Your coming up to the end of your course. You still don t know what job you will be doing or where. You know one thing though it will be nursing. Dont get bogged down in your career yet. There are countless opportunities out there for you to get hold of. Remember nurses are in high demand and you will be wanted in a lot of areas. The good thing in nursing is you can move about. Hospitals, communities there will be lots of job opportunities. I feel for starting off its important to be kind to yourself. Look for work close to home as you get accustomed to the shift patters that can at first knock you about. Look for workplaces that you have alternative ways of getting there if your main transport method breaks down. This will create less pressure ensuring you will enjoy your job more. Remember your placements. Which ones gave you most satisfaction and enjoyment. It is probably these that you should be looking to get employment in. Finally if you dont get the job you want straight away dont worry. That job will always be there for you and eventually you will get if you keep reapplying. Everything in job application is a matter of patience and opportunity taking. Good luck!
So that s it youve done your training and now its time for you to put your feet up and take a well earned rest from the madness. But hold on its not quite finished yet. First of all you have to apply for your pin number. Note this can take several months to come through so apply as early as possible. It is not uncommon for newly qualified nurses to begin work in a restricted capacity on a ward before their pin number has come through. This can be a frustrating time for the newly qualified nurse and the manager of the ward who may be including you in their numbers but cannot utilise your
skills fully due to the final clearing. Also remember that you wont be paid for up to two months so you will have to still think like a student until that first pay cheque comes through. So no overspending yet. And when its time to say farewell to your friends I recommend having a little get together so that you can do this properly. You probably will never cross paths together as a group and you will always leave part of you behind at the school of nursing. This has been your home and these have been your best buddies for the past three years and it will be an emotional departure Im sure. Some of the friends you will wont to keep in touch with and some you will bump into from time to time no doubt. And despite what you went through all the setbacks the hardships the frustrations and the ticking off you will always look back at your training as the best years of your life.