First nursing job help!

[unbalanced]

Hi everyone!

I finally made it through nursing school! yay! I take my NCLEX next week. I am not trying to get ahead of myself but I did go on an interview for a summer position that starts next week. I currently have a job at a hospital that does not hire new nurses (as a PCT) that I would have to leave. I am nervous about quitting a full time position for a summer job but I am desperate for experience.

I also would be applying to many other facilities and to graduate nurse programs. If I was hired elsewhere I would hate to leave the "summer position" that I committed to. But at the same time gaining even a little bit of experience could help me find a position in the long run.

What would you do? Im trying to weigh all my options but this decision is difficult for me. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Tina

[Mr. Murse]

First of all, I hope the summer position you interviewed for isn't an RN job, because if it starts next week and you're taking your boards next week, there's no way you'll be licensed by then. Assuming you pass, you won't even know you pass for a little while, and won't be licensed until it's official. Some jobs may let you work until you are officially licensed, but you may want to look into that and definitely be open with your prospective employer about the fact that you are not yet licensed.

As for jumping around like you're considering, I would advise you take it a little slower. I appreciate your tenacity for experience but it's honestly probably more effective to stick with one job for a little while and get good at it than it is to just dip your toes in a few different jobs, not to mention it looks better on your work history to have some stability and consistency. Also, it's not a bad idea to have some good references in your pocket, and working a few months here and a few months there at different jobs doesn't usually give you time to build up a good reputation at a workplace.

[unbalanced]

The summer position was for a camp as an RN and officially starts in July. The training starts mid June (getting oriented, staff bonding and whatnot since I would be living there and its a couple hours away from home). I have been at the hospital I am at for the past six years as a tech. I thought the summer would give me some experience. I was just concerned that if a full-time position came along I would have to leave but at the same time not taking the summer job because I'm 'waiting' for another call could cause me to miss out on an opportunity.

[L&DinOregon]

Trust your gut, write out a list of pro's and cons. Also you very well could be licensed soon after your NCLEX. In Oregon I was licensed the next day after taking my exam.

[fridgelight]

Some state boards post quick while others take weeks. When you registered to the state board did you have the option for an interim permit. It allows you to work as an RN while waiting to take the boards.