My NCLEX/post-nursing school experience thus far has been one I doubt many people have travelled. I'm a BSN graduate who is now a cop in my local Police Department. Yeah.
The short version: I graduated three years ago, took my NCLEX two months after graduation, failed, freaked out and got the first job I could get off craigslist, never picked up a NCLEX review book again, threw out my results packet as soon as it came in the mail, got married, decided I would try the cop thing, and here I am, two and half years on the street, burnt out and wanting to push the reset button on my career.
The slightly longer version: During school, it was not easy for me. Frankly from day one I was never sure I wanted to be a nurse. My tuition was being paid for by my parents, and I would have felt guilty quitting or doing something else and taking extra time to finish school. Nothing about the hospital appealed to me. I meandered through clinicals and lectures for three years until I finally told my parents how much I really didn't want to keep going on. But they convinced me to tough it out and finish the last year. There were some redeeming moments in school; I made several friends and actually found a lot of interest in the OR and rehab rotations I got to experience. And of course, I found my wife who is a nurse (who failed her first NCLEX actually).
However by the time I graduated, I was so overwhelmed at the rest of nursing that when I failed the first time, I was actually releived more than anything. I was getting married three months later and took the first job I could find working for a delivery company. It paid well, but it wasn't a career. Not long after I got married, I began saving to put myself through police academy. Ironically, I went on two police ride-alongs as part of a "crisis nursing" elective during my senior year. I had the choice to ride with an EMT or a cop, so I chose the cop. I made it through at the top of my class in academy and just got promoted two months ago. But anyone who is married to a cop or has family in law enforcement knows how stressful the job can be. It wasn't all what I expected.
I looked back at my horrible experiences in school and realized most of what I hated was just part of growing up and getting thrown into the deep end of the "real life" pool. I looked at my wife who had her share of stressful days as a nurse, but she had several great co-workers and I know she had fulfillment from her job. After only two and half years as a cop, I was already jaded. I kept seeing the same people on the street I arrested from the previous day. The judges where I work kept letting habitual offenders off the hook. My job got meaningless real quick. To top it off, my medical benefits were cut in half. That was it.
I started studying to take NCLEX again after failing almost three years earlier. I took it for the second time last week and failed. I don't feel the stress of not having a paycheck, but I would like to pass this thing the third time around. My hope is to lay down the badge and get a nursing job that I can find fulfillment in. The lesson to you recent grads is don't give up. I'm three years out of school and STILL trying to pass boards. Hopefully I can pass the third time.
Wow! You have a story right there and good to know that you're out in harm's way during duty. I have to agree to what you shared, danger is the most stressful part of the job. Reality check! No wonder we still have a high demand of police force maybe because nobody is willing to put his/her life on the line and in harm's way just to protect people just like what our soldiers do abroad and how much more if you got a family. It is just too risky. Sad but true.
That's why I agree to wage increase and better benefits for you guys. No price can pay the life of a man when he puts his life on the line, knowing that every day could be his last. Just what that black man said, "These ************ wear that uniform for you boy! To protect you and make the community safe!"
Be proud ucnrs. Because you wear the uniform that only few would dare to wear.
And if that's the case, maybe I should just stick to nursing and let the thought of being a cop just be a wishful thinking. lol
Going back to nursing. Welcome to this site by the way.
Are you really going back to nursing field for good? Well it's been 2 years since we're out of the school of nursing. Maybe you need a refresher course. It could be useful with your situation right now.
yeah godfather I'm going to go back to the nursing field for good I think. I am going to keep my law enforcement certification, because if I allow it to lapse after one year, I would have to go back through basic training. I'd prefer not to get tased, pepper sprayed, and sit through four months of classes again.
I finished nursing school in 2008, got married, failed boards, had a tumor over my LT eye,, has scheduled board don' give money back, took boards after surgery could not see, Janauary 2009 failed, sight got better took board in April 2009, failed. Mother fo sick and died, December 2009, Husband had stroke Aug.,, 2010. I have failed 5 times . But I am not giving up getting ready to start studying again. My problem I see everything out there and want to try it all. So you are not alone. I am a LPN, working fulltime. I don't like computers.
well, I took my third overall attempt this morning, and I checked five minutes ago with the "trick" and it is coming back that I passed. I am hoping that it really works, but I can't let myself believe it until I see it.
the.godfatherXIII
85 Posts
Wow! You have a story right there and good to know that you're out in harm's way during duty. I have to agree to what you shared, danger is the most stressful part of the job. Reality check! No wonder we still have a high demand of police force maybe because nobody is willing to put his/her life on the line and in harm's way just to protect people just like what our soldiers do abroad and how much more if you got a family. It is just too risky. Sad but true.
That's why I agree to wage increase and better benefits for you guys. No price can pay the life of a man when he puts his life on the line, knowing that every day could be his last. Just what that black man said, "These ************ wear that uniform for you boy! To protect you and make the community safe!"
Be proud ucnrs. Because you wear the uniform that only few would dare to wear.
And if that's the case, maybe I should just stick to nursing and let the thought of being a cop just be a wishful thinking. lol
Going back to nursing. Welcome to this site by the way.
Are you really going back to nursing field for good? Well it's been 2 years since we're out of the school of nursing. Maybe you need a refresher course. It could be useful with your situation right now.