I really need advice about new grad positions!

I am going into my 3rd and final year of nursing and I'm not sure about whether I want to get a new grad position or travel next year..

What are the risks of having a year off after finishing my degree instead of going straight into work? I am torn between what my heart wants and what my head tells me I should do

Use your head to solve arguments between your heart and your head.

It may take you a while to get a job. Can you travel while you are waiting for job offers to come in? I also think that you should take your NCLEX as soon as you graduate.

It's a lot of hard work to get through nursing school, and it'd be a shame to find yourself unemployable after a year without of any type of nursing experience.

Definitely take your NCLEX right away. I would put in applications and see what happens.... if nothing comes us, maybe do a little traveling but I would caution against taking a whole year off- getting a job can be difficult, and if you go a whole year without working, you will no longer be eligible for the positions that are marketed specifically to new grads, and you won't have any experience to make you marketable for other positions.

Grown ups don't really get to take a year off of work, generally speaking!!!!

If you want to take some time off, see if you could do work with "medical missions" or something. Some new grads do take a long time to get positions (a year looking isn't unheard of). If you have reliable internet service and a cell phone, you could do both - but you should be available for interviews. The job hunt could be long and grueling, and you'd probably regret not going (if you don't find a job). If you go, and you have a difficult time finding a job later, you'll (possibly) regret going. Double edged sword. Travel is great, if you can take a whole year off to do it, I'd do it. But it will make it harder to get a job with no experience (and as you can see, many people would find a year off as frivolous).