When should I apply for my first new grad residency/job? Should I stay at my LPN job?

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Specializes in LTC & Rehab Supervision.

I graduate in about 4 months (yay!!) with my ASN/RN. After I take the NCLEX, I obviously plan on working! So I have two questions:

When should I start applying for new grad RN programs/jobs? I think I want to start with med surg in a hospital, but I'm not completely sure. Is there any way I can find out what would be a best fit for me? (And on top of that, what exactly IS a residency??) I currently work in LTC/rehab in a SNF. I don't want to work in long-term care any longer, and my job is too inconsistent with "allowing" me to work on the TCU/rehab floor. I was also thinking I was interested in psych and school nursing. This brings me to my next question...

Should I leave my SNF job? I know at the end of the day it's a question only I can answer, but I figured I'd throw it out there. I've been there as an LPN since October 2019, when I passed my NCLEX. If I did stay, would it be hard for people to see me as an RN? I love my job, but I just can't see myself there for much longer, even per diem after I pass my NCLEX.

My school used to offer specified shadowing in clinical before COVID, but now they're predetermined, and I don't even know where I'm going just yet.

I'm just so confused on what I want to do. I need help or guidance. It's an exciting time, but it's also a time of great anxiety because of the pressure of passing my last semester, clinical, job searching, and graduation... ?

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