New Grad Nursing Journey Graduation -> NCLEX -> Landing First Job

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Hi Guys,

I spend hours on allnurses looking for advice, tips and research since the start of my nursing career so I wanted to come back and share my experience so that I could help someone else who might be in my "old" shoes .

To start I attended an accelerated nursing program in New York, this was my second bachelors degree and the program lasted 18 months.

My graduation date was 1/31/2017. After graduation passed I received my ATT to sit for the NCLEX exam on 2/9/2017, That day I scheduled my NCLEX exam for 3/9/2017. So I spent that month immersing myself in UWORLD and other resources. I found that reviewing content was useless to me. So i took about 3 weeks and completed the strategy Question bank. That was my biggest resource and biggest "weapon". I broke the test into 75 questions each and tried to do as many as I could a day.

3/9/17- The NCLEX was probably the most frustrating I've exam I took to date, lol. I just wanted to get out of there after two hours so it took everything within my to remain focused. I spent a total of 4 Hours in the exam. The test is not like any test I've taken yet, every other question was SATA and I felt that I spent more time ELIMINATING wrong answers rather than confidently knowing the right answer. Anyway, Best advice for NCLEX takers is to prepare to spend 6 hours taking 265 questions. Obsessing over a 75 question test is a waste of time because the exam is PASS or FAIL....******* No employer cares how long or short your test was *******

3/11/17 - Pearson Vue Notification - PASSED!

3/20/17- Name/ Licenses # appears on NYS Board of Nursing

I pretty much decided I wanted to work for Northwell Health Systems in either Long Island Jewish (New Hyde Park) or North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset) so these are the only two hospitals I applied to.

3/23/17- Submitted Applications to both Hospitals

3/27/17-3/28-17- Interviewed at BOTH facilities for two different positions!

3/29/17- Accepted a Position with NSUH!!!!!

About the interview: I met with the Nurse Manager who was very kind! She asked me different behavioral questions about how I would react in certain situations, she asked me why I would be the ideal candidate, and we actually spent time talking, the interview went very smooth and I felt a genuine connection with the unit.

I am THRILLED to start my nursing career at this facility and unit in particular where I will be trained in a specialty. I believe GOD allowed all of this to happen and I give him thanks in everything.

Overall my journey from Nursing School to my First Career Position has been a long road, but I am ecstatic to see where it leads me next! Any questions feel free to PM me...Hopeful Students and Job Seekers , remain persistent! your dream career is waiting on you!

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Specializes in OB.

Congrats!! Now the real learning begins!! I graduated 6 mo before you and I feel like nursing school just is the beginning of all the things you need to learn nursing wise. Hope you love your job!

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Thanks girl !!! I truly hope I love it too, I'm excited

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Congratulations!!! Best wishes with your career!!!!

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Thank you !!!

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Congrats!! I graduate in a week. So you would say that answering practice questions is what should be focused on instead of content? I've heard a few others say this but since you took it so recently, I value your input.

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Hey, I was wondering if you can PM me, so you can tell me more about your nclex experience and the whole interview process with Northwell?

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