acceleratednurse

Yep you definitely can. You can sit for the exam anywhere in the country. A student I had here in California did it in Hawaii while on vacation. Just keep in mind that the process might take a long time time in Cali, so you might need to wait a while to take the test if you go through Cali. Things might have changed since 2022, but while I graduated mid August and took the test for the NE license on Sept 7th in California. A classmate of mine didn't get her ATT until Oct 4th. We applied around the same time but she did it through CA. Just research what the timeline is now.

I don't think that applies to you because you will be getting your nursing degree from US nursing program.

I'm trying to figure out if I hate my job because I'm a clueless new grad and a wimp and should just tough it out and stick with it until it gets better or if I should leave because my place of employment sucks. Would anyone be so kind as to give me their two cents? Background: I'm a new grad (7 months). My interview was online because I was out of state going to nursing school. The manager who interviewed me was great (she still is a sweetheart. I love her as a person) and I was promised a 12 week orientation including a nursing residency program with classes every Friday. Long story long, the place is a hot mess. The lack of organization started on day one. No access to the charting system, badges that don't work, the classes never happened, not one. I didn't get to be with my assigned preceptor until week two because he was already precepting someone else. And due to schedule miscommunication, I ended up a total of 7 preceptors during my 9-week orientation. My orientation was cut short as soon as I went to night shift after week nine (never got oriented on night shift). Floating is also an issue. We are floated on a weekly basis, sometimes two out of our three shifts. I'm constantly being put in these situations I believe are unsafe. I feel like I didn't get the training I needed and that I was lied to about their nurse residency program. Am I overreacting? Is this normal? Is most of my anxiety just because I'm a new grad? I'm always on edge. I dread going to work. I can't sleep the day before my shift. It's been seven months and although I feel the anxiety has gotten slightly better, I still dread work every day. And recently have been wishing I get sick or break a leg or something, so I don't have to go back there. This is what has really gotten me to start feeling like maybe I don't have to tough it out any longer and maybe it's time to try to find something else. What are your sincere thoughts? Don't hold back. Ps.: I know this is super long and honestly I'm taking the opportunity to vent. So the next few paragraphs are extra info in case you are interested in knowing more. When I say the place is a mess, it's a mess. Vital signs machines are few and far between and they are all so old the batteries won't charge so you have to wheel them in the room and plug them in immediately. When we have a lot of post ops, we have to cut short the post of vital signs because they need the machine for someone else. Broken beds, nutrition room and linen carts not stocked. WOWs (aka COWs) that are slow and loose charge quickly, and often log you out while you are in the middle of a task. We don't have enough IV pumps or channels. Our OR was closed for two weeks because, while preparing for a spine surgery, when they opened the instruments there was, and I quote, "fussy stuff on it" which made them realize they were having issues with sterile processing. Most of the medsurg staff are step down nurses who are being floated. I was floated on my third day on my own (while I was still supposed to be on orientation, mind you) to a unit I was never oriented on. I was already getting report when the day shift charge rudely told us to stop because it was my turn to be floated. When I arrived to the unit, I found out we didn't even have a charge because the only charge that night was in charge for both medsurg 1 and 2 and she'd be upstairs at medsurg 2 if I needed her. I know these issues can be part of the hospital life, but my time is often wasted trying to find supplies or equipment and it drives me crazy. And time, when you are a new grad, is precious. I have worked at another hospital in the area as a tech and at least I know they were stocked and had equipment that worked. It's a community hospital (not a trauma center like where I'm at now), but at least I feel like there I'd be better supported and get enough training. Not to mention the pace there would be slower and maybe fit me better as an anxious new grad.

IMHO your best option is remote work. I know new grads who were able to snag one. I think you can too. Figure out where to look and what you can do to get that knowledge or experience. Health Coach certification or something telehealth related. I'd definitely start trying to veer my career into that direction. I know CVS hires remote nurses. Go to pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies career websites and apply regardless of having experience or not. It doesn't hurt. Best of luck and congrats on the baby.

I took the NCLEX in California (meaning I sat for the exam in California), but for a single state Nebraska license. After I got the NE license I endorsed it in California. Like the other poster said above, you can only get a multi-state license if you are a resident of NE which I was not. So I got the single state license which they allow non residents to get. If cost is not a problem for you, I recommend applying for a single state NE license. You can state in NE to sit for the exam or return to CA (or go to NY or Hawaii if you want. The NCLEX is a national exam, you can sit for it anywhere in the country. You do not have to take the exam in the state you are getting licensed). It will be much faster. Let me know if you have any more questions.

I did pre reqs in California. I did not have any trouble with that.

I feel you. I've been off orientation for a month and I'm starting to be decent with time management and keeping up with my patients. I'm glad you changed preceptors. I keep hearing, stick it out for 6 months to a year. I know it sounds hard, but try your best until then and reevaluate. I'm struggling with the same right now. You are not alone. But DO NOT let anyone rush you. Take the time you need to take to be safe. Practice will come with time. I always tell myself slow is smooth, smooth is fast (someone famous said it) because when I try to rush I make a mistake and have to do it again. You are doing good. It sounds very typical of a new grad to me. Best of luck!

I feel exactly the same way. I've been in my position (neuro PCU) for a little over 3 months. I dread work constantly and my days off a just passing time and dreading going back. I hate it. I'm not new to health care. I was a dialysis tech for 3 years and a CNA at a ICU and MS/Tele for two and I have never hated going to work so much. Everyone keeps telling me to push through to the 6 month mark, that it will feel better. Honestly, I tell myself that every day, but the more I work the more I feel like bedside nursing is not for me. To top it off, night shift has been a huge struggle. I want to try and stick out for a year and maybe get chemo certified and get a job at an infusion clinic. Anyways, I don't have any word of advice. I just want to let you know you are not alone. Actually, I used to think that NICU was my dream job, but I was unable to get a NICU new grad job and now with how badly I'm adjusting to night shift, I don't think NICU will ever happen for me. Do you mind if I ask you what is it that makes you think bedside nursing is not for you? Best of luck, regardless!

