So you've graduated from nursing school - congrats! It's a huge accomplishment, and you should be proud. But the work doesn't stop there, by any stretch. Graduating from nursing school is only the first step to becoming a nurse, and you still have some work left to do. What do you need to do next after your nursing program ends?
First and foremost, you need to study for and pass the NCLEX. There are many different programs designed to help you prepare for the NCLEX, and it's important to have a plan. Without passing the licensing exam, you can't get your state license or start working.
Here are some ideas on how to structure your studying so you can pass the NCLEX on your first try:
Once you pass the NCLEX, all the fun paperwork starts. It's true that you can get licensed in any (and all) states in the US. But the easiest and most straightforward is to start in your state of residence. After completing the requirements for a nursing license where you live, you can look at getting licensed in other states.
Some states are part of the nursing compact, which is essentially one license that allows you to work in multiple states (any that are part of the compact). Often referred to as the NLC, a few notable non-participants are California, Nevada, and Oregon on the West Coast and Connecticut on the East Coast. Some states, like California, are notoriously difficult to get licensed in, mostly because of the long wait times and high fees. Check out your state's Board of Nursing page here.
You don't have to start looking for jobs right away. Many hospitals won't even accept your application if you don't already have your license in hand. If you've taken the NCLEX and submitted all the required documents to get licensed, feel free to give yourself some time off.
This might be the only break you get for a while since many new graduate programs require you not to take extended time off. If it's in your budget, consider a short getaway or even a staycation just to revel in the fact that you don't have class or clinicals to get to. Sometimes having a mental break is exactly what you need to get rejuvenated for your job search.
If you are just too excited and need to start submitting applications for jobs like yesterday, it helps to be prepared (are you sensing a theme yet?). Applying for nursing jobs is just like any other job search, so have the following handy and preferably as tuned up as possible to make this process a little less painful:
Remember that you are interviewing a prospective employer just as much as they are interviewing you. It pays to spend some time preparing for the types of questions you'll likely be asked during a nursing interview. It is also helpful to have some questions prepared when the interviewer asks, "what questions do you have for me?"
Ask questions about the work environment, such as:
Pay attention to the responses you receive, and don't necessarily jump on the first job that gives you an offer. Try to take the time to consider whether it is truly the right fit for your first job. There will be many opportunities for career advancement, but your first year of nursing is hard. You want to secure a supportive and nurturing environment where you are safe from bullying and supported as a new nurse.
Your first year after nursing school is full of challenges, experiences, and learning. Take the time after you graduate and be thoughtful about how to embark on this career path. You won't regret taking the time to set your sights on what is really important to you. Nursing offers so many different ways to create your dream career. Congratulations, graduate! Your path ahead is bright.
Written by: Alexandra Prabhu BSN, RN
Alex lives in Southern California and has spent her decade-long nursing career in cardiac critical care and loves all things heart related. She’s currently a pediatric ICU nurse in Los Angeles and has worked in both adult and pediatric cardiac surgery as well as the cardiac cath lab. After getting her degree in immunology and genetics from UCLA, she studied nursing at Mount St. Mary’s University. As a mom to five in her blended family and married to her firefighter husband, her house is generally chaotic. When not at the hospital Alex loves traveling with her family, surfing and doing her kids’ laundry.
