Post Graduation Anxiety!!

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So I graduated this past week from nursing school - Congratulations to all those who have all recently graduated!! :smiley_aa And everyone is saying that's great, you must be so relieved school is over yadayada and actually I feel PETRIFIED!! :eek: Very nervous about the NCLEX and excited BUT even more nervous about actually starting to work. I feel like my anxiety has only INCREASED since graduating. Anyone else feel this way?

Also, I got my authorization to test on friday I'm thinking I will schedule for last week in June (if available) but I'm wondering if this is too soon?? I started Kaplan this week and am also planning to use the sauders review on my own as well but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at this point with starting out and knowing how much to study and what? Thoughts? Suggestions? Anyone??

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

CONGRATs to You! Woohoo!

I graduated on a Thursday, and took my boards the next Thursday. It took forty five minutes or so and the computer totally shocked me by shutting down at 75 questions. I left the testing center, went to my car and cried. I wanted it over and done with b/c it was increasing my stress. So you would think I would be totally like no problem, life is good, right???

Since the boards are over and the results are in ( I Passed) the stress is increasing incrementally day by day for other reasons.

I didn't apply to anywhere to work until late in the Semester b/c I didn't want to jinx anything. I became very cautious b/c I was failed on the very last day of third Semester. So I waited. Besides, I have a PRN gig at the local nursing home. Not a stellar living by any means but, enough to pay the bills on. I was rejected by one hospital for no discernable reason, and the evening position that the NH DON had promised me went to another person. Now she has invited me to apply to work nights after I have repeatedly told her I can not work nights. So I am beating the brush. I want to stay close to home, but I don't have enough experience to fill the positions that are in the local paper and I get the same song from every where I have applied, Nights, and I don't want to work nights. If I were married or had a more stable support network that would be fine, but I don't.

A move would seriously disrupt my son's life, pretty much be the death knell for my SO and I. So, the anxiety increases...

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HOw did you two manage to take your boards so quick? We have to send in our paperwork on 5/30 (appl. for licensure) and then we were told it takes several weeks to get the info from pearson and then a couple weeks longer to get the ATT! We were told it would be about 6-8 weeks to schedule our NCLEX! You are so lucky! I would sit for it today if I could.

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HOw did you two manage to take your boards so quick? We have to send in our paperwork on 5/30 (appl. for licensure) and then we were told it takes several weeks to get the info from pearson and then a couple weeks longer to get the ATT! We were told it would be about 6-8 weeks to schedule our NCLEX! You are so lucky! I would sit for it today if I could.

i went thru minnesota. takes about 3 to 5 days to get an ATT, then you can find a test, but you might have to drive a bit. i drove 100 miles and tested two days after i got my att. 75 questions, easy pass.

check it out. it may be a lot quicker to get licensure by endorsement through your state (at least they'll give you a temporary work permit) if you license through minnesota first. it saved me at least a month of sitting around twiddling my thumbs.

then again, if you can work as a gn, it don't think it matters how long it takes.

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I just sent in my application for license. We can work on a permit for 90 days until taking the boards. It is all a little scary but I think you just have to take one day a time.

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I am confused. Did you apply to the Minnesota board of nursing? I am in NY.

I am getting my limited permit but I can't send any paperwork until my 'official' grad date which is 5/30/06.

Oh I just want to take that darned NCLEX.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

The Director of my Program is required to verify all the graduates. She faxed that to the BON the last day of classes. I sent in my BON stuff about a month before the end of classes. I registered online for my pearson vue stuff so that was same day. So when the ATT came, i was ready. I scheduled it as quickly as I could. The earliest testing date was the next day but I felt that was too soon. so i chose the next thursday. It all worked out just the way I wanted it to.

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I completely understand the post graduation anxiety. I graduated on the 11th of this month, got my att last saturday, and scheduled to take the NCLEX on June 19th. So now I have nothing but time on my hands to worry about what happens if I don't pass? I already have a job in critical care that I start on the 5th of June and has an extensive internship program. I even have to pass a medication exam for the hospital before I am allowed to pass meds. Great more to worry about. Also, being a student nurse is one thing. How will I handle actally being a real nurse and all the responsibility falls on my shoulders, not to mention my liscense (once I get it)! Stress! Stress! Stress! :uhoh21:

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