New grad delayed looking for work - any advice?

[visionary123]

I graduated with my ADN late May 2013 and passed my NCLEX late July of 2013. Because of various family issues, I decided to delay looking for work as a nurse right away. I already had two home care jobs as a PCA so I was able to wait it out financially for a little while. In September, the main home care agency I worked for filed bankruptcy and closed (I had worked there for 8 years), so then I just had a private home care client. It wasn't a difficult job and didn't challenge me very much in my newly acquire nursing skills -monitored vital signs, cooked, cleaned, personal care and gave her meds etc. However, because of my situation with family, it was a great job that provided income until I was ready to job search as a new RN. However, that client recently passed, so I am once again without home care work. My BLS had expired in the meantime, so the first thing I did was find a class and got that renewed.

Now I am ready to start job searching, but I am feeling so inadequate since I have been out of school for half a year. I am discouraged and have lost momentum. Although I have kept up somewhat on my education at home - I have studied my nursing books or watch nursing videos for a minimum of an hour a day since August so that I wouldn't forget everything, I am still nervous. I would prefer to work in a hospital, but it seems that all the hospitals around here really want you to have six months of experience first. My old boss from the home care agency I used to work at has asked me to apply at the new place she works, but I think that I need a lot more experience as a nurse to be a home care nurse, don't you think?

Does anyone have suggestions for me? Should I aim for long-term care? Do you think I should have experience working as a nurse before applying for a home care position? Does anyone have a suggestion for a 'crash-course' review before going to work?

Just a couple more things about me that might make a difference in your advice - my husband was injured in an auto accident ten years ago in which he sustained a brain injury. I've been caring for him for years, and eventually decided to go into nursing when I realized that he would never be well enough to go back to work again. I just turned 49, so although I am eager to begin my career and I love helping people, I am older than most new nurses.

Thank you so much in advance for any advice you have!