognizing one or more of the indicators we’ve listed might help ease the feelings of guilt.
One of the first signs it’s time for a career change is a lack of enthusiasm toward your job. What does that look like? Showing up to go through the motions while consistently underperforming is a surefire indicator you have mentally checked out of your job.
Professional burnout is a real thing. There is a real danger when you become complacent in your job. When it becomes difficult to muster enthusiasm for tasks that once brought satisfaction, it might be time to reevaluate your current role.
The stress of some healthcare jobs can have a lasting impact on mental health. Toxic colleagues, angry patients, and short staffing can leave you feeling anxious about your next shift. How can you tell if your job is having a negative impact on your mental health? Here are some warning signs:
When thinking about work, getting anxious and unhappy should never be the normal reaction. Everyone has tough days or stretches at work where they feel mentally and emotionally drained. That should be the exception rather than the rule. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it’s time to carefully consider a future somewhere else.
Stressful and toxic work environments don’t just stress you out mentally. Constant exposure to an unhealthy work setting can cause lasting physical health effects as well. Whether it’s from working long hours without rest or difficult patients, physical symptoms from job stress take many forms.
Some of the signs a job is impacting physical health include:
These symptoms can interfere with your job performance. They can also lead to more lasting health effects like heart disease, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system.
Unhappiness in the workplace can overflow into your home life, leading to a poor work-life balance. Bringing the stress of a job home can affect relationships. Exhaustion and other physical issues can interrupt an active social life. Being called into work on days off can upset friends and family who were looking forward to spending time together.
When you find yourself sacrificing your personal life for the job, it may be time to reevaluate priorities. There are ways to help your work-balance to help improve your life.
If you dread the start of your next shift, that’s a good sign you may want to change jobs or a career.
Dread can take on many forms, including dragging your feet before a shift starts. Getting a headache or upset stomach are other signs of stress building. Figuring out what is causing the dread can be the first step toward resolving it.
When toxic coworkers or poor management are the sources, ask if these are things that can be resolved. If the answer is no, then seeking a new position elsewhere might be the best solution.
Checking off all the boxes on the “it’s time to change careers or jobs” checklist leads to another question. How should you prepare for the transition to your next adventure? From preparing personal finances and finding a new position to leaving an old job on good terms, there are plenty of considerations.
One of the most important parts of preparing for a new position is to secure personal finances. Changing jobs can sometimes mean going for stretches without regular income. While it is not recommended to quit a job without a new position to go to, sometimes that happens.
Having at least six months of income saved is a solid strategy for preparing personal finances. You might wish to have the ultimate backup plan by putting aside a year’s savings first.
Emergency funds are a must for any career change. Not only can you rely on your savings during the changeover, but you also can revert to it for living expenses if the new position doesn’t work out as planned.
Burning bridges at any job is never a good idea. Crafting a formal resignation letter can help with a graceful transition. Never submit a resignation letter without prefacing it with a face-to-face conversation with a supervisor. Although it can be tempting to unload about toxic work cultures or other unpleasant situations, the resignation letter is not the place for that conversation. Here are some tips on how to write the perfect resignation letter.
Once personal finances are in order, the next move is to start looking for a new job. Whether staying within healthcare or looking to change course entirely, you need a resume and cover letter to send with your applications. Some healthcare workers, especially nurses, focus all their energies on developing their resumes and they neglect their cover letters. This is a perfect opportunity to shine a light on your talents and goals.
Matching a cover letter to keywords within a job listing can help boost the chances of it making it past the first round with AI bots and into the hands of a hiring manager.
A killer cover letter is just one step in finding a new job. Preparing for an interview with a prospective employer can make or break the chances of landing a preferred role. Here are 17 of the top nursing interview questions, plus tips on how to ace them. Check out more career resources that Incredible Health has to offer – we’ve got your back!
Landing a new job can be exciting and scary. Preparing for the first day in a new role can help ease the anxiety. Some steps to ensure a smooth transition:
Nurse Discounts / Costco
Costco is offering nurses a $20 Costco Shop Card to join + access during “Special Operating Hours”
Nurses and other healthcare workers who are not yet Costco members could earn a free $20 Costco Shop Card just for joining. Access more information on the discount here. You must first verify your community status via ID.me to earn the card.
In addition, as of March 3, 2022, Costco is continuing its COVID-19 policy of allowing store access to healthcare workers and first responders during “Special Operating Hours” as well as regular operating hours.
Personal Finance / Getting out of Debt
Did you know 70% of nurses graduate with debt? It’s very common, so if you’re struggling with debt, know that you’re not alone.
Debt can be helpful in allowing us to do things that have a big upfront cost, like buying a car or home. For nurses, debt can make it possible to pay for school. But taking on debt can be a slippery slope, especially when lenders offer low introductory rates that give way to fees down the line. The goal of managing debt is to find a balanced approach where we can leverage debt to open doors without getting carried away.
However, debt can easily become overwhelming. In this post, we’ll go over the steps you can take to get out of debt faster and improve your credit.
