Vacation

NRSNFL · Jul 28, 2008

Did any of you work right after graduation and took a vacation after your orientation period was over with?
Or did any of you take a vacation before jumping into orientation?

I plan on taking a few "long weekends" after orientation period is over just so I can relax my brain a little. But mostly, I'm hoarding my PTO for short term disability because as soon as school is over, I plan on getting pregnant again and this time I'd like to enjoy my maternity leave rather than stress over money.

blinks14 · Jul 28, 2008

I'm not actually going anywhere but I am taking a week off in between my job as a nursing assistant and my job as a GN. :) I've never done that before, just went from one job to another so it'll be nice.

oohappyday · Jul 29, 2008

I'm not actually going anywhere but I am taking a week off in between my job as a nursing assistant and my job as a GN. :) I've never done that before, just went from one job to another so it'll be nice.

That's great! Congratulations! And enjoy your week!!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2008

I took time between graduation and starting a new job to study, pass NCLEX, AND take a vacation :)

I strongly recommend some downtime before starting a new job. You need some time to decompress after graduation. And vacation time before or after taking NCLEX is a good idea, too. What's not such a great idea is planning to take vacation time right after your orientation period ends at a new job.

I'm saying this because by that time, you can bet the vacation schedule will be set and you'll have to make plans based on whatever time you can squeeze in between other people's time off, IF you can get a string of vacation days together. Obviously depends on the time of year you plan to do this, too: our facility does not allow any vacation time at all from November through January. Holiday time off only, no actual vacation days to be used.

And, lastly, it depends on your facility as to what their policy is on a new hire taking time off: some don't allow any time for six months, except for holiday time as earned. Vacation time is usually an accrued situation, and you might not be eligible to take any time for six months.

Advice? Take the time now, before you get into the whole new job thing. You might not think it fair, but reality is the newbie who starts off out of the gate by asking for a week's vacation usually gets some eye-rolls his or her way!

ChinUp · Jul 31, 2008

I graduated June 14 and luckily enough I got a job offer that starts August 25. So I made sure I took my NCLEX as early as possible. I took it July 18 and found out today that I passed!!!

Anyways I have about a month of vacation until work. And I'm planning to cherish every second of it. Actually we just book a 5 day vacation to Cabo San Lucas the week before work starts. he he

I agree with RNsRWE that its a good idea to relax and have a vacation before orientation because it will never be a guarantee that you'll be able to take time off.

LauraTheNurse · Aug 1, 2008

Take a vacation!!

What if you do not have the chance to take a vacation and you have to jump right into working after orientation? Take the vacation and enjoy:jester:

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2008

I graduated June 14 and luckily enough I got a job offer that starts August 25. So I made sure I took my NCLEX as early as possible. I took it July 18 and found out today that I passed!!!
Anyways I have about a month of vacation until work. And I'm planning to cherish every second of it. Actually we just book a 5 day vacation to Cabo San Lucas the week before work starts. he he
I agree with RNsRWE that its a good idea to relax and have a vacation before orientation because it will never be a guarantee that you'll be able to take time off.

Congrats! You sound like you did pretty much what I did: studied for NCLEX, passed, then had a month of downtime to play with the kids, take the family vacation, etc. before having to hit the 'real world' of nursing. A cruise without the kids might have been nice, but oh well :rolleyes:

Enjoy!

MB37 · Aug 3, 2008

I finished class two weeks ago and don't graduate for another week. I decided to take a big vacation in the time I had off in between, and just got back a couple days ago. We couldn't really afford it, but I'll have income again soon enough and the bills will get paid no problem. That's the downside to vacationing before you start working - if you don't have savings or a significant other with a very large income, you'll have to pay after the fact so watch where you go. It depends on your job, and what the norm is there, but I wouldn't just assume you can take time off in between orientation and starting, and it's also not something I'd ask before I was offered the job.