options before relocating?

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what options do i exhaust before relocating?

i am in california... the market is huge... there are a billion jobs here. however... they all require at least 1+ year of experience. med/surg, dialysis, oncology, etc... this puts me at 1 or 2 job applications a day. the "new grad" pool

i ultimately want to be in the ER, but i rather not start out there. i might kill somebody.

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I feel your frustration... this was the boat I was in this last Summer. While I ended up choosing relocation to have a better chance, it may not be 100% necessary to pack up and move on in a large job market.

What type of jobs are you applying for? Are you limiting yourself to only jobs in large hospitals? If so, consider smaller clinics, outpatient facilities and even rehabilitation (and I don't mean skilled nursing facilities). Just make sure that whatever you are applying for allows you to use the skills you've gained and not lose them. First nursing jobs aren't always your dream job, but they're a means to the dream.

Also, do you know anyone who works in a medical facility that could help you? It doesn't even have to be an RN, but someone who knows the ins and outs and who to talk to. Just getting face time with someone who matters can help. I had a Tech help me when I was looking, and she did make a difference in who exactly I needed to talk to. Even though she wasn't a nurse, her help was invaluable.

If you do end up relocating, just know that after 2 years you can go anywhere and do anything (within reason of course). While I moved 5 states away, and I don't love the area, it's not permanent, but it's excellent experience for the future.

Hang in there. The waiting is the hardest part.

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Specializes in MedSurg, PACU, Maternal/Child Health.

Have you tried outpatient surgical and/or procedure centers? Also skilled nursing facilities aka SNFs. Skilled nursing facilities are no nursing homes despite what most may think. In an SNF you will learn valuable skills such as wound care, IVs, chest tubes, foleys etc. I had two classmates start off at SNFs and that helped them get hired at hospitals. Keep your options open.

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the hardest part is getting that interview. i am starting to drive to hospitals (regardless of open positions) and drop off my resume. within a 50 mile radius (los angeles) i even applied to a 10$/hr office position. blah...

a recruiter called ma and asked me to relocate. that job is in the bank... but i rather not move.

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