You Graduated! What Next?

Congratulations on graduating!! Finishing nursing school is a huge feat and you should be proud of yourselves. I can remember how I felt when I was putting on my cap and gown the day of graduation. I was in total disbelief. Did I just really pass all my exams and complete all my clinic hours? Is this really happening?

You probably already have a job lined up to or at least interviews. And that’s awesome as well! A word of advice, don’t take your first nursing job lightly. You may change floors or even departments, or even pursue further education in the future. The main goal for your first job is to learn all that you can and become a great nurse.

So you have your degree, and your new cool, amazing job. The next thing you probably have to do is pass the NCLEX. Ugh, the NCLEX. If you are unfamiliar with the NCLEX (and if you are unfamiliar, I’m hoping you are not a nurse!), the NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination. The NCLEX is kept current by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

Your nursing probably had you take mock-NCLEX exams, like HESI, while in school. For me, the HESI was harder than the actual NCLEX. I think I had to retake the HESI 2 or 3 times. I know…so, why am I in nursing?

Well, after not passing the first time, I STUDIED for the HESI and eventually passed. When I sat for the NCLEX, I sat for that exam one time and passed. I felt that I passed the NCLEX due to not passing the HESI and I still feel that way. If you haven’t studied for an NCLEX review course, I highly suggest you do. It does not matter how good your grades were in school. The review course will open your eyes to study and testing strategies that you may not know. I took the Kaplan review test and yes, it was a pretty penny but, it was worth it. The cost of a review course should not matter. You are investing in you and your future. Make that investment count!

I wish all of you new BSN grads the very best! I know how exciting it is to accomplish something you have worked so hard for but, the road isn’t over. You have one more final push until your future as a registered nurse is born.

Best of luck everyone!