Immediately after nursing school travel?

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Hey guys,

I am currently enrolled in a Nursing program in TN, but I have ambitions to travel the world. I actually purchased a sailboat with my fiance and we live on it here saving money. Our plan was to set sail for a few years off after I graduate, and be able to come back with a nursing degree. My question is....is this even possible? I fully realize the best option is to work at whatever opportunity I can get, but would I be able to come back with a nursing degree or is their a stipulation that you have to work so so hours?

Thanks in Advance.

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Specializes in NICU.
and be able to come back with a nursing degree... but would I be able to come back with a nursing degree

What do you mean by "come back with a nursing degree"?

Taking a few years off after graduation without starting work soon after graduation will put you at a big disadvantage. Employers realize as a new grad that you have no experience, but you have recent education from nursing school. Your problem is that your education will be 2 yrs old without having any experience to offset the gap of 2 yrs.

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Sorry I should have made that more clear. What i meant was be able to come back and land a job essentially. Or is that looked down upon to take time off after school. I'm talking in the range of 2 years or so

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Employers will see your absence as a lack of commitment.

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I agree with others, it will be hard.

I started nursing at a time when hospitals were begging for nurses. A fellow student took a year off after graduating with her BSN. She had a hard time getting a job. She worked in a skilled nursing facility for a few years until she could get a job in acute care. (Not that there is anything wrong with working in a skilled nursing facility, it just wasn't where she wanted to work, it was the only place who would hire her.)

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Sorry I should have made that more clear. What i meant was be able to come back and land a job essentially. Or is that looked down upon to take time off after school. I'm talking in the range of 2 years or so

I would wait until you get that 1 year of experience at least.

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Specializes in NICU.

Look at it from an employers position. You have multiple new grad applicants. Everyone is fresh from NCLEX and nursing school except you. Your nursing knowledge is 2 yrs old. You spent 2 yrs traveling the world instead of committing to your new career. In their mind, you don't need the job if you can afford to travel the world for 2 yrs. Even if they do give you the job, your skills are 2 yrs old. They would rather give the job to one of the many applicants that is hungry to start their nursing job and is an eager learner, not someone that could care less about starting their nursing career. A month, maybe, but 2 yrs is not acceptable without a valid excuse (even then it will be a struggle).

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A lot of us do manage to travel the world. We just do it in bits and pieces, using the money we earn at our jobs instead of all in one trip.

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