****Highly decorated RN new grad can't find a job...Any advice???****

Are you looking online and if the job states "1 year exp required" you aren't applying? APPLY! You never know what they will accept or what theya re thinking or what jobs aren't yet listed. APPLY!

To to original poster: I don't have any real words of wisdom, but I feel your pain.

I graduated May 16 (although from an ADN program, it is a program with a better reputation than some of the BSN programs in the state) with a 4.0 cumulative GPA, have connections at the hospital whose new grad program I wanted in on, have another Bachelor's degree, passed the NCLEX a couple of weeks after graduating, have worked for 4+ yrs at a hospital in a secretarial capacity, etc. -- wouldn't call myself highly decorated, but just generally feel like I'm a "good catch."

The market is pretty tight (i.e. the two teaching hospitals in driving distance have suspended their new grad programs) around here (New England) too and it's been hard to decide how to proceed. I'm not "too proud" to work in LTC or a dr's office, but I have a very definite goal of working in oncology, and neither of those get me any closer to that goal.

I actually just landed an interview on Tuesday for a PRN position on an inpatient oncology unit at the hospital I've had my heart set on. I first applied to this hospital online in March. PRN is going to be rough -- I carry the insurance for my partner & daughter, so I will have to keep my current (secretarial) job for benefits, limiting my availability -- assuming they even hire me! But I have to go for it -- I'm grateful to even get a face-to-face meeting, much less holding out for a benefitted position.

So the only advice I have is what you've alread heard, I guess: be patient, be willing to take anything, and know you aren't alone!

And to NRSKarenRN: THANK YOU! Your advice and input is really appreciated!

I haven't read the whole thread of responses, yet, but had some suggestions. I, too, have had difficulty finding employment as an RN even with experience as RN, LPN, and CNA. Anyway, I know of a couple of places to try in Virginia Beach area if that interests you. I went to school for LPN at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Its the site for training for Eastern Virginia Medical School, and it still possesses an RN school. It's a huge health system which owns multiple hospitals, nursing homes and I believe some home health opportunities as well. Also, years ago I got my first nursing related/health care job at Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk, VA, and know of many others who did as well. The interview/hire process was very cut and dry (though I showed up in person to apply and they interviewed on the spot--not bc of my experience--as I had none in health care--but because it was their standard for interviews.) Both of those hospitals have websites you can check out if you search from a search engine for their names. Also, I would just start looking up all of the health care facilities/hospitals in the cities in the Hampton Roads area (virginia beach, chesapeake, suffolk, norfolk, portsmouth, etc.)
Also, I don't know how you feel about home health, but there are tons of jobs for that type of nursing. If I hadn't finally heard from a local hospital, the I would have started applying to local home heallth agencies.
I just thought--have you tried searcing fro nurse positions though the federal or state govt. in the east coast states. Hampton Roads areas has lots of military medical clinic sites that used to have open positions. Try www.usajobs.opm.gov for federal govt jobs.

While Government service is indeed a very cushy job with plenty of benefits, they too have a minimum 1 yr clinical experience requirement on all of the GS nurse jobs that I have found.

Though, you can substitute a Master's degree for experience in most cases strangely enough.

"Open nursing positions" and "willing to hire and train new graduates" seem to be two mutually exclusive categories these days

I have 16 years of nursing experience and have not been able to find a job!! Left school nurse position to re-enter new area of nursing. any advice?

i didn't read all the comments, but i'm from dallas. try baylor. surely there's something there. also, in tyler (its much smaller) there's East Texas Medical Center. I have a lot of friends who work there are love it.