Not sure what to do

[MustLoveDogsHTX]

My school pushes us to apply before we are graduated and before taking the NCLEX which I understand is due to a nursing shortage, but is this common practice all over?

I have been applying to New Graduate Nurse Residency Programs and since the med center is super competitive I have not gotten any interview requests and many rejection emails already. So is a residency required or when one applies it can just be to any position? I am feeling more and more like a loser and incompetent, everyone says it is okay that we all will get jobs eventually we are going to graduate in May with a BS with a major in nursing. I am passing but I don't have honor student grades, I am a nursing student with anxiety issues, should I stop applying until I have my NCLEX then my grades won't matter as much? With each rejection email I feel more and more like a failure and think to myself what should I do? Maybe I am just confused about the whole process and overthinking everything. Help!?!

[SunshineNRainbows, BSN, RN]

Hey, also a struggling soon to be new grad in HTX, and you're right about TMC being super competitive! There's so many schools! But, it's ok to not follow the path everyone else is following... if it helps your anxiety to take a break and focus on NCLEX, it's ok. There's another cycle at the end of summer for October residency cohorts at most of the hospitals, but also... it's ok to look outside the med center. It may not be the fancy job at the big hospital, but the smaller hospital with a tight knit group of employees will still get your foot in the door. Also, I've heard a few people planning on applying to dialysis centers for interim jobs if they don't get acute care positions in this cycle! Hope you find what you are looking for, good luck!!!