Graduation could be a confusing time, given the sheer variety of opportunities available to nursing school graduates: further schooling, certification exams, and so much more. If you are feeling unsure about what to do after graduating nursing school, you are far from alone.
This is a critical part of your broader nursing journey, and it provides a powerful opportunity for personal reflection and network building. Keep reading to learn what comes next and how you can make key decisions to set you up for a successful nursing career.
Navigating Life After Nursing School
There is no simple path to becoming a nurse, especially as you navigate what to do after graduating nursing school. Aspiring nurses navigate a range of educational pathways, encompassing various degree programs, certification exams, and specialization opportunities. This means that there is also no straightforward post-graduation experience.
With a little planning and plenty of support, this could be a wonderful time marked by personal reflection and professional outreach. Networking events and job applications are to be expected, along with a more nuanced transition that reveals how you perceive yourself as a graduate and as a soon-to-be nurse.
Transitioning From Student to Professional Nurse
Before you embark on the nursing job hunt, you will need to shift your mindset. As a student, you have been focused on preparing for your career. Now, you need to consider not only what your professional objectives are and how you may achieve them, but also how you could best make an impact and provide exceptional care for your patients. This means identifying both immediate and long-term goals before determining how these could be aligned to promote a streamlined career path.
Essential Steps to Take Immediately After Graduation
Your immediate steps following graduating nursing school will depend somewhat on your academic timeline, specifically, whether you earned a pre- or post-licensure degree.
If you completed your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and passed the NCLEX prior to pursuing your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), you could immediately shift your focus to your job search and, if necessary, pursue additional credentials or examinations as you move into a particular specialization.
If you have not yet taken the NCLEX, this should be your priority. Regardless of testing status, important steps worth taking immediately after graduation include:
- Update your resume to reflect your status as a nursing school graduate.
- Register for relevant tests (such as the NCLEX) or credentialing opportunities.
- Reflect on potential career paths and begin researching specializations or job opportunities.
Preparing for the NCLEX Exam
Before your nursing career can get off to a strong start, you will need to overcome a hurdle that eventually strikes every aspiring RN, which is taking the NCLEX exam. This is a notoriously rigorous test, but ideally, your nursing program will have provided strong preparation. Still, self-study will be necessary, so be prepared to dedicate a full month (or more) to exam prep.
Strategies for Effective Studying
Begin your study efforts by getting familiar with the NCLEX and all it involves. This means taking a closer look at the exam’s categories and subcategories. With these content areas in mind, implement the following tried-and-tested strategies:
- Use trusted study guides to bring structure to the test prep process.
- Form a study group with other students or recent nursing school graduates.
- Practice answering fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, and other types of questions.
Key Resources and Tools for NCLEX Preparation
A variety of resources may enhance your everyday study sessions while also providing valuable insight and a much-needed confidence boost. Essentials include:
- Practice exams from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
- Podcasts and YouTube videos with test suggestions.
- Advice from the PassNCLEX subreddit.
Launching Your Nursing Career
You have aced the NCLEX and are ready to take the next big step in your career, which is finding your dream job as a registered nurse. Now, it is time to focus on your resume and to start applying for available job opportunities. Because there is strong demand across the scope of registered nursing, you could afford to be meticulous. Resist the urge to pursue the first job that comes along and focus on opportunities that are both realistic and exciting.
How to Craft a Winning Resume and Cover Letter
A great resume could provide a much-needed edge as you seek out the best job opportunities in your preferred niche. This should be updated as soon as you graduate and again once you pass your NCLEX and get licensed as an RN.
At minimum, your resume needs to make your educational and licensure status abundantly clear. It should also reveal your professional experience and your career objectives. Your cover letter could provide additional insight into your nursing philosophy and how this plays into your career aspirations. Be prepared to double-check your resume and cover letter for spelling or grammar errors. A career advisor or fellow nursing student could examine your resume and make suggestions.
Tips for Successful Job Interviews
If your resume attracts enough attention, you could expect to receive invites to job interviews. This is your chance to reveal your potential as a registered nurse. Confidence is a must, complete with strong body language and eye contact. These suggestions should also help:
- Practice answering common interview questions in advance — but resist the temptation to over-rehearse.
- Complete mock interviews with other nursing students or recent graduates.
- Dress the part: nice slacks and a dress shirt, or even a fitted blazer.
- Research the employer, paying close attention to details about the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
Exploring Specializations in Nursing
Your first RN position after graduating nursing school could set the tone for your ensuing career path, so choose carefully. Ideally, this position will reflect your broader career objectives. Consider exploring specialization opportunities before you seek your first job, as this will help you align your earliest clinical experiences with your long-term career goals.
