Skip to main content
Nurse.com Blog

After the NCLEX: 48 Hours of Torture

Kristen Ponticelli

After taking my NCLEX in July, I thought I would feel relieved, but to my surprise, I wasn't. Waiting the 48 hours for the unofficial quick results was absolutely torturous. Falling asleep at night was nearly impossible. My NCLEX results were the only thing I could think about. The anxiety washed away only after I found out that I had passed. No words can express my joy! Some of my friends reached out to me after they took the test. Most of them thought they failed. Some of them walked out of their test sites hysterically crying. I tried my best to calm their nerves. My advice to them was to take comfort in the fact that they did their best. I told them worrying is fruitless, as there's no changing the outcome now. I also reminded them the amount of questions they get does not necessarily indicate if they passed or failed. I have friends who passed at 75 questions and friends who passed at 265 questions. But I can proudly say that every single one of them passed. When I found out that I passed, I couldn't believe after all the blood, sweat and tears that I was now Kristen Ponticelli, RN. But soon after the celebration ended, I began thinking, "Now, what do I do?" The answer, of course, was to find my first nursing position. A mentor once told me it can take up to six months to find your first job. In some cases, it may take even longer, so do not get discouraged. Keep these tips in mind as you start your job hunt: o If you have friends or contacts who work in hospitals and may be resources for finding a nursing position, reach out to them via email or give them a call. This is not the time to be shy. o If you completed a preceptorship at a place at which you enjoyed working and you believe they thought highly of you, send the manager an email and see if any positions are open or are opening soon. Follow up with a phone call if you don't hear back. o Make sure you contact your references to let them know you are applying for jobs and that they may be called by prospective employers. o Call your nursing school's career center and let them know you have passed your NCLEX. Find out if job openings have been posted. o Make sure your basic life support certification and resume are up to date and that your resume is polished and error-free. Good luck to all the new RNs and the students cramming for the NCLEX. Remember: Throughout your careers, you will never stop learning, so keep asking questions and keep studying!

Explore Your Higher Education Options at Nurse.com/Schools.

nclex

 

Ready to continue learning? Check out our most popular CE courses

LEARNING SPANISH WEB342: Speedy Spanish for Healthcare Providers (1 contact hour) Have you thought about learning Spanish? Would you like to be able to confidently "speak the basics" with patients? This introductory and fun webinar will help you learn to greet patients, translate activities of daily living or help a Spanish speaker navigate through an appointment or hospital stay in Spanish. No prior knowledge of Spanish is required. Learn key phrases to help you speak Spanish immediately. If you know some Spanish already, this course will help you learn about "errors in translation" and strategies to increase your medical Spanish. WEB338: It's Just a Stage 1 Pressure Injury. Or is it? (1 contact hour) The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel modified descriptive language from pressure ulcer to pressure injury in 2016. Since skin can look very different based on an individual's skin tone, it's important to fortify assessment skills with tips you can use to help prevent "missed" deeper injuries. WEB337: Human Trafficking (1 contact hour) Human trafficking is a secretive yet widespread form of slavery that is a problem on a global scale. Many may not realize the widespread scope of trafficking operations in the United States. It is difficult to track the scope of trafficking because of the underground or hidden nature of activities. Most victims in the U.S. are unwilling participants in the sex trade. This webinar provides information about referral resources, tools, assessment data and reporting to help the healthcare team identify and help victims.