I always thought it was weird that every Florida nurse has to pay that five dollar student loan forgiveness fee every time they get or renew their license. Turns out, that money actually goes towards a specific fund called the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program. The state started this program in 1989 to help nurses pay back their student loans, especially people who work in places where they really need nurses, like rural hospitals or clinics with staff shortages.

I know a lot of nurses are annoyed by extra fees on top of everything else they pay, but this one at least is supposed to help the profession. One of my friend's moms is a nurse and she said she never got any help from this fund, though, so I kind of wonder how much it really helps in practice. But if you’re a nurse willing to work where they need you the most, it could actually pay off—at least that’s what the state hopes happens.