Military Spouse Moving to Hawaii

[vglass82]

Hello!

I know there are a lot of threads on here about moving to Hawaii as a new grad (I have read all of them). This isn't about how to land a job. My story is that I am a military spouse moving to Oahu September 2016. We will be stationed there for 2 years. I graduated my BSN program next June. Staying on the mainland for me is not an option because we have two kids. And this is what I've learn about moving to Hawaii as a new grad:

1. Moving to Hawaii as a new grad means you will not landing a job in the new grad programs.
   
2. I know that to get into the program, you have to work as a tech/secretary for at least a year.
   
3. I know that there are 500 new RN's every year applying to those tech/secretary positions.
   
4. I know that a chance of me getting a job even as a tech is slim to none.
   

So, here is my question. Am I even going to be able to get a job as an RN once we get back onto the mainland after not working for two years?? All I'll have to show for two years post graduating is that I've applied to a thousand jobs. I know that there is a better chance of getting a job in home health or nursing homes, but that does not count as acute care experience. I can volunteer at the American Red Cross, but again, its not acute care experience.

I am at a loss as to what to do. I feel like not only will I not get a job in Hawaii, I wont even get a job when we get to our next duty station because I've been out of work for 2 years. I am killing myself in this accelerated program and I am discouraged that it is all for nothing.

Anyone have any insight or advice?

[Oceanpacific]

I was interviewed by telephone for a nursing position in Hawaii. (I didn't get it) Have you done NCLEX yet? If not, choose Hawaii as your licensing state. You might be surprised by what you can find once you are there. Also the VA has facilities in Hawaii. For any federal nursing position, you just need a license from ANY state. Licensure from Hawaii would not he required. Go to USA Jobs and see if you find anything. Good luck.

[vanilla bean]

Consider hospice nursing and/or home health. Landing a job in a hospital will be tough (if not impossible) in your situation with the current state of the job market for RNs in Hawaii, but there are places for new grad RNs to find jobs if willing to consider alternatives. You could also try to get into a federal government job at Tripler. As a military spouse, you may be an appealing candidate for a job in a military hospital (although I'm just speculating). Good luck.