Nurse Internship?

[vlmusicalsound, BSN, RN]

I'm not graduating anytime soon (May 2010) but I'm just a little confused over the whole nursing internship deal. Do new graduates need an internship? Or is it only recommended (if it indeed is)? I was under the impression that I could take the NCLEX when I graduate and get my license without worrying about an internship or anything. Is this the wrong impression? Do I need to seek out an internship when I graduate? Thanks in advance.

[mercedesbattista]

In my program, during our last semester we have Nursing Integration where we have to spend 90hrs with a preceptor. We basically care for patients on our own without the instructor, just the nurse you're following. After that, we graduate & hopefully find a job as a GN.

[nakeia]

You do not necessarily have to get an internship when you graduate. It depends on the employer. There are employers that specify that as a new graduate you have to do an internship. There are employers that only hire new graduates through internships and there are some employers that just hire new grads and they are regular staff nurses that do orientation per unit. I call internships year-long orientations. It is something that would be great to do to ease the transition from student nurse to registered nurse but its not needed as long as you get a good orientation.