Time between Graduation/Clinical and First Day?

Chloe'sinNYNow · Jan 6, 2008

How long was it between your graduation and starting your first job?
How long was it between your last acute care clinical and starting your first job?
Just curious since my last hospital clinical was in May and graduated in August with my first day back in the hospital being Jan. 7th (Flat job market and an extended vacation). I'm a little nervous about having forgotten things and not being prepared. But I suppose everyone feels that way going in.

Rodeo,

sounds familiar. I know I feel quite similar. You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll engage your thought processes. You've retained much more than you can believe. And hopefully the place you are working will understand that nursing schools today really don' t focus so much on the actual technical skills and they should be willing to guide you through them. At this point, your own self-confidence is what you need to maintain and you will be just fine. You already ask very good questions! :specs:

Good Luck and Welcome!

Chloe

DudeNurseRN · Jan 7, 2008

Excellent question. They don't prepare you in school for the fact that chances are if you aren't currently working as an aide in the care facility where you want to work as an RN, then you are going to have a tougher time finding a job. Yeah there is a shortage, but it typically takes a month or two to get a job when you are a new grad. Glad you asked. Always are going to feel unprepared when you first start, but that's what your preceptor is there for, to help guide and mold you.

AprilRNhere · Jan 10, 2008

I started my first day on the floor (after 2 weeks of hospital wide orientation) the second week in Aug.

I had my last clinical day beginning of march, and graduated beginning of May.

I was DYING to start an IV on someone.

Luckily...where I work they didn't expect new grads to know much lol. They actually told me they dislike new grads who come onto the floor acting like they already know everything.