Is it a good idea to work before boards

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Getting ready to take boards, but would like to start working. some hospitals in my area(mississippi) hire you after graduation and you can work until you pass boards. they will even, if you fail first time, allow you to work until you take boards again. my question would it help you on boards or hurt you? i know you may see short cuts and wrong things- the nclex is "textbook nursing" i have heard. just wanted some thoughts and advice. getting ready for interview next week at hospital.

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There's nothing wrong with working while you study for boards - I did, for about a month - as long as they will give you time off for studying if you need it. This is something to discuss with your manager. Passing NCLEX should be your first priority (and their first priority for you). Stick to the books for NCLEX knowledge. The test covers different areas of nursing which I doubt you will handle concurrently at your job. You still need the books and what you learned in school.

And, while they will let you work if you fail... it is still as a nurse extern (or whatever they call you) for way less than an RN salary. Get your foot in the door where you want to work. But don't work so much (or let them call you in on your days off) that you don't have time to prepare for NCLEX.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

I worked for awhile before I took the NCLEX. I needed the money in a bad way. It was also easier for me to stay in nurse mode. If I had taken time off, my skills would not have been fresh. While passing NCLEX is the short-term goal, your long-term goal should be practicing as a nurse. I think time off would affect your new and hardly put into practice nursing skills more than it would your test-taking.

That being said, I would not wait too long to schedule it. You don't want it hanging over you. I was going to schecule mine sooner rather than later, but it wound up being too much with orientation. I graduated in May, was on orientation until September and took my NCLEX in November. I waited until I felt a little comfortable on my own and could focus on preparing for my test rather be distracted by my job.

You have to see what kind of person you are. Would your test hanging over you be more of a distraction? Can you leave work at work? How new are your nursing skills? Could you use come immediate reenforcement with them? How confident are you in your testing ability? Just some things to think about.

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Just thougt I would pop in with my two cents about your question. Im here in MS and just graduated this past May. I started working in June at one of the local surrounding metro hospitals. I went through two weeks of classroom orientation b/f I started floor orientation. I passed my boards in July and was happy to have the classes already completed, but I will say that I did find it hard or even distracting when trying to work and study for NCLEX. A good portion of my time during my floor orientation b/f I passed boards was a good ole waste of time. Since I had no license, I could not DO ANYTHING. I could actually do more as a student. I dont know if the other area hospitals are the same, but it seems like I have heard that they are. No pt contact until you make RN. I do know that my friends that went to UMC were given scheduled times to study in the Library while working. They were actually paid to study!! Basically, it just depends on what you think you can handle. Boards are stress enough so take care of yourself. Good Luck

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I think it's a personal choice...I start my program this Fall, but I have had two friends that got jobs at area hospitals and when they failed their boards, they didn't reduce them to CNA-type duties, they terminated their employment, and when they passed the boards, they were unable to get rehired.

Do all hospitals work like that? Of course they don't...but in my area, there is only one hospital system, and a single, very small private hospital....if something happens with your job, you have no choice to move.

That scared me enough to where I don't plan on looking for a job until I'm fully licensed.

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I graduated in May and took off work/school in June. I decided I needed the money and needed to keep my skills fresh so I got a temporary permit to work as a "licensed practical nurse"/Graduate Nurse until I took my test. I scheduled my test for July 29th which gave me 3.5 weeks of work before I took the exam. After only 4 days of orientation, they put me in charge of a whole floor (43 residents) on NOC shift and I haven't stopped since, working an average of 4 (8hr) shifts per week. I passed my NCLEX-PN first time 'round, thank goodness and for me, working helped keep my skills fresh and kept my mind from obsessively fretting over minute details. I studied some, but was able to rely on my schooling and basic knowledge to pass the exam.

To each his own, though! For me, that was a perfect fit. Good luck with your decision!;)

NNNikki

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Specializes in Operating Room.

My state also does the GN thing, and we could do pretty much everything an RN could do, except that we had to be supervised and cosigned for much of it...Actually, there were a couple of students that decided not to work as GN's and failed their boards anyway. I graduated in May, and took the NCLEX on 8/2. I was more than happy to get the bulk of my orientation done over the summer and I would study for boards on the weekends. I passed the first time so it all worked out. IMHO, I say take the GN position if it is an option.

Also, depending on your hospital, they may offer you an NCLEX study program for free as part of your GN orientation..this is what my hospital did.

