A new grad that needs a little advice

[LostinVegas]

Hello all, I love all the posts about new grads and the experiences we go through...its like reading a journal of my experience as a nurse. To get to it, I am a new grad that graduated out of Las Vegas and am currently working on a Med Surg floor. I have 4 months experience and am planning to stay for six. My hometown is Albany, New York. I have no family or friends here in Las Vegas and eventhough my job is ok, I feel alone here and am starting to become very depressed. I gave Las Vegas an honest shot, but I don't like it here whatsoever..and I know with the economy and all that making a job change right now probably isn't the best idea. Also I am on a 3 year contract with this hospital!! With that said, here is my question: what do you think my chances of getting a job in Albany are?? Its a small city but theres like 5 or 6 hospitals in the area. I already have my NYS license and I do have family administrative ties to a couple of facilties. I applied to three facilties and got calls back for all 3...they just didn't like me still living in Nevada. What should I do?? I am so sick of being in this rut and I hate it here... I am homesick. Has anyone been in a smiliar situation? If so what did you do?? Thanks for reading.

[RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN]

Can't say as I know how you feel...........but I am wondering what you will do about breaking this contract. What are the penalties? Do you have to pay something back? I am in Rochester, NY .....I think like 5 or 6 hours form Albany....not sure--never been there. But I will say the jobs for RNs are tough here right now.......most of the hospitals are cutting back which mean cutting back with admin staff and maybe not firing nurses but certainly not hiring new ones...........I am actually trying to get out of the hospital setting--the hours are getting old. The eves, the weekends, the night most of all make me crazy! I just can't do them phycically or mentally. And I hate having no set schedule. So I am just working per Diem in the Psych ER right now.....broke, but..........

[cn2007rn]

My friend had the similar situation she was a new nurse down in Georgia all by herself. After she gained 1 yr experience she moved back to NJ to be by her family and friends. The job market is tough here, I live in NJ but work in NY, and it's scary because Governor Paterson wants to cut the healthcare budget, I know one nursing home already closed. It's a scary thought since we are at minimal staffing and don't always have the supplies we need to do our jobs. I would start sending in the your resume to hospitals back in NY but I wouldn't move back until you have a job offer. Sorry!!!

Also, remember being a new nurse is hard enough plus being homesick makes it's so much harder! Hang in there! Good luck!

[LostinVegas]

I would have to pay the rest of the contract back, its not a big deal...I have been expecting to pay it back. I think the job market in Albany may be slightly different than downstate and in Rochester. Maybe I have no clue...