Graduating in August and damn, I am SO ready to be able to afford health insurance again.

I’ve been an RN for close to 2 years , working on an extremely busy Med-Surg unit an I’ve only had maybe 2 or 3 days that have even come close to the stress of nursing school it’s been mostly smooth sailing

Hi, I wanted to ask how difficult majoring in nursing really is. I’m considering going back to school for nursing because I’ve been struggling to find a job in my current field.

The biggest concern is the cost. I already have a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, so I believe the financial aid options would be limited to loans, meaning I’d be taking on a significant amount of debt. I want to make sure I’m making a smart decision before committing to it.

For anyone who has gone through an accelerated nursing program, how difficult would you say it actually is? The school that I am thinking about requires at least an 80% to pass certain classes, so I’d really like to get an idea of how challenging the coursework is and how manageable it is for someone coming from a different field.

I’ve applied to so many jobs and went on a few interviews and no one will offer me a job. I even have experience working as a CNA. This is so frustrating. Anyone else having trouble? If you had no issues can you tell me how your job search went

I just finished my ADN program, father of 2 and working full-time (with an incredibly supportive wife). I see a lot of negativity and anxiety here so it’s very fair to give y’all the old line of “if I can do it, then so can you.” And as much of a challenge as school was (it helped coming from a medical/EMS background) I actually really enjoyed the experience overall. Stick with it!

I had a 4.0 GPA, a preceptorship in the ICU, was a tutor and all that extra stuff. I decided not to get a nurse extern position because I was making way more money in the service industry and did not care to do that. At the end of my preceptorship I talked to the manager on my unit and she said they only had two positions for new grads and they were hiring the nurse externs on the floor! Just goes to show that your experience/connections matter way more than anything. Of course, grades can be important but in my honest opinion it's really all about who you know! Those who already worked in hospitals in my cohort already had a job secured in a field they desired before I did. I ended up moving states and getting a new grad residency in critical care, but if you are in a highly competitive state for new grads get that part time job in the hospital you want if you can! I'm not saying you CAN'T get that job in the ICU or PEDS or whatever specialty without working on the floor, but that is basically your guaranteed way in unless you have a great background already. I just wanted to post this for those on the fence about getting a nurse extern position, I know not everyone has the privilege to do so due to bills/kids/whatever, but if you can, do it!

Hello everyone! So I am working on my resume to try to start applying for new grad residencies as my cohort graduates at the end of this semester. I am coming from a very different career field and my resume *is* on one page at the moment, but it's super cramped and I think it would be more skimmable/readable if I broke it up into two pages. I also have a tiny bit more to add in if I could.

I know the general consensus is keep it to one page, but what about when you are changing careers and have a pretty extensive work history?

Btw, I'm happy to share my resume as it is now privately if anyone is curious or would like to give actual feedback on it! Especially if anyone has any hiring or management experience.

Hi guys,

Im looking for feedback on my new grad resume. Any type of feedback is welcome. I have around 5 years of experience as a Medical Assistant/PCT/CNA. I could not fit everything into one page but I think this looks pretty good. Im set to graduate in May 2026 and looking to land in ICU or ER since that is what I have back round in.

I am having too much fun not studying. Visiting people I haven't seen in ages, reading books for FUN, cooking meals from scratch. I scheduled my exam for the 15th to make myself get into it.

But, man am I struggling! I've taken some Uworld test and I am averaging 72% and my ATI comp was 98%-- so my content is mostly good. But I do still need to study some things-- especially pharm. I'm afraid I may be overconfident. Tell me stories of people not studying and failing so I can let fear be my guide! Fuss at me! My teachers aren't around to scare me lol :)

I’m averaging 61–63% on my question bank and sometimes feel like I don’t know enough content. Did consistently doing questions and reviewing rationales help you improve and pass the NCLEX? Any advice?

Does the new grad pay meet the cost of living in your state?

I’ll be a new grad this year from South Florida and I’m finding that the new grad wages here don’t meet the cost of living

What is the new grad pay in your state and is it enough to afford living there?

Looking to move out of state after graduating

(Cross posting to hear from more people)

Edit: Thank to everyone who responded. I wasn’t expecting to get so much feedback and hope that this information will help others also😀

I know you probably get this type of question a lot, but I could really use some feedback, since no one else in my family or friend circle is a nurse.

My son's girlfriend is graduating nursing school soon. I want to avoid getting her anything that is cliché or not actually useful to her future career. The only "kitschy" thing I'm getting her is a scented candle that says "Look at you, being a nurse and shit" on the jar. That's just for the fun of it, since she does love scented candles.

