Taking a year off after Graduation

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

I agree with the people that say you might have trouble getting hired if you wait. Feel free to use the search bar and type in "stale new grad" or "old new grad" and you will find posts from people who waited to apply for jobs for whatever reason and can't find a job now.

The best way to get better at your skills is to use them. If it's nursing skills that make you really nervous, you will be just as nervous in a year, maybe even more so, because you will have been out of school for so long. You have at least done things relatively recently at this point.

Apply to urgent cares, outpatient surgery centers, the health department... places like that. I had several people who graduated with me work in doctor's offices after graduation, and I had one land a job at the health department. Those would be jobs where you would be dealing with healthier patients, which would hopefully lessen your anxiety a bit.

You really need to think about the financial side of this decision, too. Did you get a full ride or pay in cash for your education? If you took out student loans, those are going to come due whether you work as a nurse or not. You have got to be able to pay your living expenses, pay your student loans, pay your health insurance, etc. on whatever money you're making. I lived on $10.50/hr at one point in time and I struggled. It was not a way I would recommend other people to live.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

Your wish to do other things for a year after NCLEX is straight up avoidance behavior. If you don't immediately start looking for nursing jobs, and you take a non-nursing job, I'm pretty sure you will NEVER look for a nursing job and end up with an unused nursing degree and license.

If that's what you want--not being a nurse--that's perfectly fine, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're just "taking a year off." I suggest that you think about what you really want and pursue that, rather than taking non-nursing jobs you don't want just to avoid nursing.

In other words, move toward a job you like rather than away from a job you don't. Hope that makes sense. (For the record, I'm in the same dilemma.)

nutella, MSN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

Sorry this is so long, but I just really have a lot on my mind and any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you guys in advance.
Hey guys, so I have a bit of a dilemma and I just feel so lost and confused
So I recently graduated last month, and I'm studying for the NCLEX as we speak and am planning on taking it sometime this Summer.
The thing is that during my Nursing school years, especially in my last semester of nursing, I had this terrible anxiety whenever I needed to work with my hands, such as giving medicine through an NG or G tube, and it was so bad to the point where I couldn't even do a glucometer reading because my hands would shake so much, like my hands just have a life of their own and I literally feel like I can't control my nerves and my anxiety over having to do hands-on skills.
It makes me feel really angry and sad, and almost like I can't be a competent nurse because my hands shake so bad. It's embarrassing and frustrating, I hate it.
I think if I had better hands-on skills and wasn't so anxious about nursing skills then I would have been more adamant about doing nursing.
Another thing is that I feel like I don't really have such a huge passion for nursing like my other friends in nursing school did. Don't get me wrong, I love helping people and meeting people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives. And that's one thing that I really like about being a nurse, just being exposed to so many different people.
I am passionate about other things and have a dream about doing things that I actually enjoy, and feel am good at (it doesn't require hands on skills and isn't nursing related at all, it's geared towards the art side), and I'm considering looking into those types of jobs, but they don't pay as much and aren't exactly "professional" and noble jobs like nursing.
I was seriously considering taking a year off after I (hopefully) pass the NCLEX, and try to do some other less stressful jobs such as working at a bookstore or finding some work that I might possibly enjoy more than nursing, and that doesn't require much hands-on stuff.
However, I've heard from people that I wouldn't be able to easily get a nursing job if I wanted to return to nursing and get a job as a nurse, if I took such a long break (1 year) after finishing nursing school.
Would any of you guys have any advice or life tips or really just any thoughts about my situation? I'm just extremely lost and in a whirlwind of confused emotions right now.
Thanks again for taking the time to read my long post!! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :)

If your problems are anxiety based, any avoidance will only make it worse.

There is not need to jump into an acute crazy setting which is not for everybody to begin with.

There is nothing wrong with applying to nursing jobs in a setting that will allow you to get some experience in a less acute setting. If you do not wish to work in a hospital on med/surg how about longterm care or acute longterm care? If you take a full year off you will have problems finding a job.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

Bad idea all around. Avoidance of an issue only compounds it.

Be a nurse or don't. But if you choose to proceed in nursing, you must do it now. Speak to your doctor about your anxieties. Perhaps counseling and/or pharmaceutical aid will be helpful.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

Taking a year off ...would equal throwing away all the work you put into your education.

Seek treatment for your anxiety disorder. In the meantime , start applying for anything and everything. You might find a position that does not require hands-on, but that will only delay the fact you need to deal.

With treatment, you CAN get through this.

How did you get through your clinical rotations? Did not any of your instructors pick up on this?

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 6, 2016

Do you believe that particular anxieties can be overcome if faced head-on? Do you believe that passion is really that important?

Have you ever had to try to support yourself financially on a low-paying/unskilled job?

Give nursing a chance.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

My D is a 4th year PhD student at the #2 ranked program in the nation, specializing in anxiety disorders. What they do for fears such as yours is called "exposure therapy."

Avoidance is the opposite of what is called for.

You would probably benefit from professional help. If you don't address your anxiety, you've just wasted several years and who knows how much money. Don't go down without a fight.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

I concur with the majority of the respondents so far...

I will also echo the sentiment that you might never work as a nurse if you take a year off. In this competitive day and age, employers often avoid hiring candidates who avoided obtaining practical work experience in their professions.

Why hire a stale old grad RN when thousands of new grad RNs will be flooding local employment markets by the time you actually are ready to work? The new grad RNs who want to work promptly after graduation and NCLEX are seen as more desirable than someone who waited a year or longer.

This is just some food for thought. Consider this decision carefully.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

I have severe anxiety...one of the things that helped me get through my anxiety was WORKING through it.

When I entered a new speculate and was off orientation, I worked overtime to fully immerse myself-kind of life "exposure therapy" so that I can become comfortable in the environment.

I used to be a huge expert in avoidance, especially because my anxiety was hugely due to PTSD; I realized I didn't want to live this way, and wanted to do something about, got mad, made a plan, and went through with it-best decision ever.

Take heed what's being suggested to you; take a deep breath and dive in; and don't forget to not give up until you find a fit in this business, either.

Best wishes.

~Shrek~ · Jun 7, 2016

I do not think taking a year off after graduation will completely destroy your chances of getting a job. Many people, at least in my area, take over a year to get their first nursing job. I got my current job like 16 months after graduation with a history of job hopping, and people here told me I ruined my life lol, but I am okay and working. Plenty of people take over a year to get a job, and are just fine.

The problem is that you don't really have a reason besides anxiety. You won't be spending that year job hunting or volunteering abroad or something that would make sense to employers.

Instead, why not take a month off, then apply for jobs? Can you spend a month just resting and then begin the job hunt?

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 7, 2016

I do not think taking a year off after graduation will completely destroy your chances of getting a job. Many people, at least in my area, take over a year to get their first nursing job.

Except that OP will still be a year behind if she takes a year off. And who is going to want to look at the resume of a stale grad? It's not like waiting a year means she'll be handed a job when she applies- she'll still need to go through all of those applications and interviews and maybe take another year (if not more) to find a job. She needs to get out there, pound the pavement, and work through her anxiety issues. Avoidance is not the way to go.