Extremely Upsetting!!!!!

One of the best things you can do is to consider finding an internship/externship/tech (whatever they call it!) position during school. Many will let you work a shift or to a month, and often on weekends. This is a great way to "try" out a unit, and for them to get to know you. All the grads at the program where I teach have found great jobs, and those that worked at the facility beforehand were giving hiring preference in many cases. One student in particular was a tech on a floor for a year and a half, and they liked the student so much that they were chosen over 85 other applicants for this very prestigious position.

I can only speak for my area, but there's tons of jobs here. Hospitals are trying to recruit and grab up nurses like crazy. No one in my class, or the classes after me, had any difficulty at all finding a job, and most of us had multiple job offers. I had 4.

Where are you located blondy2016h?

Relocating, is not the worst thing in the world.

There is a nursing shortage for experienced nurses, but there is NO shortage for brand new grads. Hospitals can be as picky as they want to be.

People, especially young people, don't seem to "get" that this mess that is happening right now in the economy, was not created overnight and it's not going to be fixed in 6 months to a year.

People that have good jobs with decent benefits are very fortunate. Those that are in the nursing profession are especially fortunate....we all have an education that we can do other things with.

Moving to a new city can be fun and adventurous...and especially if you are single with no children...it may be the only time in your life that you get to make such a bold move.

I once had to move to a major city for a job and only got to visit the city once after my interview to see how I liked it.

Best decision I ever made.

I've been to the Cleveland Clinic website many times as I'm hoping to get a job there when I get my degree. It says right on their site that they welcome new grads. I checked out some of the jobs, too. Almost all of them say BSN preferred. Some say 1 year nursing related experience preferred. I would definitely keep that site saved and keep checking in with them. There are jobs in our area for RN's. The problem for some of us students is that a lot of them want experienced RNs already. And I will have my ADN when I graduate, at first anyway, so that's another sticking point. I will continue going until I get my BSN or maybe bridge to the MSN. For now, this is our future. Those with the higher degrees are going to have the edge in this competitive market.

Thanks for the advice and support from all you new and experienced RNs!!