Timeline for graduation, NCLEX, and 1st RN Job

BSN1415 · Jun 2, 2015

I am curious to know too! Which state did you take your boards in? I am taking them in PA. It's a relief to me to see you were able to schedule your test so quickly because I want to have a test date before July (hopefully!!)

Here's where I am at:

4/16 paid BON and submitted application

5/27 graduated and school sent graduation verification

Now I am waiting/ constantly refreshing my email for ATT!

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2015

Mine was a year ago, so don't remember all dates

April last year - Started applying for new grad residency position positions

5/04 - Graduated Nursing School

Had to wait about 3 weeks for transcript so I could send my paperwork to BON for ATT

2 days after walking it in- Received ATT and scheduled NCLEX for 3 weeks later

6/17 - Took the NCLEX (265 questions in 5.5 hrs, studied for 5 weeks)

6/17 did the pvt (the old version where you didn't need to put in CC) and got good popup

6/19 - Received quick results PASSED!

6/20 BON posted license

I had been applying on line since just before grad and got no interviews. So somewhere around July 20, took my resume into the NM where I did my practicum, she called a week or so later for an interview scheduled two weeks out.

8/13 Interview for my dream job

8/14 offered the position and accepted

And she lived happily ever after.... :-)

cocoa_puff · Jun 2, 2015

I am curious to know too! Which state did you take your boards in? I am taking them in PA. It's a relief to me to see you were able to schedule your test so quickly because I want to have a test date before July (hopefully!!)
Here's where I am at:
4/16 paid BON and submitted application
5/27 graduated and school sent graduation verification
Now I am waiting/ constantly refreshing my email for ATT!

Hi BSN1415, I'm still a nursing student and I made up the example above :) I hope I will be able to schedule my test early! Thanks for commenting!

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jun 2, 2015

Hi BSN1415, I'm still a nursing student and I made up the example above :) I hope I will be able to schedule my test early! Thanks for commenting!

You will be at the mercy of your school on some of it. The BON won't process anything until it has all of your transcripts/paperwork from your school. I paid for everything Dec 12, got my temp license Dec 24, and my approval to test in Christmas Day (Merry Christmas)!

I scheduled and took my test in Feb 7th. It was the first Saturday available and I didn't want to take a day off work to take it. Plus, since I worked 40+ hours a week, I wasn't studying 8 hours a day like some people. I would study 3 or 4 hours after working all day.

I passed on my first attempt with 110 questions. I had a job lined up before I graduated and started that as soon as I got my temp license.

Newbie_RN17 · Jun 2, 2015

3/15 started applying for jobs and submitted application to BON

4/15 started interviewing

5/1/15 accepted first RN position on a med-surg floor

5/15/15 graduation and pinning

Edited to Add: 5/23/15 got ATT

5/26/15 day one of new grad position as RN Applicant

6/2/15 Took NCLEX (75 questions, results TBA!)

ShaeMarie · Jun 3, 2015

4/6/15: Finished Practicum/Applied

5/8/15: Graduation

5/10/15: Submitted Application to GBON

5/15/15: Received ATT

5/18/15: Accepted ER Position

5/22/15: NCLEX-75 Questions, 1.5 hours. I studied for 2 days prior and the morning of, but I wouldn't recommend my cram plan to anyone who doesn't always do things that way.

5/24/15: Passing Quick Results

5/27/15: RN License Issued by GBON

6/1/15: Started Job

7/1/15: Will begin RN-BSN Program

missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2015

Started applying for jobs in April. Did a min of 10 applications/day

Job interview 1: 4/20

Job interview 2: 4/29

Job interview 3: 4/30

Had 2 job offers from the same facility: 5/1

Graduation: 5/8

Application process for NCLEX: 5/10-5/14 (There are many parts to this. ATT was given 24 hours after you pay for NCLEX)

Start date at job: 6/1

NCLEX: scheduled for next week

n.igmatic1 · Jun 3, 2015

11/10/14- Interviewed for job

11/14/14- Offered Job

12/11/14- Graduated

12/17/14- Paid for BON application, temp license and NCLEX

12/25/14- Rec'd ATT

12/29/14- Rec'd temp license

1/5-1/7- Hurst Review

1/12/15- Began job in CICU step down

2/7/15- NCLEX; 75 questions

2/8/15- passed per my state's BON website

After doing Hurst, I studied the supplied information after work, and did the 6 practice tests. I also had a Kaplan review book and went over the section on how to break down questions. From the time I went in to test until I dragged my weary, befuddled self out was about an hour and a half. That includes the 5 minutes that it took for me to muster the nerve to click "BEGIN TEST", and the several minutes I stared at what I hoped was not the "Blue screen of death" after I clicked my answer to the 75th question.

I needed a bit of time away from school after starting a new career, and I plan on beginning either RN-BSN Bridge in the Fall or applying for MSN (since I have a previous degree). Currently I am weighing pros and cons of each.

buttercupp85 · Jun 3, 2015

Okay I'm still in the middle of this but I'll play.

Feb: started applying for jobs.

Apr: 4 interviews.

Apr 30: offered job

May 15: all paperwork turned in for nclex licensure

May 20: 5th interview

June 12: will graduate.

June 23: interview at my dream hospital.

Att: ???

Nclex: ???

I'm still interviewing but pretty sure I'm going to take the first job that I was offered. Unless my dream hospital accepts me but it's pretty competitive!

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2015

I hope that the OP doesn't mind, but I would like to start part B of this subject. Since so many of you got hired (and even started working) before NCLEX how about saying what state you are in and if the job you got was in a hospital, Dr office, LTC, etc.

There are a lot of places where you have to have a license to get hired.

I'll start. Colorado, no temp licenses issues and except for the rare residency programs, you need not apply until after NCLEx.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2015

I'm answering for both my NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN

Graduate June 2008 for LPN, May 2013 for RN

Send in your application to BON and PearsonVue for the ATT

few weeks before gradution

Get your authorization to test about a week after the actual graduation ceremony. The schools didn't send the paperwork to the State BON until a week after graduation ceremony.

Take the NCLEX (how soon did you schedule it?) Scheduled it the day I got my ATT, took the NCLEX about 5 days after graduation for my LPN and 1 1/2 wks after graduation for my RN

How long did you study before taking the NCLEX? Few hours a day doing Kaplan question bank

How many questions and how long did it take you? LPN was the minimum of 85 took me about 1/2 hr (I've always tested fast). RN was 113 or so (took about 60 minutes sor so) passed both

When did you find out your NCLEX results, did you pass? Didn't know about the PVT with my LPN NCLEX. Found out 48 hrs after my test. For my RN NCLEX did the PVT (the old way) in the parking lot of the testing center and every so often until I got my quick results 48 hrs from my testing day. Passed both the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN

Start applying for jobs LPN applied about a week before graduation, was hired before graduation and was supposed to start as a GN before I took my test. Took my test on a Friday and found out Sunday I passed, started my job on Monday as a legally licensed LPN. For my RN, I started applying after I got my results.

Get hired for your first nursing job (and what was it?) See above for LPN answer. It was a LTC/rehab facility. Took close to a year for my RN position..out patient clinic connected with the hospital.

Start an RN-BSN program (if applicable) Graduated with ADN in May 2013, began my RN to BSN in October 2013.