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oh, by the way did i mention, i have 2 kids( 5y/o, 9y/0), 1 husband, and 1 dog (Rocky Balboa). i know it will be hard, but i am anxious, but i don't want to be tooooooo anxious. i am really undecided about this, i want to take a position, but then again, i guess i'm afraid of failing and want to wait until after i'm licensed. i have just had a rough time with nursing school- starting out in a traditional program, then having to finish with excelsior- it has been a rough road, please need words of encouragement.

thanks

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Specializes in Pediatrics/School Health.
My state also does the GN thing, and we could do pretty much everything an RN could do, except that we had to be supervised and cosigned for much of it...Actually, there were a couple of students that decided not to work as GN's and failed their boards anyway. I graduated in May, and took the NCLEX on 8/2. I was more than happy to get the bulk of my orientation done over the summer and I would study for boards on the weekends. I passed the first time so it all worked out. IMHO, I say take the GN position if it is an option.

Also, depending on your hospital, they may offer you an NCLEX study program for free as part of your GN orientation..this is what my hospital did.

I started as a GN at my hospital in the beginning of June and had a month of working before I took the NCLEX. I work on a not-so-busy small Peds unit, so I had some great study time during my shift, as well as a very flexible manager for my schedule. I was a little nervous about jumping in my first full-time job while studying for the test that would determine the fate of my career, but it turned out to be a good thing for me. It put me in that "nurse mindset" (considering I had NO previous healthcare work experience, even while in nursing school) and I learned sooo much during my first month as a graduate nurse. I actually had a question on NCLEX that was sooo specific to a patient I had just a week or two prior to that...and it was a topic that I wouldn't have known about otherwise!! It was probably the only question I knew for sure I got correct!!! Anyways, good luck with whatever you choose to do!

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oh, by the way did i mention, i have 2 kids( 5y/o, 9y/0), 1 husband, and 1 dog (Rocky Balboa). i know it will be hard, but i am anxious, but i don't want to be tooooooo anxious. i am really undecided about this, i want to take a position, but then again, i guess i'm afraid of failing and want to wait until after i'm licensed. i have just had a rough time with nursing school- starting out in a traditional program, then having to finish with excelsior- it has been a rough road, please need words of encouragement.

thanks

Try looking at it this way. It sounds as if your plate if full at the moment. Congrats, you are at the end of your rough road and now you dont have an instructor over your shoulder making decisions for you!! This is your first decision of your nursing career and it definately needs to be based upon your feelings. I know the hospital I chose to start my nursing career gave us 90days from the date of employment to take boards and pass. If we did not pass we were given the postition of CNA and our pay was reduced from graduate nurse to CNA pay. We had to work as CNA's at least for 45days b/f we were able to sit for boards again. Anyway, my point is that the jobs will be there when you pass boards. If it makes you feel better to wait and spend some more time with your family b/f taking the plunge into your new career, do it because this chance will not come around again. If you feel like starting a new job and going on and getting oriented to your unit b/f boards, then hey go for it. After I started w/my orientation I began to realize that while I love the hospital I work for, ultimately my license is my license and who is better to look out for it than me! Take a deep breath, and pat yourself on the back, listen to your gut and the right decision will just happen! Good luck and keep the faith!;)

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Here's my take on that situation, being in your shoes not too long ago...I graduated in April, and worked for a little over a month as a GN before taking my boards and passing them at the end of June. I would absolutely recommend working before taking the nclex at least for a little bit (I made it a point to take the nclex before I got halfway through my orientation). In my opinion, waiting to take the nclex once you get mostly through your orientation is not a good idea though because I feel as a GN you hit a learning plateau at a certain point. It gets to a point where (at least for me) that you stop learning about some things until you actually DO them (passing meds, hanging blood, taking verbal orders, etc etc.). (You can only observe some of these RN only tasks so many times). So I would caution against waiting too long into orientation (besides the anxiety starts to build)...But what I loved about starting work while I was studying for the nclex is that when I studied, I was in "nurse mode". I read and studied the questions and was better able to imagine myself in that actual situation with that actual patient. My studying became more effective once I started working (esp. with the prioritization questions). And I had several questions on my nclex exam, that I remember coming across at work during orientation. Things that I would not have come across while just studying questions and content. So I was able to think back on certain pts. or certain meds ordered for a pt. and remember words of wisdom from my preceptor while I was taking my nclex. The work experience, and gaining the nurse mindset even as a GN was invaluable for me...But everyone has a different opinion. This is just mine. Hopefully some of this rambling made some sense.

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i am so glad many of you all have posted, i really needed these words- more and more i think i will probably start if everything goes well in the interview. thanks again so much and pray for me on boards, don't quite have a date yet, but doing some studying.

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