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When I started my career as a Registered Nurse around 2009, it was one of those years. Hiring freezes were the norm, and getting accepted into an acute care hospital as a new grad felt like winning a prized sport. It was the height of the Great Recession.
You see, the nursing job market ebbs and flows. There are times when it’s incredibly easy to get hired at almost any hospital you apply to. And then there are times like right now, as of this writing in January 2026, where even as a seasoned PACU Registered Nurse, it still took me several applications and some serious resume tweaking just to land another Per Diem Nurse offer.
This current hiring freeze could be due to the political climate, cuts to federal healthcare funding, or other factors unknown to us mere regular citizens in this ever changing United States.
So as a sign of the times, and as a comparison to my other article about Lifestyle Creep to Avoid as a New Grad Nurse, these are the things I spent money on as a new grad nurse that I do not regret at all. In fact, these investments eventually helped me land a job at an acute care hospital and officially start my journey as a Registered Nurse.
1. American Heart Association certifications
This includes BLS, ACLS, and PALS. Most employers will reimburse you for these certifications, but as a new grad and an unemployed one at that, I had to pay for all of these out of pocket. And yes, they were expensive.
But honestly, most hospital employers won’t even look past your resume if you don’t have them. If you’re aiming for ICU or ED, ACLS and PALS are almost always required.
2. Books on Critical Care medicine
My goal was to be an ICU nurse, so I invested in critical care books and classes. This book in particular, Critical Care Nursing was basically my bible. I read it cover to cover and highlighted chapter by chapter so I could have a better grasp of what I might encounter in intensive care.
I still flip through it once in a while to brush up on concepts I still use today as a PACU nurse.
3. Critical care classes
Online or in person. Back when I was a new grad, apps and tech were still in their infancy, so most of the classes I attended were in person. Nowadays, there are so many online critical care classes, apps, and platforms to learn from or refresh your knowledge.
If you’re trying to break into ICU or any high acuity area, this is money well spent.
4. Resume help
I’m an older millennial, so when I needed help polishing my resume, I went on Craigslist and hired an actual human being. Usually a UCLA grad student who knew exactly what hospital recruiters were looking for.
Worth every penny.
5. Grammarly
English is not my first language, so Grammarly helped me write more compelling cover letters and clean up my grammar.
6. Getting your BSN
Not personally for me, but several of my new grad colleagues had an ADN instead of a BSN. Unfortunately, it’s just a fact that many employers prefer a BSN over an ADN, often citing “better patient outcomes” and, in large part, the push to achieve or maintain Magnet status.
If you’re an ADN new grad, even stating on your resume that you’re currently enrolled in BSN program can give you a leg up.
7. Networking
Even as a new grad, I knew my goal was ICU, so I joined the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and attended conferences.
The annual membership fee isn’t bad, but in person conferences can get pricey, especially if you’re flying and booking a hotel. One time, I attended a conference in San Diego with coworkers. We split the hotel cost, learned a lot, and met managers from all over California.
One of my SNF nurse friends actually landed an acute care job after meeting a manager at one of these conferences. Good for her.
So yeah, these are the things I spent money on as a new grad nurse. Back in 2009, it was really hard to get into an acute care hospital, so I worked at a SNF for a few years. I earned and saved money, improved my resume, and honed my management skills.
Eventually, I gained enough nursing experience, confidence, and stronger networking skills. I met someone who referred me to interview at a local acute care hospital. The referral helped, obviously, but because I continued studying and brushing up on my clinical knowledge, I passed the interview and landed my first ever New grad RN residency.
Looking back, all that money spent and perseverance paid off. And bonus, most of these expenses can be claimed as tax deductions since they’re considered career improvement here in California (check if your own state does the same). At the time, it felt stressful and honestly a little reckless to spend money as a new grad nurse.
I also learned not to be picky with my first job. I had to work at a SNF for a year or two, the job paid the bills, and I met some of my most wonderful friends while working there. These were investments in myself, not splurges. If you’re a new grad in a tough job market, sometimes the smartest move is to bet on you.
