First few weeks/month as a new grad - check in

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

I thought it might be fun to see where everyone is in the grand scheme of things among new grads who just recently graduated (past 6 months). I just graduated at the end of May and so far I've:

  • received and accepted a job offer the day before graduation
  • taken a Kaplan review class
  • had my pre-employment physical and drug screen
  • received ATT and scheduled NCLEX (for the weekend before I start work!)
  • made a study plan for NCLEX

Has anyone who recently graduated already started work before passing NCLEX? I know someone who took NCLEX right after the Kaplan class, passed, and started work the next week. I'm lucky to be taking it before I start work but my school was really slow with getting all of our paperwork in (they had to send it in as a class for some reason) and some people will be studying for/taking NCLEX after starting work.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Good Luck on the NCLEX. I am in a new grad program at a big hospital and I am 7 weeks into my orientation. There is so much to remember and so but everyone keeps telling me that its gonna take some time to get the hang of it. So far so good. I am no where near perfect but I understand the routine. Its the small stuff I have to work on.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Good Luck on the NCLEX. I am in a new grad program at a big hospital and I am 7 weeks into my orientation. There is so much to remember and so but everyone keeps telling me that its gonna take some time to get the hang of it. So far so good. I am no where near perfect but I understand the routine. Its the small stuff I have to work on.

How soon after graduation did you take the NCLEX and how close to starting orientation was it scheduled? Congrats on being so far into the new grad program. I could have started June 12th but wanted to take time to study for the NCLEX.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
How soon after graduation did you take the NCLEX and how close to starting orientation was it scheduled? Congrats on being so far into the new grad program. I could have started June 12th but wanted to take time to study for the NCLEX.

Graduated February 20th. Took NCLEX March 6th. Started orientation April 20th. I used the Saunders Comprehensive book volume 4 and reveiwed a bunch of questions. I have 2 more weeks and then I will be flying on my on. I am kinda looking forward to it. I can do things at my pace and not at the pace of my preceptor.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Graduated February 20th. Took NCLEX March 6th. Started orientation April 20th. I used the Saunders Comprehensive book volume 4 and reveiwed a bunch of questions. I have 2 more weeks and then I will be flying on my on. I am kinda looking forward to it. I can do things at my pace and not at the pace of my preceptor.

Awesome and congrats again. It will probably get nice to do things at your own pace. :D

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I wish I could say the same. Graduated May 20th and my school just sent out the paperwork this past friday. :cry:. Most hospitals wount take new grads without passing nclex in my area

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I wish I could say the same. Graduated May 20th and my school just sent out the paperwork this past friday. :cry:. Most hospitals wount take new grads without passing nclex in my area

Aww...there are a few places where I live that won't take you before passing NCLEX, but that's not the norm.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Graduated in May, started an "internship" in my MICU June 8th, passed NCLEX this past Wednesday.

I put internship in quotes as it's largely informal as I am the first ever (and only) ICU intern at my facility and the training is tailored towards me alone (I've also worked here for 5 years).

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Graduated in May, started an "internship" in my MICU June 8th, passed NCLEX this past Wednesday.

I put internship in quotes as it's largely informal as I am the first ever (and only) ICU intern at my facility and the training is tailored towards me alone (I've also worked here for 5 years).

Congrats! One of my close friends from NS wanted a job in a teaching hospital's MICU but got one instead in their stepdown, which is apparently close to the environment she worked in at a community hospital's MICU. Definitely not my cup of tea, but good luck! How did you feel about studying while working?

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All I have to say is this last month or two has been crazy....

so far i've

- taken an nclex review course and acls in the same week

- graduated nursing school (May 15)

- got my ATT (June 5)

- started working as RN applicant (June 6)...was a tech before on the same floor

- took nclex (June 26)

- my RN license posted on state bon website (today :)

now i'm moving in two weeks and getting married in two months...so its gonna be the end of the year before this slows down some!

Despite the craziness of life atm, I'm loving work! I am surprised how fast I am catching on...didn't think it was possible to actually remember information about more than 3 pts! :) (although still need experience in many areas...but at least I know I can do the basics ) There are many days I come home frustrated know that I could have done better, but so far I have been able to learn from those days.

btw...studying has been such a big part of my life the last few years it was no problem to put in 6-8 hours a week to study for the nclex.

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