Nobody told me that after graduation...

...It would be THIS difficult to find a nursing position.

My story..

I decided to pursue nursing about 5 years ago when I felt a great tug on my heart that this is the field where I belong. I'm pretty sure its what I was born to do...I feel it in my bones.
So I did something "courageous" or stupid rather - I quit my fairly good job with the city to attend nursing school.

Ok backing up a bit. At the time I was shopping around for schools, there were great debates about ASN vs BSN and top (name brand) schools vs regular not-so-name-brand schools. So in my pride and my ignorance, I decided that I wanted to go to a reputable institution. One whose name is recognized throughout the country, thinking that this would give me some kind of advantage. WRONG.

So upon acceptance, they recommended that the students should not work during the program. I worked during my first semester because I needed to eat and pay my rent...had no choice. I struggled. So during my second semester and beyond, I didn't work which mean't taking out extra loan money in order to survive.

I graduated! Hallelujah! But nobody told me that:

- the fact that I did not have an externship during school was going to tremendously hurt me and make me undesirable to employers
- male nurses were favored over female nurses (the male students in my class had jobs BEFORE they graduated. I know some of them through school, and I must say that I will not feel comfortable letting them take care of my family members. So the fact that they get hired faster simply because they are male, something is wrong with that picture)
- I would have $100k in student debt - for a Bachelor's degree that means nothing if you have NO EXPERIENCE.
- I would possibly have to move to another state - leaving my life behind - in order to get experience
- The name brand school means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and does more harm $$$ than good.
- There is abolutely NO nursing shortage in my city. If there is, its not that serious or detrimental since the competition for nursing positions are pretty fierce.
- I would be paying $1038.00 per month for 10 years in student debt (unless I find a job that's willing to pay for a portion of it)

To add insult to injury, I failed the NCLEX for the first time (after doing fairly well in school) due to the stress of being unemployed and having every other door shut in my face. I'm now preparing to take classes to take it a second time...it can't get any worse than this.

I don't mean to sound whiny or bitter, but I should have taken the "cheap" route and go for my ASN then work on my BSN while working. However, they're cutting back on the ASN programs in my city (Philadelphia) for several reasons, but this is causing nursing education to be a lot more expensive (that was sort of a side note). I'm not sure what to do at this point. I'm unemployed and it is such a dark place to be in. I'm either over qualified or under qualified for jobs. I'm looking for Tech positions while studying for the NCLEX but I'm even having a hard time with that because of "no experience." Its absolutely ridiculous.

Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated. Yes I've already considered moving to another state as hard as that will be for me...I'm prepared to make that sacrifice. But boy oh boy...a huge part of me regret the last 4 years of my life when it comes to my choices with my education...so whoever's out there reading this, learn from my mistakes.