Takin NCLEX soon, but offered a part time job?

[Sweetie]

Hello! So I am just about to graduate with my BSN degree. I am currently completing the last few assignments, finishing up senior practicum, and waiting for my authorization to test. I hope to take my exam before August.

I however, am very conflicted. I was recently offered a part time weekend job position to start soon. I think it would be some good money and a distraction for me when I am not studying for NCLEX.. which I plan on doing during the weekdays. But I am not sure if I should commit to a job at the moment. I am young, live with helpful parents, but do like to have my own independence. 

In addition, I was also invited to a short weekend family vacation the week after I finish school, which I thought would be fun to go to before I dig down into NCLEX preparation. I am not sure about this either. 

What are your thoughts? How did you prepare for your NCLEX? Did you study 24/7 round the clock, or did you allow yourself time to breathe/work/spend time with loved ones?

[Shan, RN]

I'm about halfway through my program, so not quite at the NCLEX point yet. But drawing from my general experience with studying and going through nursing school while simultaneously working, I would take a look at how demanding the job will be on your energy levels and motivation. For example, I was working as a bartender while doing my pre-reqs. The utter loathing I had for my job, and the exhaustion it caused, bled over into my study habits. Now, however, I work as the maintenance coordinator for an aviation company, and I love my job. I truly believe that this contributes to my vastly improved motivation to not only study, but study well. My grades are better and I don't get burned out anymore.

Studying 24/7 is generally not good for most people. It wasn't for me. I need breaks. Examine yourself and your nursing school experience with tests; it'll tell you a lot about what sort of study regimen is best for you. If it were me, I'd absolutely go on that short vacation. I retain information better when I'm not constantly trying to force it into my brain. My approach is to treat studying like a hobby; give a considerable amount of time to it, but don't let it rule your life. That line of thinking sometimes makes me excited to open my textbook. Of course, the NCLEX is a bigger deal than a unit exam, but I'd wager that the same logic applies. And you could have completely different experiences/needs than I do, but this is what I can say on the matter ?

Best of luck to you!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I treated NCLEX like I was training for a marathon. I did Kaplan's Q Trainer and had the program give me a 50 or a 100 question test each day. I chose the option not to repeat questions that I had previously gotten correct on other tests. Once a week I would do a 200 question test. After 100 questions, I wanted the test to be over, so I forced myself to endure a 200 question test as a worst case scenario for NCLEX test day. I did that for the five weeks between graduation and test day. I was pretty confident that I was going to pass NCLEX, but I would have rather studied more than I needed to instead of not studying enough and not pass the first time.