amurphy2637

So I've been a nurse since 2009 and I've been at my same job for 2 and a half years at a short term rehab facility. I love working with my patients and I like my co-workers and everything, but I just feel like I'm stagnating. I took my current job 2 months after graduating after not finding any hospital jobs. I had a student internship at Yale New Haven Hospital, but they had a hiring freeze when I graduated. Sometimes when people find out what my credentials are, they ask me why I'm at my job and not in a hospital. I have applied to just about every hospital within driving distance of me at least once, if not twice. I've gone on interviews, but no offers. I have my BSN and I eventually wanted to get my APRN, but I wanted hospital experience first. I'm just so discouraged that I don't even know if I want to do nursing anymore let alone progress to an APRN. I don't think I can face anymore rejection. I know I'm good at my job, I love my patients and I genuinely care about people. It just kills me to think that there are some nurses in hospitals that hate their jobs. My question is: do I keep applying to hospitals? When do I raise a white flag and determine that hospital nursing/APRN just isn't for me?

So I currently work in CT in a sub-acute rehabilitation facility, dealing mostly with orthopedic injuries and surgeries. I was thinking about moving to LA and I'd like to hear your opinions about the job market, pay, etc. Ideally, I would like to work in a hospital, a medical surgical or orthopedic unit, but is it hard to get a job there? When I research hospitals I get a little overwhelmed at the lists I'm finding. I have a friend that lives in LA, but not in the healthcare field, so she's a little unhelpful as far as hospital locations and things like that. Also, is traffic there really that bad? BTW, I seriously considered this last year too, but things didn't pan out. Needless to say, I do have a CA nursing license, so that wouldn't be a hindrance. Thanks, everyone!