new grad getting married..i need advice!

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm new to this site, but I'm hoping to find some fellow nurses who can give me some serious advice! 2011 is going to be a BIG year for me...I am graduating in May from nursing school with my BSN and I am getting married 6 months later! Don't get me wrong, I am soooo excited for both of these things but at the moment I am seriously stressed. Here's my situation:

As a new grad, I am obviously eager to put my education to use and start working! But, I am worried about the time off I would need for my wedding/honeymoon in November. I'm unsure of how hospitals typically work with vacation time (especially less than one year after hire AND for a new graduate in her first RN position). I would hate to not be able to go on our honeymoon after the wedding, as I have spent the past 4 years living in a different city from my boyfriend/fiance because of nursing school. I am so excited to FINALLY be in the same place at the same time and start our life together. Do I take 6 months off after graduation to regroup, plan our wedding, and get use to life after school? Or should I get out there into the workforce ASAP and put my personal life on hold once again? The wedding will still happen in November regardless, but the time off and honeymoon are my biggest concern. Part of me says I have my whole life to work & should focus on enjoying the 'happiest day of my life', while another part of me says I've worked this hard to get my degree & should start working NOW.

Please help this very stressed out nursing student!

I'm not sure how that job market is where you are living, but where I am at, unless you have a job already lined up after school, it could take you six months to even get an interview. So if it was me I would definitely look for a job.

Depending on where you live it will be hard to find a first job. I would take your time looking and if you get an interview. . . just feel it out. You DO NOT have to tell them you are getting married and would be going on a honeymoon, on your first interview. I know how hard it is to get a job and my friends seem to average 3months to a year to find one. So waiting 6 months may set you back to 9 months to 18 months. There is always PRN work too, going on a honeymoon would not really effect a position like that. GOOD LUCK TO YOU and everything will work out how it is supposed to :)

Specializes in AGNP.

Don't put off getting a job. I graduated in May '08, started my job a week after graduation and got married in June '08. When I got my job offer, I just told them I am getting married on this day and have travel plans already made on these days. They were very accommodating and they let me take the time off without pay since I didn't have enough vacation time in my bank. I don't know if all employers would be this accommodating but it is worth a shot. If you get a job offer, tell them you are getting married and would like to take X amount of days off and see what they say.

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I agree with the last poster.. If all you are worried about is time off for the honeymoon, I would just tell them.. I went on a cruise less than a month after hire. No problems....

Specializes in Critical Care, Nsg QA.

I would not put off getting a job. If you get to the interview phase, you tell the person you are interviewing with that you are planning a wedding on (insert date) and will need X amount of time off. You didn't say when in November you are planning the wedding, or how much time you want off.

That being said, they can tell you "thanks, but no thanks." I would not hide anything. It doesn't have to be an ugly scene (I need this, that, and the other). Be reasonable and as flexible as possible.

Specializes in PP, Pediatrics, Home Health.

If it were me I would wait until AFTER the wedding and the honeymoon to look for a job.My friend got offered a job while we were doing our pregrad.She took the job,as well as planned for her wedding.She got married 3 months after her probation was up.She had such a hard time trying to get the time off anyways, and they refused to give it to her,regardless of it being her wedding.She was told that she had to cover her own shifts or switch them and all I know is that it was REALLY hard for her to try and get her shifts covered, as it was she only had a 2 day honeymoon and was right back to work again.

I know graduating and finding a job are really important,but enjoying your wedding day is just as important!If it were me hold off on looking for a job after you graduate,nothing would be more heartbreaking than starting a job and not being able to get time off for your own wedding and honeymoon :(

Take the time off if you can afford it and enjoy the planning of it. The stress of that is enough if it will be a big wedding. I just helped my son and daughter in law with their wedding and it was stressful, but so much fun. They had a beautiful wedding.

Specializes in Psychiatry.

I say put off the honeymoon. You're doing all the exciting things in life one right after the other. Take the honeymoon after a year of being married when things have become routine and there isn't much excitement to look forward to.

Specializes in L&D.

I am in the same situation, girl! Graduating in May, marrying in December :) I plan to interview and if I am lucky enough to land a position, I am going to tell them once I am hired. We are not taking a honeymoon right away, though - we'd rather put the money towards a down payment on a house.

I would assume if they really want to hire you, they would understand plans that you have already set in stone - and allow you to take time off, though it may be unpaid. Congrats!!

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Take a job if you can get it. A big gap between your graduation and employment will be a big disadvantage to your getting a good job and being successful at it. If you can line up a job starting in the summer, you should be able to arrange some time off for a reasonable (if not exceptional) honeymoon. If necessary, scale back your honeymoon plans and take a better one in 2012.

Don't be "young and foolish" and regret it later. You can both work AND have a good wedding.

Specializes in L&D.

I would wait to start working until after the honeymoon if you can afford it.

Take the NCLEX in July or August and start looking for a job but tell them that you're looking to start in November (or whenever you're back from the honeymoon). Some may say that's ok, others may say to contact them again when you're ready to work. That's just my advice.

I graduated in May too and didn't start my job until August, but a lot of people in my class didn't start until September or October. It takes time to take the NCLEX and look for a job. So starting in November isn't that unusual.

Planning a wedding is stressful and I can't imagine doing that plus orientation at the same time!

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