RN turns barista...

Now, there's a brilliant idea right there...and who knows, start with that, and you might just meet a nurse who has that link to your first RN job...

Honestly, I'd love to have a little side job like that - extra money, that is relaxing and has nothing to do with nursing (at least, relaxing in comparison to working on a floor...)

And my first job after nursing school wasn't a RN job - it was working in a daycare for kids with autism...salary was definitely a lot less, but it paid the bills...RN job came 7 months later...

Good luck!

A lot of people don't know the variety of jobs out there since "hospital" is the focus through out nursing school. I'm going to mention some of the "odd" nursing jobs I've had (they were mostly LVN jobs, but many hired RNs as well) :

Group Homes - Many have to have licensed nurses as least part time because of health requirements, these can include developmentally disabled, eldery, alzheimers. I loved working at the developmentally disabled group homes. We did trips to Disneyland and stuff. (Yes, I got paid to go to disneyland). My job included passing meds, assessment, treatments, and maintaining safety as well as training direct care staff appropriate care and CPR.

How to find this job: Oddly enough, many advertise in the Pennysaver or just in newspapers. The best way is probably look in the phone book, or google county resources which made lead you to these jobs.

Nursing Homes (which you all know). I got my very first LVN job, by walking into the place and asking to speak with the DON & handed her my resume when she came. Many don't advertise, just bug them, no one seems to use the yellow pages anymore but it does work!

Clinics/Urgent Care: They tend to have better hours than a lot of jobs, but lower pay, not always sought after. I didn't even know some of the clinics in my area existed, but I put in different key search terms on google: health care and the city I was looking at. You'd be amazed how using slight different key works, may get you more information.

Universities/Colleges: Did you know that many of them have health centers? They hire various health professionals based on need.

Prisons: California actually is very hard to get into, but there are county jobs, state jobs and federal jobs that may be available. They do take a while to get though.

There are really a lot of "odd" jobs out there that you would never even know have nurses. I saw an ad from Disneyland once looking for a nurse.

Now is definitely the time to be creative. Most people search for "new grad RN" in all the sites and get frustrated when things don't come up, and now more than ever this is holding true.
Networking, adding new skills (like ACLS) and most of all, thinking outside the box are going to be your biggest asset!

Good luck and I hope things turn around soon.

That is what I think. Plus, I took a break from nursing and was a barista for a while and it was a bunch of fun. So many good coffee drinks to try. With the espresso machine and frothing the milk, it was a lot more like science than food service. (I am easily entertained.)

PeaceLove88, have you considered doing volunteer RN work while you pound the pavement? I contacted my state's emergency responder system, which put me to work giving vaccinations. I work with a lot of immigrant populations, and it's been a great experience. I did land a regular job after graduating last December, but it can be a real grind. The volunteer work is refreshing and reminds me of why I became a nurse. The regular RN job -- and you will land one eventually -- pays the bills! Meantime I'm getting experience in public health and floor nursing, a great way to build my resume toward that next job. Could help you, too.

OMGosh, this is exactly where I am, and exactly how I feel! I graduated end of May, passed my NCLEX, and I've been hunting for a job ever since! My husband is a teacher and just got a $700.00 a month pay CUT, and I'm sitting on the bloody computer sending out paper into cyber-space! I feel so frustrated, and like such a loser, as I watch my friends getting the RN jobs one by one... One of my best friends just got a job today after waiting TEN months! I am happy for her, aaaand depressed for myself. My husband has brought up getting other job while waiting for RN, but I feel like I'm just hanging on with my new "old" job of wife/mom and "applyer"!! Anyway, i need to decide the same. Thanks for bringing this topic up.

Hun, I feel you!! I was one of the top students in my class. I got discouraged a long time ago when there was a hold up with NCLEX applications at my state BON, and I ended up not getting my ATT as soon as all my classmates. I didn't even take my test until the VERY end of August. All of my classmates expected me to be the first to test and pass, and already have a job lined up. I have yet to find a job....3 interviews thus far, 2 rejections. I ended up applying and getting a job at a Best Buy for the time being. My pride was also in the way, but my loans need to be paid, as do other bills. No, this isn't what I went to school for...but, this is another way to help people until my dream job comes along. My new manager is very supportive, and he said me being a nurse is one of the reasons why he hired me because he felt I would be a delightful person to work with and that I would be there for the consumers, not just for a paycheck. I am going to keep grinding on my RN job search, but will not give up. I have a passion for nursing, and even though I am unable to be a nurse for free, I know I'm not here for the money. You are not alone! Go out and find you that job at Starbuck's or what have you....it's just temporary. And you will feel better to not just sit at home, doing apps and facebooking (my thing is Twitter! I blame this not having a job for so long on my new Twitter addiction lmao). *Hug* Hope this helped!

And remember, so many people from so many professions that have college educations are experiencing the same thing as well. Not just the healthcare industry. So instead of depressing, get out there and do what you gotta do until you get the RN job. You're not the only one out there riding in that boat!

I've been hunting for a while and finally got not only my preference of hospital, but the unit I wanted too.
The thing is, it wasn't until I really made the decision to start USING the network that I worked so hard to create. Too damn proud to say, "Hey Beth, you may not have any openings on your unit, but would you pass a copy of my resume around?" or "Jay your daughter in law, Becky, works at xyz hospital, could you put her in contact with me? I need some one to help with my resume because it's not working and neither am I." Once I realized, OK admitted, I needed some inside help the ball started rolling. Pull out those business cards that got passed out on career day, go back and talk to your instructors they've got contacts. Your classmates that are working are good referals too. And don't forget the State EMPLOYMENT OFFICE or website.
The other thing is location. In some areas there just aren't that many jobs which means you may have to relocate or extend your desired commute. Aggiegrad, I thought there were jobs in TX, maybe not in College Station, but San Antonio and Houston and several rural hospitals.
Oh, and look through the sticky thread about who's hiring at the top of this page.
Best of luck.
To answer the OP's question, yes I when I was satisfied that I had done all that I could do.

One other thing that just dawned on me is that the "first phase" of new grads hired in May-June should be coming off of orientation soon, this may help open up some preceptors and unfortunately the reality is some may quit or not be successful with orientation.