Anyone having a rough time landing their first job

[kpyers32!]

Wow! I guess I just was not expecting it to be this tough! So many of the Hospitals have cut their new grad programs. I live in San Francisco, anyone feel my pain? Any suggestions? I'm just going for your basic Med Surg, Med Tele, & I would be open to ICU. I graduated in May passed the NCLEX in June and 1 interview, which I didn't prepare well enough for. I guess I didn't expect to be asked how to admit a patient w/ chest pain. I more or less got most of the correct answers but forgot to say "get a chest x-ray" I just didn't expect that question so I didn't review it. People keep telling me I need to network & get to know more nurses/nurse mangers. How do I do that if I'm not working in a hospital? Any ideas? I'm bummed. I'm working as a flu shot nurse & a homecare nurse, but I want to get into an acute hospital. One manager said to me that it's started to look bad that I haven't gotten a job yet. I was like ....I've been applying to everything/anything that's available, that was upsetting. Any advice? I've heard it's tough for new grads in the San Francisco Bay area. I'm ready to consider relocating - anyone know which states might have openings for new grads!? THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[iwannabeanurse06]

Ditto! I too graduated in May, NCLEX July but then I left the country for a much needed break. I've been looking since Sept and have been to every open house, career fair, and website looking for a job. I too did flu shots and now am working at a clinic parttime! It's been very tough. But it's not untill now that I'm getting responses back. So I just wanted to encourage everyone to keep at it. Something will work out. I have to believe that!