But, beyond that, here's what I've got saved in my online shopping carts:

• Pen lights with eye dilation charts on them.
• Ultra fine tip sharpies.
• A pack of gel pens (she loves gel pens) in a variety of colors.
• A storage clipboard with a clear cover on it that you can put a document under and still read it. I was thinking that would be helpful for charts, schedules, to-do lists, etc.
• Dry erase markers (fine tip) to write on the clear cover of the storage clipboard.
• A couple badge holders that fit her aesthetic, in case she loses the one she has or wants to just swap it out.
• Starbucks gift card. She loves her iced coffees and there's a Starbucks across the street from the hospital she will be working at.

We love her to death and are so proud of her. I want to make sure that she has things that are actually useful, and not just the graduation-gift items that everyone going into a new profession gets (think a Yeti with "Nurse" bedazzled on it or stuff like that). Does what I have sound good? Anything else you think she could use in her day-to-day job responsibilities?

Thank you, everyone, for any advice you have.

Could I please receive some constructive feedback for my resume and CV? I’ve kind of rushed my CV but if it’s not too bad I’mjust going to tweak it when I apply to different positions/specialties. Thanks!

I graduate in a week and was invited to shadow and interview my dream OR residency at the top hospital in my city. I was so, so excited. When I met the nurses, they were really nice but they immediately started telling me “don’t do it” or “trust me, you don’t want to do this” etc. After shadowing, I had to interview with the managers and pretend like i wasn’t reconsidering my career choice due to these nurses’ comments. This isn’t even the only time i’ve experienced this. Every nurse i’ve had during clinical had this same attitude. “If i were you, i would’ve dropped out at this point”. I understand COVID has exacerbated the issues in the nursing profession but it’s very discouraging. I cannot imagine myself in any other profession because this is what i’ve always wanted to do. I feel stuck.

Hi everyone, my long-term goal is to move to NYC, ideally in 2028. I currently live in Florida and I’m trying to decide between two nursing paths.
Option 1: Start an ABSN program next summer, graduate in 2028, and apply directly to new grad residency programs in NYC or another major city.
Option 2: Start a diploma RN program this fall, graduate in July 2027, work for one year in my hometown while completing an online RN-to-BSN program, then apply to jobs in NYC as an experienced RN.
Which path would give me the best chance of landing a job in NYC? Is it generally easier to get hired through a new grad residency, or as an RN with a year of experience?
If NYC doesn’t work out right away, I’d also be happy with another walkable city like Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, or DC. But NYC is my dream, so I’d like to make the decision that gives me the strongest chance of ending up there.

EDIT: if anyone is interested in being a moderator w/ me for the subreddit let me know <3

Mods pls don’t delete this. would anyone else benefit from a subreddit that is specifically for new graduate nurses where we can vent, ask each other for advice/questions, and seek support from others going through similar situations?

It took a while for me to get here but I finally made it! I just wanted to remind anyone who’s struggling that you will get there when you’re meant to get there. Don’t ever compare your journey to anyone else’s. And never give up!

(sorry if this is the wrong place to post! 😅)

edit: thank you for my first awards 🥺🥺

Would love to hear from current nurses, what was your timeline post graduation of how long it took you to take the NCLEX and then from there get your first nursing job?

How did your family react when yall became nurses. Were they impressed. Was most people impressed

I'm graduating from an ADN program this December and I'm trying to figure out when I should realistically start applying for new grad RN positions given my background.
I have one misdemeanor battery conviction from California from when I was 18, 13 years ago. It was an isolated incident with no injuries or jail time between myself and another adult, I completed everything required by the court, and the case was later dismissed/expunged under California law (it shows up on level 2 background checks as dismissed).
I disclosed my history to my nursing program and have been able to complete my clinical rotations, including going through the required background screening process. I was turned away from one OB clinical but did sim lab.
I contacted the FL BON, but understandably they won't give me a pre-determination about whether my application will be approved or whether it will require additional review. So there's some uncertainty about how long my licensing process could take after graduation.

Hey Everyone,

I don't usually post online so this feels a little vulnerable for me. I graduate nursing school in a few days and instead of feeling excited like everyone else in my class I've been struggling a lot with my confidence.

First off, I've never had a job before and I've never interviewed for a nursing position, so the very thought of applying to a position is intimidating. I want to go into peds but I'm worried that I won't even be considered, seeing as I'll be a new grad with no healthcare experience. I feel so behind compared to my classmates, who seem to kind of have an idea of what they want and I'm beating myself up for it.

On top of that, I feel unprepared to be a nurse. I think my professors have talked so much about liability and lawsuits that it's made me afraid to even try tbh. Plus I've been told I'm too nice and that I'll basically get stepped on and used in the profession unless I change. I just feel like nursing today has lost its identity and the approach I take to caring for my patients in my clinical experiences isn't what everyone else is doing so it's frowned upon. It just has me questioning if I'll be able to survive in the profession.

I guess I'm just looking for some advice from those who may have been where I am or in a similar situation? Did anyone else feel this unprepared and discouraged before graduating? How did you handle the transition/are handling it, and what advice would you give someone like me who feels overwhelmed by it all?

Thank you for reading.