yay, I got my license #...now what??

lllchillylll · Apr 16, 2009

Congrats on passing boards. I still remember two years ago when I passed mine too. I don't think I've ever studied for something so hard until before my test. Yes, the first thing to do is get a job ASAP. Get your resume and start job hunting. If youre lucky you will be able to find a job but the way its looking, its very tough to find a job as a new grad (unless you start of in LTC, and in that case its a bit easier to find work). The sooner you place your applications, the less time you'll spend being jobless.

Being a real nurse is 100% different than being a student. You wont always have the guidance of your teacher and students. You have to start relying on yourself (and your co-wrker). You're license is the most important thing to you. Its on the front lines. In addition, school and working are not the same. You start to take shortcuts and quickly learn things arent always the way theyre supposed to be. Just make sure if you take shortcuts, your shortcuts are safe and don't pose a threat. Things arent always going to be the ideal situations, and sometimes you find yourself in some "interesting" situations.

I think the hardest thing about the transition from nursing school to the real world of nursing is the adjustment from just having one or two patients to a full load (and if youre in LTC, you may have as much as 30 patients!) I started in a LTC/rehab fresh out of school. And let me tell you, I almost wanted to give up right there on the spot. When i graduated I thought 3 patients was a lot. Think of my surprise when I found out that I would be responsible for a crazy amount of patients. FYI, try passing meds to those many patients, safely, in the alloted time frame is impossible until you get into the swing of things. My first few weeks I litterally cried my way out of the place..... and usally I never let that kind of stress get to me.... but everything was so new and somehow i had to lead all these people like the CNAs and assert my authority and convince people i was fully capable of taking care of them (some people even tried stepping all over me and undermining me because I was new, and young....at least 20 years younger than some of them.)

Anyway I wish you the best of luck and things will get easy after the first few months. Don't let it overwhelm you and I'm sure you'll do just fine. The butterflys should go away after you get your groove going. Just relaxed and stay possitive. Don't doubt yourself, because if you passed the test, you already know the essentials. If youre nervous, they know. It makes them doubt your capabilities and that should be the least of their worries. There will be a lot of things you'll also pick up that you didn't learn in nsg school too.

Well I'm sorry this was a bit long but I really hope it was informative and it helps. :)

firefly86 · Apr 16, 2009

Congratulations! Hey dont worry it is scary but if you get a job at a hospital youll get orientation and it is about 3 months. Ill tell you my story well got transfered into a gvn position right away because I already worked there now I was on orientation for about 2 months now that I passed nclex I am almost done with Orientation. Dont worry its not scare because you will have help and your not alone I know you probably got use to your classmates but really there are alot of nurses out there willing to help. "if you approach them nicely". Look youll be okay and remember dont take the stress of work home. Never do that. Big NO, NO. I am happy for both of us. Tomarrow I get my own pyxis access code. FInally I get to pull out meds bymyself!!! I will have take a picture to place in scrap book. Good luck!! try to get a job at a hospital so you never loose your clinical skills or get into registar nursing. This is where you travel to different hospitals to work. In your area of cours if you choose.

ad_lpn09, LPN · Apr 16, 2009

THANK YOU THANK YOU very much for sharing your stories! My plan is to try for the hospital I work @ now. I don't do patient care, but I was an aide for years, so I'm pretty used to the hospital setting. We did do 2 clinical rotations at a LTC facility and I really enjoyed it- but we were only responsible for passing meds to 3 residents. But I watched the nurse on duty the whole time, and the thought of having to get meds to 27 residents by a certain time blew my mind!! Didn't think I could handle that type of work....but I guess we"ll see.

But for now- I'm just excited about graduating tomorrow.

Jules A, MSN · Apr 17, 2009

Many, many congratulations! Its an adjustment but totally exciting and rewarding at the same time. I can remember getting a gig at a flu clinic and my first thought was that I wanted my favorite professor to be there also, lol. I was fine, you will be also.

ad_lpn09, LPN · Apr 17, 2009

HAHA, I tend to have this "deer caught in headlights" look at the start of clinicals- according to my instructors. But usually by the second day, I would give injections and eye drops and pack a wound like I'd been doin it for years! (and that was a WONDERFUL feeling!) haha It was nerve wrecking THEN, I can't imagine what will happen when I'm doing it on my own. I can't wait, nursing has been my dream for years- can't see myself doing anything else. :loveya:

ad_lpn09, LPN · Apr 17, 2009

Congratulations! Hey dont worry it is scary but if you get a job at a hospital youll get orientation and it is about 3 months. Ill tell you my story well got transfered into a gvn position right away because I already worked there now I was on orientation for about 2 months now that I passed nclex I am almost done with Orientation. Dont worry its not scare because you will have help and your not alone I know you probably got use to your classmates but really there are alot of nurses out there willing to help. "if you approach them nicely". Look youll be okay and remember dont take the stress of work home. Never do that. Big NO, NO. I am happy for both of us. Tomarrow I get my own pyxis access code. FInally I get to pull out meds bymyself!!! I will have take a picture to place in scrap book. Good luck!! try to get a job at a hospital so you never loose your clinical skills or get into registar nursing. This is where you travel to different hospitals to work. In your area of cours if you choose.

:yeah: wow, your own Pyxis code...how awesome is THAT?? You are gonna feel on top of the world, I bet! MAN...I can't wait!!!

Jules A, MSN · Apr 17, 2009

wow, your own Pyxis code...how awesome is THAT??

Lol, wait until the first time you get to sign your name with LPN behind it!