Priority: Job vs. Board exam

Hello all. Just graduated from nursing school about 1-2 weeks ago. Lately I've been studying for the NCLEX. However, finding a job has also been on my mind. During nursing school I've always heard that there will always be a job for us but lately I've found that others have been saying it's been pretty hard to get a new grad job. Is that really true? It's really starting to bug me whether I should be applying now and trying to get interviews NOW, even though I haven't taken my NCLEX exam yet. Some of my classmates are already going for interviews and they haven't taken the exam yet. Any thoughts about this? :uhoh21:

In my state (PA) a new grad can work before taking state boards under a temporary license. I graduate in a month and everyone in my class already has a job lined up. I say you should start applying. Sometimes the hiring process can take a month or so.

Good luck!

Does your state allow graduate nurses to practice in a professional capacity (with supervision) prior to taking and passing NCLEX? If so, I would highly recommend working ASAP after graduation, as I personally believe that working as a professional nurse IS the best preparation for NCLEX.

Good luck!

Hello all. Just graduated from nursing school about 1-2 weeks ago. Lately I've been studying for the NCLEX. However, finding a job has also been on my mind. During nursing school I've always heard that there will always be a job for us but lately I've found that others have been saying it's been pretty hard to get a new grad job. Is that really true? It's really starting to bug me whether I should be applying now and trying to get interviews NOW, even though I haven't taken my NCLEX exam yet. Some of my classmates are already going for interviews and they haven't taken the exam yet. Any thoughts about this? :uhoh21:

This has not been true for my friends, but their all male nurses ( they all got hired even before they graduated), so I can't say if this is also true for female nurses.

I am from MN and graduate from a BSN program in mid-may. About half of the people in my class, myself included, have jobs already. And it was sort of difficult to find one. A lot of people applied to 5+ places without getting a job. I've heard it may be easier to get a job a few months after graduation, simply because less new grads are applying then. Most places the job actually starts at the end of the summer, after you've taken and passed your boards. It also depends on whether you want to just be hired onto a floor or if you want to do a New Grad or Residency program.

BUT I don't think there's one right way to do it. You can get a job now or later. Do what's right for you and don't let the pressure of other people getting jobs get to you. In the end you've worked for it, you've earned it and it's YOUR career. Do what's best for you.

Looking for a job and studying for the NCLEX are not mutually exclusive activities. You can, and probably should, do both.

Depending upon where you are hired, you might very well have a couple of weeks of orientation where you do not even have your own pts. At my facility, there is a week of the facility orientation, followed by 6-8 weeks of RN orientation. The first week of RN orientation you do not even see pts; you are given tests, you have to read and take quizzes on the hospital protocols and procedures, you learn how to use the computer system, you learn about the various IV access devices et how to use them, etc. This is an EXCELLENT review for NCLEX.

As some have pointed out, the hiring process can take a while. My advice to you is to start this process sooner than later.

I agree it's not too early (and hopefully not too late!)....competition here is really tight for the specialty units -- ICU, ER, OR, peds, etc. If you're fine with a med/surg position, those don't seem quite so hard to come by....that being said, there is some competition if you have a Graduate Nurse or Fellowship program in mind. Those seem to have specific start dates and many have been filled already.

Additionally for us, I am hearing that in this area the number of new grads is one of the largest in some area and hospitals are hiring their graduating techs, PCTs, CNAs, etc., before the general population of graduates (only fair!).....

We've also been told that a lot of the training, particularly in adult med/surg is very helpful toward taking the NCLEX since that's what the majority of the material covers....

Best wishes!!

I graduate May 10th. I have already interviewed, been offered, and accepated my job where I will work as RN elible until I pass the boards in June.

fear not! I graduate last December and recently went through the same feelings. Not sure what area of Cali your looking for a job in, but CA's job market is a bit different than a lot of states. And if your in an area that there are lots of nursing schools and you want your specialty what Id do is this:

- look everywhere and talk to nurse recruiters at places you want to work, ask if they hire new grads with IPs. (make sure you actually talk to someone, this at least gives them some glimpse of who you are)

-find out application deadlines. If they have continuous hiring or just new grad programs.

-Be aware that depending on your area, some hospitals don't hire people with IPs anymore. Or may hire you but by day one of orientation you must have your RN.

Now I'm not sure what is more nerve racking, getting your RN and feeling like you're not getting any response and you'll never get a job or having a job and knowing you'll get kicked out of your program if you don't pass (a bunch of my friends were in that situation, they all passed though)

However, Worrying about getting a job was stressing me out so much that I let it go and decided to focus the job hunt after I had gotten my RN since so many people in CA mentioned that once I got it, it would be easier to get a job.

If the places you want to work don't have programs that accept applications until later this year, go ahead and breathe and focus on your NCLEX. If you find a job that you'd love and you should apply now. Apply now. Spend a few days collecting information on any job you'd like to have and figure out your timeline. You'll feel a little bit more in control. Also try to stick to the early side of your timeline for applications. Some new grad programs hire people continuously during the application acceptance dates.

PS don't forget to keep track of what you've found out. It's annoying to have to re-look things up. So when you find a hospital you like, keep track of the name, its phone number, who you've talked to, what you like, what you don't, and any other info about it. This will help you keep the hospitals straight. Before I got my job I can't tell you how much time I spent relooking up info before I wised up and started keeping track.

hope that helps. sorry its so long