Unemployed new RN looking for a little advice

[maire, ASN, RN]

I feel a little embarrassed posting this, but I am in a situation that has been bugging me for the past 2 months, so I'm going to throw it out there and ask for opinions.

I finished school back in December. I did not want to work until I passed the NCLEX, which I did on Valentine's Day.

I applied at a few hospitals in the area, and got 2 call backs. Interviewed for the job I realllllly wanted in late March (Mother/Baby unit at the hospital where I delivered my son), and they offerred me a job - but on nights. I couldn't take it because at the time my husband was deployed to Iraq and I just did not have the resources for overnight babysitting for my 3 kids. I had to turn it down.

In April, my husband returned and we found out we were being relocated in August, but didn't know to which base yet (for those of you Air Force savvy folks, he got accepted to First Sgt school, so we knew we were leaving, we just didn't know to where). I made the decision then not to continue looking for a job here because I knew I would only be working for 3 months at most before I had to quit.

In May, we got our assignment. I looked online at the hospitals around where we'll be living (we are going to be about a half hour outside of Boston), but I'm not familiar with the area we're relocating to, so I'm not sure what's close, what's a traffic nightmare to get to, etc.

My questions are thus: Do you guys think I shot myself in the foot by not working right after graduation? Do you think I should try to apply now at these hospitals before I even get up to our new place? Has anyone else ever gone almost a year after graduation before working? I just get the feeling that I've handicapped myself and I'm not really sure what to do here. I'm at a loss, so I present my circumstances to my allnurses community for advice.

Any sage words of wisdom?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Most people will understand the military spouse thing. I would however, start looking at the hospitals. Sometimes when I've moved, I've contacted the VA or local military hospital for assistance. My husband was active duty Air Force for 23 years so I understand. Glad your husband is home now.