Graduating while pregnant

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2016

Wish I could help you. Nursing has always been a rather cold-hearted path.

I've told this story before, but I'll never forget a classmate that was forced to take the final exam of our final semester mere hours after giving birth. It was either she show up for the test, or face not graduating. No exceptions. As I recall, she gave birth in the wee hours of the morning, then left the hospital a few hours later to show up for the exam. That was in 1992.

As far as I can tell, not much has changed. So, yes, that is too long of a gap. Welcome to nursing. You probably should not wait to apply for positions. Depending on where you live, and the number of new grads cranked out in rapid succession, you run the risk of becoming "stale meat" within months after graduation.

sunmaidliz · May 7, 2016

I graduated at 29weeks, took the NCLEX at 36 weeks and got my license in the mail a week before I gave birth. I gave myself about 3 months to bond and recover before I started my job search. I searched for about 2 months before I got hired doing med/surg when the baby was 6 months old.

In 5 years I worked 3 jobs for about 3-6 months a piece for a collective total of one year. Between moving, being laid off, and pissing off a client so bad I lost my job, you can say I wasn't that hire able... And after 5 years post graduation and very little clinical experience, you can say I was beyond "stale meat".

But when a unit or facility wants you or needs you, it doesn't really matter what your job record was like. Search extensively and nail the interview. After getting let go from mad last job, I took two years off to have another baby and to contemplate if I really wanted to be a nurse. Then I stumbled on my niche, a job I adore and feel competent at, successful at with a company that needs me, values me, and appreciates me.

A lot of what makes a successful nurse is her confidence in how she approaches the job. She is teachable, learns from her mistakes, and Emanates a sense of command that inspires confidence in her abilities in the people around her. Being a new nurse is tricky because you have to balance a sense of humility with competence. Everyone is expecting a new nurse to fail. So you have to prove you won't fail while proving you have the ability to learn and grow. And to top it off, you need to be a good fit with the social politics of the unit and your facility as a whole.

So in the grand scheme of things, taking a few months off won't have ANY impact on what it takes to actually make a successful nursing career.

Stop panicking. You'll be fine. And don't let your anxiety be known. Older nurses can smell fear and have a penchant for putting the weak through the ringer. It sucks but it makes sense. They are trying to weed people out who will make the job harder for EVERYONE. And it's your job as a new nurse not to be that person who everyone wants to strangle. Quickest way not to pass probation.

And congrats on your new baby!!

chwcbesteph, RN · May 13, 2016

I graduated last year pregnant, failed NCLEX in June, gave birth in August, passed NCLEX in October, got a med-surg job in January.

You will be fine. Take care of yourself and your sweet baby, study for NCLEX, and don't worry. It WILL work out.

1uvakindmom · May 15, 2016

I graduated my LPN program in 2009 when i was 38 weeks pregnant. I had the baby 3 weeks later and studied for the NCLEX when I could. I passed first try when he was 2 months old and got a job when he was 4 months old. It can be done :)

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 15, 2016

Thank you for posting this. Hubs and I were just discussing the possibility of trying for #2 now that graduation is getting close. I'm not getting any younger (37) and I don't want to regret not trying because we were waiting for the right time