Job woes in the SF Bay Area... why is it like this?

After finishing nursing school, it took me several months to finally get a job (I live in San Francisco and the market is tough here for new grads). Other RNs advised me to start anywhere, such as a clinic. I finally did get a position in a women's outpatient clinic (yay, income!), but I've always felt somewhat envious of my friends who started on the floor, because most RN attitudes that I encounter are that of "you have to start on the floor to be considered a 'real nurse'". I do a lot at the clinic, but other RNs seem to think that working in a clinic is not "real nursing." Even a couple co-workers who started on the floor have made comments.

Now we are facing layoffs due to budget problems, and I'm likely to get the axe in the next couple months because I'm per diem (though I work 5 days a week). I've been looking for another job but the problem is that even though I've been at the clinic for over a year, all the available RN jobs require the famous "minimum one year acute care experience," which I don't have. I had an interview at a hospital a few months ago (maternity unit), and was hopeful because they had six openings, and the Nurse mgr said my chances were good because they had so many openings. But I didn't get the job, and when I called to ask why or what suggestions they had for me to improve in future interviews, they told me they preferred to hire new grads.

So I don't qualify for new grad training programs because I'm not a new grad, but I don't have floor experience either. Is it only like this in the San Francisco Bay Area??? When I tell people I'm a nurse they often say "Oh good, you'll always have a job." And on a recent news report about the economy they reported that healthcare is one of the very few industries to not be affected by the national economic crisis, but I'm not feeling safe at all. And I have about $40,000 in student loans to pay off. I don't know what to do. Anyone else been in this situation?

I've looked into relocating, but I'm living rent-free here and salaries seem much lower in other areas, so I don't know if it'd be a good financial move.