can't work as a "nursing student" after graduation

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

So I'm sure some of you out there work in an extern/intern/paid nursing student tech capacity. I do and I love it, but my boss reminded me of something today. After graduation, I'll no longer be allowed to work in that job because I'll no longer be a student. I have another job that is as a tech, does anyone know if you can still work as a tech after graduation but before passing boards? I don't really want to be unemployed because I'm graduating. :o

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Some places hire GNs or graduate nurses for the time frame between graduation and boards. I was told though that if you don't pass boards the first time that you can no longer work as a GN (not sure if that is true or not).

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

Yes, because you are technically not a nurse until you pass boards.

It depends on the state.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Hi Dolce,

Unfortunately, that is happening to a bunch of students in our graduating class. Out of 45 of us, only 8 have jobs (and we graduate in less than two weeks).

They are nurse externs at a local hospital, and the hospital told them that if they don't have an RN position 30 post-graduation, their employment with the hospital will be "severed."

It is so very unfortunate for us new grads. Morale in our class has really taken a hit...

I wish you all the best,

Diane

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Boards of Nursing in each state are going to have different regulations. In my state, PCTs (techs) are being told they may continue in their same jobs after passing NCLEX and becoming RNs. Not that anyone wants to, but new grad RN jobs are hard to come by.

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Here in Sunny Florida, I work as a tech, one of the "job requirements" is to let the staffing office know when your expected grad date is, and if it changes, YES they do call the school intermittently. The day AFTER we graduate our jobs as nurse techs cease being because we are now "over qualified." Personally, I am 3 months from graduating and I have soaked up as much "nursing" as I am going to in school, exceptions of what I pick up studying for the NCLEX. Now, the ONLY thing different from me in three months is that I will have graduated, not passed the NCLEX, graduated. Grad nursing jobs in my area of Florida are near zero and about 400 plus nursing students descending on those near zero positions at once.....

sigh

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In Maryland you can get your CNA after you have finished some of your nursing courses. After you graduate you can have your CNA changed to a "Skilled CNA". Therefore, here you can still have a job before you take the boards.

Check with your state board of nursing. You should be able to call or email them and find out what your options are.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
In Maryland you can get your CNA after you have finished some of your nursing courses. After you graduate you can have your CNA changed to a "Skilled CNA". Therefore, here you can still have a job before you take the boards.

Check with your state board of nursing. You should be able to call or email them and find out what your options are.

I do have my CNA license and although I'm not using it, I'm working as a psych tech and have been told I can keep that job until I pass the NCLEX. I'm just lucky I thought to get two flexible tech jobs in case something like this happened. I've been on several interviews but no bites and it sounds like Maryland doesn't let you work as a graduate nurse until you've passed NCLEX. *crosses fingers*

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I have been working as a "tech," but my official position is Nurse Assistant. They're planning to let me continue post-grad until my boards. I'm in IL.

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