Plans for After Graduation?

flyersfan88 · Jul 19, 2014

I left for vacation the day after pinning. But I live in NJ where the BON moves slower than a snail and didnt have the option to take the NCLEX quickly. Why would going on vacation mean you care more about that than your career? Thats kind of an absurd statement. Just go enjoy yourself.

mhy12784 · Jul 19, 2014

Personally I would take the NCLEX first

I mean in NY where im from, its 45 days to retake the NCLEX (I think its 45 days for most states, no?)

So IF you failed (statistically you're very unlikely to) you would return from your vacation, and only have 24~ days (or longer if you want) until you can take the NCLEX again. (assuming youre in a state where its 45 days to retake)

And id imagine youd want at least 2-3 weeks to study anyway after being away on vacation for 3 weeks anyway (as I highly doubt youll want to spend your vacation to Europe studying at all)

And there is absolutely no penalty whatsoever or anything for failing the NCLEX (other than having to pay the 200$ fee to take the test)

So it makes a TON of sense for you to take the NCLEX before you go away on vacation, since you could only gain from doing so and not lose anything (except potentially 200$)

Heck what I would do is take the NCLEX about a week~ before going away.If you pass, you can send out a ton of job applications before you go away (since it usually takes quite a while to get called in for an interview, and finding a job as a new grad is tough)

And if you fail,you can just take the NCLEX after your trip, which would basically be exactly the same as if you had opted to just take the NCLEX after your vacation to begin with (albeit 200$ more expensive)

If you were going away for a few days, maybe a week~ then this would be a tough decision. But since youre going away for 3~ weeks, I think its a no brainier to take it before.

The only potential downfall to taking it before is IF you fail (which you're unlikely to), is if youre the kind of person who would be bummed out and depressed your entire trip. But knowing you can just take it when you get back, it really shouldnt.

Eitherway good luck, and take it before !!

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 19, 2014

Personally I would go ahead and take the test while your memories of school are still fresh and enjoy your vacation without having to worry about testing. Why not start reviewing your NCLEX testing now and not wait until you are out of school to do test-prep?

Ketsia_xo · Jul 19, 2014

mhy12784 That's actually not a bad idea!

Dranger · Jul 19, 2014

I'd take a vacation after the NCLEX because it will be weighing on your mind when you are supposed to be relaxing.

RunBabyRN · Jul 21, 2014

I think it depends on when you plan to take the NCLEX. If you want to take it ASAP, take the trip afterward. If you want some extra time to study, take it after school, relax, and then focus on studying when you get home.

smoup · Jul 21, 2014

I have my celebration planned for early Feb and pinning in in mid-December. I plan on taking the NCLEX before my vacation. Will have more to celebrate and less to worry about. I agree with those that say to take the test sooner rather than later while everything is still fresh.

christina731 · Jul 21, 2014

I will be graduating on 12/12/14. I plan on taking the rest of the year off to spend time with friends and family for Christmas, then get cracking after New Years Day. I plan on scheduling my NCLEX on the soonest date possible and I will study in between, then plan a short vacation after ( can't afford much :/ ) unless I'm lucky enough to get a job that soon after graduation. To me, graduation is nothing without NCLEX so why not just keep on going after a short break? I would wait until after NCLEX to take a big vacation. I'm also paranoid and I would worry that something would happen to me and I will be unable to study then I would forget things. But I'm a bit nutty :)