#1 Not all debt is equal
There are two types of loans, secured and unsecured. Secured loans include things like home loans, auto loans, or any loans that can be secured with collateral. Collateral are items the lender can claim if you fail to make good on your loan. Because these loans are less risky in the eyes of the lender, they’re generally cheaper to open.
Unsecured loans are more prevalent in the marketplace. They include personal loans, credit cards, and payday loans. These types of loans are based solely on your credit history. Because these loans are considered riskier in the eyes of creditors, they’re more expensive. However, they are typically easier to access.
#2 Your credit score influences the rates you’ll get
Your credit score is more or less a summary statistic about how well you have handled your credit in the past, or how “thick” your credit report history is. As you progress through your working life and pay back credit, your credit score rises. Your score is not the same as your report but reflects the information inside the report. The most common score used is called a FICO score. It’s based on these factors:
Payment History (35%) – Are you paying back at least your minimum balance every month? If defaulting, or not paying becomes a consistent pattern, your credit score will fall.
Credit Utilization (30%) – How much of your credit are you using? Lenders want to see this on the low side. So if you can borrow $30,000 but you’ve only borrowed $2,000, this will raise your score. Spending up to your limit each month will lower your score.
Credit History (15%) – How have you handled credit in the past? Past records of defaults can raise your rates.
New Credit (10%) – Are you opening a new line? You get rewarded for opening a new line of credit with a small bump in your credit score. However, the bump is minimal and you should avoid opening new lines of credit just for this purpose.
Credit Mix (10%) – Can you handle multiple types of credit? Managing a variety of lines of credit, like a student loan and a credit card, can raise your score.
#3 Know where lenders make money and that will save you money
Paying attention to where lenders make money can help you avoid fees and find the best rate for you. Interest rates are the most standard way lenders make money. It’s a good idea to shop around for the best rates. But be careful. Some lenders offer low rates only to have hidden fees elsewhere. Look out for balloon rates, where your rate can increase based on certain conditions like making a late payment.
Annual fees are another common way lenders make money. Rewards cards, for example, often carry high annual fees that can outweigh the actual rewards. Creditors also make money by charging interest on your balance. Most experts suggest paying your entire balance whenever possible rather than carrying over credit card debt.
Stop adding to your credit card debt
The first step to paying off debt is setting boundaries. This means removing by unlinking your online cards, switching to a debit card, or not carrying your credit card in your wallet. Not adding on debt will be paramount
Use a payoff strategy
We all have a different approach to money, so choosing a payoff strategy that works for you is a great way to pay off debt. The two strategies are Avalanche, where you start with the highest rate and chip away at that, or Snowball, where you start with the smallest debt and work your way up. While some may appreciate knocking out their nursing student debt in full before moving on, others may get more satisfaction from a series of smaller wins along the way.
Make multiple payments each month
You’re not limited to making a single payment per month. Every time you get a little extra use it for your balance.
Consolidate your debt
Consolidating your debt can make it easier to keep track of payments on multiple accounts. Consider getting a personal installment loan or transferring your balance to one card. With debt consolidation for nurses, you’ll have fewer interest rates to pay, saving you money. But make sure you read the fine print to avoid any hidden fees.
Call your company and ask about reducing your rate
It can feel like your credit card company is working against you or just doesn’t care about your concerns. But most credit card companies actually want to work with you, especially the larger, more reputable ones. Try calling to ask for a lower rate.
Make on-time payments
Not only is being on time a great professional skill, but it will show lenders you can handle your debt. Making your payments on time will also help you avoid late payment fees.
Pay your balance in full
Rather than carrying a balance, whenever possible make complete monthly payments on a loan or credit card. This will show lenders you are only spending what you can afford. Your credit score goes up when you pay your balance in full.
Don’t utilize all your credit
Utilization is your balance compared to your credit limit, or how much you’re allowed to spend versus how much you’re actually spending. Low utilization can raise your credit score, so it’s important to keep an eye on your borrowing. The rule of thumb is to keep your credit card utilization below 30%. So, if you have $10,000 available, try not to borrow more than $3,000.
Keep old accounts active
If you have an old account open that doesn’t cost you any money, keeping it open rather than closing could be a positive mark on your credit score. Even if you no longer use the card, it shows a longer history of your credit and would be counted towards your utilization. Closing an account will also sometimes cause a small dip in your credit score.
Open new accounts
Showing that you’re continuing to open new lines of credit is a good sign for credit bureaus, but be careful not to open too many accounts at once, as multiple hard inquiries can lower your credit score. If you’re thinking about opening a new checking account, take the time to compare banks to find the best fit for your needs. What is required when opening a checking account usually includes a valid ID, proof of address, and an initial deposit, depending on the bank’s policies.
Now that you understand more about debt, you can start making a plan to pay off your debt and build better credit. Still have questions?
Nurse Discounts / Ray-Ban
Nurses and first responders are eligible to receive a 15% discount on Ray-Ban purchases.
To receive the discount, users must verify their eligibility status with ID.me.
For even more discounts, check out our Discounts for Nurses page!
