New Grad Nurse Gap Year?

[oaktree39]

Hello!

I am currently in an Accelerated BSN program that will finish at the end of the month. I am thinking of doing a year of service before I enter clinical practice, and I wanted to hear people's thoughts. My main question is, would this affect hiring opportunities the next year if I do not enter clinical practice immediately? How would this look to hiring managers and people involved in hiring decisions?

I would still take the NCLEX as soon as possible in August or September, depending on when my school gives the authorization to test. I would then apply for jobs/nursing residencies in March or April of next year and hope to start working in July or August of the same year.

For the year of service, I would be working with a group that addresses poverty and homelessness. It is a relationship-first model that helps increase the self-esteem and self-efficacy of people experiencing homelessness. As a volunteer, I have personally met and seen people impacted who get into housing, go sober, and reconnect with estranged family because of this.

Here are some of the benefits I think this would give me: 

• resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity 
• people skills like de-escalation and situational awareness
• a broader and more compassionate view of marginalized groups, as a lot of people experiencing homelessness are immigrants, have mental illnesses, etc.

Do you think this is a good idea? Or do you think I would be putting myself at a disadvantage for the future? Would it be better with certain specialties/floors? If this makes a difference, I am a man in my early 20s.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

Please get a nursing job ASAP after graduating.  You need to start working right away so that you don't forget what you learned in nursing school.  It is also strange that you do not want to start earning $ ASAP after graduating.  If you are interested in working with homeless people, there are nursing jobs that will allow you to do this.  You can also work and volunteer part-time.  Get solid nursing experience, knowledge, and skills first!  You can always take a sabbatical after that.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

I also wanted to add that taking a year off after nursing school will likely put you at a disadvantage when looking for a job.  Employers will be concerned that you have forgotten what you learned in school.

Generally, most new grad nurses work in floors like Med-Surg, where they practice and develop their nursing skills.

The type of volunteering you are considering would be great if you want to be an LCSW or perhaps a psych RN, but it is still best to get your nursing career underway ASAP after graduating.  Even for being a psych RN, many employers want someone with general RN experience.

You can still do some volunteering before starting work.  After studying for and passing the NCLEX, it will take some time for your RN license to be approved and then you will need to find a job.  During that period (RN license processing and job search), you could also do some volunteering.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

One year after graduation  will likely disqualify you from most residency programs. 

New grad status is a privilege that is recognized for a year. 

After that, you'll be an RN with no experience. So just be sure to start working within that first year :) Good luck! 

 

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Get a job ASAP.  Many nurses work with the homeless population (expecially in psych) and addictions nursing lets you work with both populations.  I'm old-timey and believe in the power of a year in med-surg to start. The homeless and the addicts are widely distributed on the units. However, many people here go straight into a specialty and are happy with their choice.  

[Patricia Ordnung]

I think it would serve you better to go right to work as a nurse.  There are so many skills you can only learn by doing.  Trust me when I say that you'll learn "resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity" pretty darn fast once you're actually working as a nurse!  

[Ernest]

Nursing school cannot prepare you to become a nurse in independent practice. You get the information and many of the tools you need to LEARN to become an independent nurse.  But the real learning comes when you start working.  The type of nurse specialty you will have begins with your first job. If you do not get a job starting out, you will have a hard time convincing someone to give you a fresh start when you lost the stuff you got in nursing school by taking a year off. 

[Sandy O]

I have to agree with the majority — taking a year off after graduating from nursing school may not be the best idea. It seems like you have a great future in community health, based on your interests in helping marginalized groups. At this stage in your nursing career, I think it is more important to capitalize on what you have learned in nursing school and apply it through practice and experience. Nursing is a lifelong career, and graduating school is just the beginning. You will continue learning through practice, preceptorship, mentorship, and more. Consider taking a break from nursing after gaining some experience in various specialties and finding your niche.