Tax Season Doesn't Have To Be So Bad

It was a slow night shift, and Sarah slumped into a chair next to Jake in the break room, groaning as she stared at her phone.

"Ugh, I just started looking at my taxes, and I have no idea how to handle all these travel nurse stipends," she muttered, rubbing her temples.

Jake chuckled, sipping his coffee. "Yeah, it’s a headache. Some of it isn’t taxable, but you gotta be careful with state taxes since we work in multiple states."

Sarah sighed dramatically. "I swear, I need an accountant who only deals with travel nurses because TurboTax is giving me trust issues."

Jake smirked. "Same! If I get audited, I’m just handing them my scrubs and saying, ‘Take it all.’”

In today’s email:

• Let’s talk taxes: Taxes don’t have to ruin the next few months. 

• Around the web: Fair wages, and the growing demand for nurses in California.

• Reality Star Takes Hiatus From Nurses Career: I say it here. This is how most of us are going to tell our boss we are not showing up for our next NOC shift. 🤌 

WHAT’S HAPPENING

The Dreaded Tax

One thing Mom told us is true. “Remember, being a nurse isn’t just about medicine, it’s about heart.” What she didn’t tell us about is taxes. Every year, it seems like the collective United States forgets what it was like filling out these forms through whatever online platform you used first back in 2015.

While platforms like Turbo Tax have gotten easier, there are a few things to consider when filing for nursing work that you completed as an independent contractor. Always be deducting!

Being an independent nurse means that you can deduct items to complete your work. The IRS generally describes work-related deductions as ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in the course of your job. According to the IRS:

"An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your trade, business, or profession. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your business."

But always check IRS guidelines or consult a tax professional to ensure compliance!

Here are a few items you can deduct from your taxes this year

1. Uniforms

2. Car Expenses

3. Toll Roads

4. Meals

5. Supples

These are some of the more common items, but there are plenty more expenses you can deduct.

AROUND THE WEB

Fair Pay For All Nurses: Internationally educated nurses at St. Joseph Medical Center fought for fair pay and won, highlighting a widespread issue of wage inequities based on foreign experience.

The Fight Begins To Challenge New Rules: The American Nurses Association is advocating for policies that support nurses and protect patient care amid significant federal policy changes, emphasizing workforce development, equitable healthcare access, and legislative action to strengthen the nursing profession.

Nursing Demand is high in California: As of 2025, California is experiencing a significant demand for registered nurses (RNs). The California Employment Development Department projects approximately 21,200 annual job openings for RNs between 2020 and 2030, accounting for both new positions and replacements due to retirements or workforce exits.

Summer House Star Ciara Miller Is Hanging Up Her Scrubs. For Now..

Before joining Summer House, Ciara Miller worked as a full-time ICU nurse in Atlanta, later transitioning to travel nursing. After moving to NYC, she balanced nursing with modeling and reality TV, working PRN shifts to keep her license active. Now in 2025, she's stepping back even further, admitting she has a "love-hate relationship" with nursing but struggles to detach completely. While she explores new opportunities, she wonders if anything will ever feel as fulfilling as critical care.

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