Thank you so much for your answer. I appreciate the POV of someone in your position. I ended up applying because I figured this is the chance I've been hoping for and it might not come again. What you said about wondering "what if" really stuck with me. I haven't heard anything back yet, but if I don't get the position at least I'll know I tried. Thanks again!

I'm a new grad (graduated in August) and I've always been interested in working in the NICU. Unfortunately, because of COVID we were never allowed to go to the NICU during nursing school (even though, I tried many times), so the reality is that I like the idea of working in NICU, but I don't really know much about it. I'm really interested in critical care and I enjoy neonates. I like working with new parents and all the education that comes with it. Once I graduated, I tried to find a job in a NICU. I live in a small town and there were no new grad NICU or L&D positions open, so I took a job in Step Down with hopes to transfer some day. I've been orienting for two months and I'll be done by the end of December. I like Step Down as crazy as it can get. I love my coworkers, and I'm doing well (as can be) in my orientation. However, my hospital (the only hospital with a NICU in my area) has opened a new grad NICU position. I really want to apply, but at the same time I feel it's unprofessional to bail on the department I'm currently in so soon. I'm afraid it won't look good if I try to transfer right now, and I'll be letting down my manager and coworkers. But I am also afraid I won't have another opportunity to get a NICU position if I don't do it now. Especially it being a new grad residency position, considering I have no experience. I feel very conflicted. I was hoping you guys could given me your honest insight on this and help me objectively look at it. Thanks you and don't be afraid to lay it on me. I like honesty.

I'm sorry you are going through this. It does sound like this a petty unit. I'd look for a different job if possible. Maybe complete a year and move on. I came here because I'm a new grad still on orientation and I feel like I'm failing terribly, and I wanted to see if other people had the same situation. Yesterday, one of my patients temp was 38 and I didn't give him Tylenol and the nurse precepting me (not my actual preceptor) was not happy. The temp was 38 on the dot and he said he felt fine and even asked me to close the blinds because the sun was hitting him and he was hot. So I didn't think he needed anything. But anyways. My actual preceptor is great, but we do have a few nurses (especially the charges) who have that behavior. On my third day on the floor I was giving crushed meds and I put some pudding in a little med cup before giving it to the patient like I was taught by another nurse. The charge was watching me because my preceptor was on break and she made a big deal about it being a waste of time in front of the patient and even took it out of my hands and force fed it to my patient. Later, I saw her complaining to my preceptor about it when he came back. At the end of the day, he actually told me about her complaint and said that he also prefers to do it the way I did it and to ignore her. Yesterday, I asked another charge how to print a requisition for a sputum collection, she looked at me as if I was asking how much was 2+2 and even rolled her eyes. Thankfully another nurse overheard and offered to walk me through it. It's sad that these nurses have soured up so much. Luckily, in my unit they are few and far between since most older nurses have retired during COVID. But it scares me that they are supposed to be my resource when I'm on my own in a few weeks. Hearing your story really scares me. It sounds like you are in a place with a terrible culture. I honestly don't think it's you. Take some of the criticism and try to improve but if your don't feel supported, move on. Best of luck!

Hi, I don't know long it takes in SC, but if it's any faster than California and money is not a problem for you, that's what I would do. One of my classmates also from California decided to get her license through CA instead of NE and she just got her ATT last week (mid October). I personally did not want to wait that long to test. And yes you can sit for the NCLEX anywhere in the US.

Hi guys, We all know getting licensed in California (CA) takes forever. If you, like me, went to nursing school in a different state and is wondering if it's better to get your license in that state and then endorsing in CA, read this. My experience was in Nebraska (NE), so I can't speak for other states. I'm writing this post because I searched for this information and couldn't find it anywhere. Now, I have lived it and I am here to put this information out there in hopes to help someone. First caveat, it's going to be more expensive, so first figure out what is your priority time vs money. On that note, NE waves its fees for veterans, their spouses and family of active military. It also waves fees for people under 24yo. I went to school in NE after being frustrated trying to get in Nursing School in CA. My graduation date was August 20th. I sent in my application (very simple, paper based application) June 28th (however, I have friends who didn't send there application until beginning of August and they got their ATT just two days after me). On the application, I chose to get a single state license (in order to get a multi state license you need to be a resident of NE and I was not). NE state was amazing, within two weeks I got an e-mail from them confirming that I understood that in order to practice in CA I had to endorse my license. There responses were super fast, and even before I sent in my application, anytime I sent an e-mail asking a question, I would get a response in 10 min at the most. They confirmed over e-mail that my application was good and they were just waiting for my transcripts. The transcripts were sent out on August 21st. On August 24th, I got my ATT. I scheduled my exam for Sept 7th (in CA) at 8am. I finished the exam at 1030am and at 1251pm I got an e-mail from the state of NE congratulating me on passing the NCLEX and the number of my license. SAME DAY. I applied for endorsement in CA on Sept 9th, did my fingerprints on Sept 11 and got my endorsed license on Oct 5th. The whole CA deal with fingerprints and application for temp license cost me $525. I made the mistake of paying for the temporary license that I never got. They just straight up gave me the license almost one month later. A friend of mine who is a veteran got her temp license three days after application. This is my experienced. Time was more important than money for me because I had a job lined up and I didn't want to wait too long to take the NCLEX. I think it was worth it and the only thing I would change is I wouldn't apply for the temp license in CA. Let me know if you have any questions. Best of luck!