Graduation, NCLEX, Job Timeframe

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Hello,

I'm currently an ADN nursing student graduating in December. This Summer I am completing a 2-month internship in the ICU and I work as a flex tech with most of my time being spent in ICU.

My question is regarding the time frame of graduation to taking the NCLEX to starting a job. I'd like time to study for the NCLEX and maybe have a month off before diving into a job. I'd really love to work in the ICU.

If I get an offer before I graduate--are the start dates flexible or do they typically want you to start right after you pass your NCLEX?

And how long do you suggest before taking the NCLEX/Studying for it etc.

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You have been in school for a long time.. and you have worked hard during this time.. Following graduation you have a new daunting task of studying for and passing your NCLEX and once that's done.... sure it's only natural that you may want to take a little time off. 

As far as a job offer and flexible start dates --- this is generally very market driven... if you are applying to a new graduate residency program - these are usually clear in that you will need to have taken and passed your NCLEX by a certain date in order to be ready to start by a pre determined date. They normally hire groups of new employees at a time and can't make special accommodations for everyone. 

If you get a direct hire offer from a department manager -- this is going to be dependent on their immediate need. Think about it from the managers point of view - they don't hire to overstaff the department so when interviewing and considering which applicant to hire would you chose one that is ready to start tomorrow or one that tells you that they can start in 2 months?

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Specializes in Medsurg/tele, IMC/PCU.

I had planned on taking some time to decompress between graduation/NCLEX/starting my first job, but it didn't end up working out that way. I ended up passing NCLEX on a Thursday, two and a half weeks after graduation, and I started my job the following Monday. I didn't want to risk forgetting everyone by taking a later test date, and my job required my test date so they could verify my license. There was no discussion about my start date, I was just given one. I think many hospitals only schedule classes for new grads at certain intervals, so you have to be able to work with them. It's not ideal, but I got my first choice, at least!

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Specializes in MSICU.

This is dependent on area and even hospital system. In my area 2 of the hospital systems have set start dates for their new grad residencies which are about 2 months after graduation, and the other 2 hospital systems have rolling start dates for new grads based on when they pass the NCLEX. Also, here in AZ NCLEX dates were generally available about a month out from graduation. My timeline looks like this:

March: New grad residency positions posted by hospitals, began applying

April: interviewed with 3 hospital systems and accepted a new grad residency position in the ICU at my preferred hospital to start in July 

May 12th: graduated

May 21st: received ATT from our BON and scheduled NCLEX

June 23rd: NCLEX

July 19th: Start date at hospital 

Good luck!! 

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@araew2129 thanks for posting your timeline. It really helps put into perspective how this whole process works. I was wondering, does the day you receive the ATT depend on when your school submits grades?

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Specializes in MSICU.

@mc156 yes it does. AZ requires us to apply for our license from the BON, send in our fingerprints for clearance, and pay for the NCLEX from Pearson Vue all before graduating. Then the school sent our verification of graduation and we were given ATT. Because it can take up to 6 weeks for fingerprint clearance, we were instructed to begin this process in early April. I think each state's BON might work this process differently though. 

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