apply for job before nclex or wait?

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I just graduated this month and I'm not sure if I should apply for jobs before I take the nclex, because I'm afraid I'll get hired and potentially fail the nclex. Then what happens? Do they just wait and wait until you pass or give the job to someone else? I'm trying to have a good attitude about the nclex, but I'm also being realistic. Should I wait to apply until I've for sure passed? I would feel so embarrassed if I had a job and they knew I kept failing state boards.

Specializes in Surgical Trauma Burn ICU, Oncology.
I just QUIT my job to make sure that i can study for my exam. Ive heard that working in the field will confuse you for the exam. This economy is horrible..but just think if you dont have enough time to study...

Please tell me you didn't quit a new nursing job...cuz if you did, I feel sorry for you.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I just QUIT my job to make sure that i can study for my exam. Ive heard that working in the field will confuse you for the exam. This economy is horrible..but just think if you dont have enough time to study...

Unless I had major testing issues I wouldn't quit my job to study for NCLEX! You have been preparing for this exam for years now. I studied between 2-3 hours a day for a couple of weeks after graduating before testing.

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Even quitting a CNA job could jeopardize your internal hire possibility.

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No i had been working at a law firm for 3 years. Writing briefs, traveling with the attorneys, etc. I felt like if i didnt focus on the nclex and PASS then i would be screwd. With that in mind, right now i wouldnt take a nursing job, because if i fail they might let me go. That would suck. My school took 3 MONTHS to send our apps in..so its been 5 months since ive been outta school. Maybe im paranoid, but i do not wanna fail this exam!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
No i had been working at a law firm for 3 years. Writing briefs, traveling with the attorneys, etc. I felt like if i didnt focus on the nclex and PASS then i would be screwd. With that in mind, right now i wouldnt take a nursing job, because if i fail they might let me go. That would suck. My school took 3 MONTHS to send our apps in..so its been 5 months since ive been outta school. Maybe im paranoid, but i do not wanna fail this exam!

It doesn't sound like this applies to you but I wanted to add that a long gap in employment can weigh unfavorably when up against other applicants. It has been my experience that working at something, anything, looks better than not working for months. Good luck with NCLEX to everyone getting ready to test.

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Specializes in neurology, cardiology, ED.

APPLY!!! The worst that could happen is that if you get a job before testing, and then fail on your first try, they'll make you a tech until you try again. But most new grad orientations only happen once a month or so during the summer, so chances are if you start applying now, you still won't start until July or so, giving you plenty of time to study!

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I quit last week, but i have a "on call" cna job. Im confident that if i pass this nclex that i can have a job as an LVN by july's end. I think 86toronado has a good point about applying now. :up:

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Specializes in cardiac.

Alright here is my question: the requirements for this job are to have a current RN license. So can I still apply for this job if I'm about to start my last semester of nursing school?

Also what are you saying in your cover letters? I'm a nursing student in my last semester of school and I'm looking for a job?

I'm totally new to this type of thing. I've been working as a lifeguard at my high school for the past 6 years and I've never had to do a REAL job application or cover letter before. Any advice/ help would be great:bowingpur! I'm starting to freak out about finding a job since everyone says to start applying now!

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Specializes in Chiropractic assistant, CNA in LTC, RN.

I chose to wait until I had my license simply because I had to have a license number to apply for any of the openings here that would work for me. However, if you can apply BEFORE you have license and they will hold a job, definitely do it. Jobs for new grads are scarce so apply now.

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Yes, you can still apply even though you have not yet gotten your license. Facilities understand that you have not yet graduated and will have you start orientation once you actually pass the NCLEX. Some facilities will not hold your spot if you fail the first time, others might. Some states allow you to work as a graduate RN for a certain amount of time until you take your boards and become a licensed RN.

There are TONS of new grads out there and very few jobs. Your cover letter is your chance to sell yourself. For your cover letter, you could state that you are a senior nursing student set to graduate in May 2010 and are interested in this hospital's new graduate RN program. What strengths do you have that make you a better candidate than the next applicant? Do you have any previous healthcare experience as a nursing assistant, EMT, etc.? Also, state WHY you are interested in this particular hospital so they don't think they are just one of 50 hospitals you are applying to. Show that you've done your research and really want to be part of their team.

Good luck!

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hmm yeah honestly, i'd say wait!! i graduated in may and took the boards in june and thankfully passed the first time!! i ended up getting hired in august and have been working at my hospital since september. my biggest fear was taking the boards and failing.......i think that when you're studying for the boards, it's so much to think about, you won't have time for working too!! i was studying every day for the boards, and i really think that's why i passed! once you start work, esp depending on what type of unit you work on, all you will be thinking about is work as a new grad!! i work on a step down unit so literally, i was having dreams about work everyday for the first whole two months!! also, the way you will do things at work is not the way the state would always "technically" tell you they should be done, so my nclex class always said to wait to start working because you don't want to use your own work experience as a reference, because it might not be correct!! if you can financially afford to wait, i would suggest that. i have several friends who i graduated with in may who wanted to start working right away, failed, and lost their jobs. not to mention the embarrassment (not like you should have any, because everyone understands how tough the boards can be, but still!!). good luck with whatever you decide!! :up:

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