Feeling down about my first job

I don't think you're wasting time since hiring managers are actually looking for someone who has acquired experiences related to their chosen field. It's always better than nothing. If I were you, I will use that time to grab the skills as well as building good references around which you think may help when you take your RN soon. It's always better to start somewhere.

No, as many have said: a nursing degree + office experience >>> a nursing degree + NO experience any day

If this was the only job you were offered, after waiting a reasonable amount of time and applying to a large amt of jobs, then this was not a bad decision.

how do you like it so far? have you been working there since sept?

there will be opportunities for you to move on

if you definitely want hospital experience and are willing to leave the office (which has many pros- schedule, no holidays, less stress), i would suggest applying within the next few years -- the longer you stay in a non-bedside/acute care job, the harder it may be for you to get into the hospital -- but there is no rush to move right away, IMO

If the job makes you unhappy, that's a valid reason to start looking for another job sooner rather than later. On the other hand, if you enjoy or feel neutral about the job and are more concerned with the comments that friends and family have made and the doubt those comments instilled about your current job, I wouldn't worry about staying there for a while. It's probably a good idea either way to keep your resume updated and continue to send out at least a few job applications on a regular basis to keep your head in the job-searching game, and to get more serious about the job search as time goes on (if you're worried that spending too much time in this job will weaken your chances of getting a job you really want later on). But in terms of the feedback you received, you absolutely don't need a bachelor's in nursing to be a "real nurse." You're a real nurse now! :)