Losing hope

You are not a complete loser ! The job market is horrible for a lot of people, and in some situations, nurses who had been at home with families had to go back to work, or pick up more hours if their spouse/partner/SO lost hours/jobs.

Are you able to relocate (even if for just a few years) ?? There are places in the country that are hiring (check nursing magazines). Do online searches for nursing jobs.

Otherwise, I don't know what to tell you- are you in a large city, rural area, or area saturated with schools/nurses? I know that where I lived in TX, they were always looking for nurses.

Do you have any suggestions of where is looking for nurses? Or what magazines I should check for these places?

I'm in an area quite saturated with nursing schools. Texas sounds nice, but I don't speak Spanish, and I've heard it's kind of expected. But I am taking a Nursing Spanish class online because I was hoping it would help me get a job.

AJN (American Journal of Nursing), RN, and Nursing 2011 (changes yearly- lol)

You don't need to speak Spanish- I did, but rarely used it, and there were enough other people around who were fluent that it wasn't a problem. Keep taking the online class, though- it shows intent to do well, and whatever it takes.

I LOVED Texas- and only moved back here because of my mom's dementia...she was still able to travel with my dad, and during their 3 months' away during the winter, she got sick, had to fly back here emergently, and died 2 days later. I should have moved back to TX then- but ended up with my own health issues.

I really liked Austin and the Hill Country. They were screaming for RNs down there- I was the only RN on a 27 bed med-surg/ortho floor- with 3 LVNs on 11-7....(worked 7-7, and had another LVN from 7-11).

If you can relocate, it's a definite option- check out hospitals online by just putting in the city, and 'hospitals' after it, and you'll get hits :) Many have sign on bonuses, and some have relocation help.

I'm in the same situation you're in as well. I'm in an area that's pretty saturated with new grads and all but I keep pushing forward with searching, applying, calling around and networking. It can at times feel so depressing but I know when it's my time for it to happen it will.

Just stay positive, I know its hard but it will happen! :)

Check some of the smaller towns-- the cost of living is much better (though TX was better than where I am now even in Austin); they're more affordable, less hectic, and still close enough to larger cities to not have far to go to do things :)

I was a new grad last year and moved from California to Texas because I could not find a job anywhere else. Yes, lots of the patients here are Spanish speaking, but you don't have to know Spanish to get a job. It's not a requirement here, and honestly, I think it should be against the law for places to make that a requirement for a job....but that is another topic. Anyway, when I find it difficult to communicate with my patients and their families, the Spanish speaking staff is always available to translate. Remain open minded and willing to travel and you should find a hospital that will take and train you. Don't lose hope!!!!

I feel your pain. I am exactly in a similar situation like you. I graduated Dec 2011 cum laude. Did self study and review and took my NCLEX last April and thankfully passed it. I have been looking for a job since February. Nothing. I have sent out and dropped off so many resumes and never got any reply. At first I i didnt stress myself about it. But after I passed my NCLEX I started to worry. By June, I finally asked my wife to help me. Shes been an RN for quite some time now. She asked her friends and colleagues and finally I got a call from a LTC facility. Tried working there for a few days but didnt like the work ethic and the people so I quitted. Then I got another call. This time from a hospital. I was so happy. Started working there early this month. I love it there. The people are awesome, very friendly and helpful and I am learning a lot. Sadly, last Friday, we received word that the facility is closing. No one knows exactly when. But they all say very very soon. It seems that the facility has been having financial trouble for a while. I am totally devastated. And upset. I know I will be out a job soon. Now I dont know where to find another job since my wife cant think of any of her other friends in any other facility. And the sad thing about todays labor market is that people only seem to get a job if they know somebody in the inside. Sigh

"And the sad thing about todays labor market is that people only seem to get a job if they know somebody in the inside."

First of all, congratulations to all of you who are now where we pre-nursing students are struggling to be.

You are right about having connections. I work at a public hospital in L.A. where I tried to get a new grad in. I was told by HR that they are not hiring new grads at this time.

However, my department has recently hired three new grads because supposedly they couldn't find any other RNs with operating room (OR) experience. One of these new hires is a friend of the daughter of the Director of Surgical Nursing. Lucky her . . .

If you lack nursing experience, you can either work as a CNA, LVN or volunteer. This is a brutal scenario given your education, I know, but it's the best advice that I can give you other than relocating.

Unfortunately, sometimes you just "have to go to hell before you get to heaven."

Consider yourselves extremely lucky. Imagine being a life-long student in your mid-forties and having been subjected to this economy all of your adult life. If you only knew my story, you'd cry. Believe me.

I understand how you feel it can be very discouraging to put all that effort into your education and still not be where you had hoped by this time in your career. As was stated earlier the market seems to be very bad everywhere. I am in somewhat of the same position and have decided to continue to pursue other avenues of work while still trying to do nursing jobs as they come along (homehealth). But you know what? I have asked myself over and over, is it really just nursing thats in this slump ?..if I were a engineer or a pharmacist or any other professional ...would I be in the same place?? still looking for employment? I think YES because its just the way this economy is right now, it is so bad...there isn't enough jobs for those of us looking...dont loose your hope I know people say that all the time but what other choice is there? giving up isn't a good option.

Have you tried working for the indian health services. At least to get your feet wet

I graduated in May 2009 and it took me MORE than a year to find a nursing job. I was working in a field not related to health care at all. I almost stopped applying, after completing hundreds of applications and only getting 1 interview and started to consider dropping the idea of ever working as a RN . This was very common in the year and location I graduated from. I finally got a job in a med surg floor but had to relocate. A couple of my class mates did also. So don't give up yet.