The Most In-Demand Nursing Fields
While many RNs select specializations based on personal skills, experiences, and interests, market demands may also play into this decision. For example, there is a strong need for geriatric nurses as the baby boomer generation ages, and recent technological advancements have sparked considerable demand for nursing informaticists. Other popular areas include:
- Labor and delivery nursing
- Psychiatric and mental health nursing
- Critical care nursing
- Oncology nursing
- Surgical nursing
How to Choose the Right Specialization for You
Equipped with details about job outlook, wages, and work-life balance, you could begin to get a sense of which specializations will provide the best financial or career advancement opportunities, plus which will fit best into your lifestyle. Do not forget the power of intuition as you consider which nursing specializations feel naturally compelling.
The Importance of Networking and Continuing Education
Networking is important through all stages of your nursing career. Ideally, you will have already begun to explore networking opportunities while still enrolled in your nursing program. Few environments are as conducive to networking, after all, as nursing school places you in close contact with plenty of current and aspiring healthcare professionals. You could expand on this effort after graduating by joining relevant associations and leveraging alumni networks.
Joining Professional Nursing Organizations
Nursing-centric organizations put you in close contact with the field’s best and brightest professionals. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the go-to, boasting over 4 million RNs as members. This is by no means the only option available. Feel free to also join targeted organizations that relate to your nursing specialization. Examples include:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- Emergency Nursing Association
- Society of Pediatric Nurses
- Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Opportunities for Further Education and Certification
If you hope to continue advancing as a nurse, consider returning to college for an additional degree or certification. For instance, as a BSN graduate, you could enroll in a master of science in nursing program and, eventually, make your mark as an advanced practice registered nurse.
Work-Life Balance for New Nurses
Life as a new nurse may feel overwhelming at times. You may need to adjust to shift work while also building your network and simply getting comfortable with the clinical environment. You will develop strong coping mechanisms and self-care strategies over time, but it helps to have a few already in your toolkit as you enter the field.
Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout
Burnout is an unfortunately common problem across the healthcare sector. This is especially worrisome risk for new nurses, who may not yet have the skills to cope with this field’s heavy workloads and far-reaching emotional complications. Thankfully, stress management techniques that delivered relief in nursing school should remain impactful in a clinical environment. No one strategy will be equally helpful for all nurses, but these stress-busting tactics are common:
- Taking short breaks for deep breathing or meditation.
- Participating in yoga or other stress-relieving physical activities.
- Setting boundaries with patients.
- Advocating for reasonable caseloads and minimal overtime.
Time Management Tips for Shift Workers
Often, new nurses struggle to balance sizable caseloads. Thankfully, workflows begin to feel more natural after being immersed in the clinical environment for a few months. Still, a strong command of time management skills should be present immediately upon entering the field. This should limit the perception of consistently being rushed or falling behind. Important strategies include:
- Stay organized: Maintain a tidy workspace for efficient patient care.
- Set achievable goals: Define clear goals to enhance productivity.
- Prioritize tasks: Address essential duties promptly based on urgency.
- Make time for breaks: Regular breaks maintain well-being and prevent burnout.
- Minimize distractions: Limit interruptions to improve focus and efficiency.
Financial Planning for New Nurses
The good news for new nurses is that RNs may secure jobs with good wages shortly after graduating and passing the NCLEX. That said, there may be initial financial concerns to tackle, especially if navigating a gap between graduation and full-time employment.
Budgeting and Managing Student Loans
Many aspiring nurses rely on a mix of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities to cover the cost of tuition. Some turn to student loans to bridge the gap. Following graduation, increases in nursing wages could be leveraged to start paying off these loans, but strong budgeting will also prove necessary:
- Use budgeting apps or software to help track your expenses. Once you know how you actually spend your money, you can find opportunities for saving.
- Begin to pay off loans with the highest interest. Leverage student loan forgiveness programs if available.
- Set career and financial goals and determine how these might align. Be mindful of the potential need for further education and consider how you will pay for this.
- Be cautious about working overtime. This could provide a significant income boost but also leaves you at risk for burnout, particularly when you are enrolled in online courses.
Prepare for a Bright Future in Nursing With Post University
At Post University, we are committed to helping you prepare for the realities of the nursing field, including a strong transition after graduating nursing school. As you seek your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or complete an RN to BSN (or RN to MSN) program, you may leverage our robust student and alumni resources. Reach out today to learn more.
Please note jobs and/or career outcomes highlighted in this blog do not reflect jobs or career outcomes expected from any Post program. To learn more about Post’s programs and their outcomes, please fill out a form to speak with an admissions advisor.