How Soon after Graduation did you take NCLEX?

Published

  1. When Did You Take the NCLEX?

    • 17
      Same week as graduation
    • 80
      2-3 weeks after graduation
    • 155
      1 month to 5 months after graduation
    • 18
      6 months to a year after graduation
    • 15
      More than a year after graduation

50 members have participated

So Im wondering how soon after graduation did every one take their NCLEX?

Did you take it right away or did you wait a few weeks or even months?

Im wondering because my last final is on April 20th and graduation is on June 23rd (role transition is in between that time). My plan was to use the time that Im in role transition as my NCLEX studying time, and take the NCLEX asap after graduation. Does this even sound doable or am I being overly realistic? Lol, I just want to get this over with and move on with my life!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduated on Aug. 17th of this year. After my 11 months in school I felt so tired and really not well rested. One of my instructors advised that it may be a good idea to take a vacation and collect myself. I found myself in vagas for four days. While I was gone my packet came in the mail that allowed me to sign up for my NCLEX.

When I got back, I signed up for my NCLEX for October 4th. By this time I was feeling more rested and felt it was time to push up on a year's worth of information and study NCLEX questions. I felt like the way I did it worked best for me. On October 5th I found out that I was a nurse.

I think it all depends on your mind set. Do you feel well rested to take your NCLEX? Do you feel that you have had enough time to review information? Do you know your calcuations? Do you know your lab values? Do you feel that you have answered enough practice NCLEX questions that you feel comfortable taking your NCLEX? If yes, go for it.

I believe that there is a waiting period of two weeks before you can sign up. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi there! I was a December grad, studied during January, then took the NCLEX the first week in February. It worked well for me-- I think only you can answer if your plan is realistic or not. How good are you at organizing your time? I spent a good month doing tons of practice questions and brushing up system by system before my exam. If you feel ready, you feel ready :) Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Hi there! I was a December grad, studied during January, then took the NCLEX the first week in February.

This is exactly what I did too. However it was not by choice. Our school drug their feet getting our transcripts out. I would have taken it sooner if I could.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i liked having a washout period after my accelerated program ended, took the summer off and then studied for a month str8, passed! good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduated in July and took my NCLEX in September.

I spent about 4 days per week studying at the coffee shop in preparation.

Worked for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I graduated from LPN school in 2009 and took my boards exactly one month after pinning and passed first time. I graduate from RN school in December and plan to take my boards in January. The sooner the better for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Everybody is different I take mine march 29t 2014 but wk best for me is everyday prayer believe in the power if god I have 2 cause sometimes it's hard to believe in my power

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Graduated in January, took NCLEX beginning of March. I took a few weeks off of studying/reviewing for sanity's sake, but am glad I didn't wait too long to test.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduated in December. Got my permission to test and temporary January 17th. Started work the 20th. Did not take NCLEX until Feb 17th.

If I had to do it all over again I would skip the temp license and just take NCLEX the first chance I could. I think the time I had waiting for my temp and permission to test was more than enough to study and prepare.

Once I started working I was in this miserable place of trying to learn how to finally be a nurse (which sometimes, let's be real, does not look like NCLEX answers) while at the same time keeping the "NCLEX crystal palace" in the back of my mind. I virtually never studied on my days off for NCLEX because I was too busy preparing for ACLS and my Arrhythmia classes I had to take.

The only benefit to this was that by the time I took NCLEX I was like OMG let's just get this over with so I can focus on everything else, more than being scared and nervous. Not having that anxiety made my 75 questions zip by so fast I was stunned when the screen turned blue!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took both my LPN and RN NCLEXs the week after graduation. I jumped on the first test dates available.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduated in 2008 with my BSN RN degree. Because of issues beyond my control I couldn't the NCLEX back then. Now, it is so hard to pass the NCLEX. I attempted it many times in 2013 and fail but I will not give up, because it is my calling. Please, don't wait guys. Do the NCLEX within the first three months after graduation. Because you forget so much after a few months imagine years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion