Becka305

@joanna73: no I was not fully aware of the market, but I did not go into nursing for the money or job availability/security. I have ALWAYS wanted to be a nurse- I have a huge passion for helping others and wanting to make a difference in this world, no matter how big or small that difference is. . . I'm going to begin RN->BSN in January, so hopefully I will at least be making some headway. . . And I COMPLETELY know what you mean by its "who you know!" That's what makes me worried about my references and such, because all the networking I did back home holds very little weight here :/ Thank you for your advice and support!!!!!

@polabar: I should've been more specific... I moved to San Antonio with my husband for the oil field boom. Our move was last minute (move or lose his job) so I had to forfeit the position. I'm not looking for any preferred area, but I'm targeting hospitals or places I can get "floor" experience because I want to work in the ICU at some point in my career. . . I'm not against clinics, but have found no open positions (I've called too- not just depending on websites positions available.) . . . I'm sorry you got ill, but I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason :)

Not done yet: thank you!! I will start the joyous "temp" job soon!!! Somedaypeds: I have signed up for volunteering and even the home health agencies around town want one year experience which I find insane! I will look into the resume help and I'm doing my best to network!! Thank you for your advice!!

Unfortunately I moved once I graduated- I had a job secured back home but this move is what is making everything harder. My references, colleagues and college information doesn't hold as much weight here. Thank you though!

I graduated in May 2012 with an ASN in the top 15 of my class with honors. I have applied to multiple hospitals, searched local nursing organizations to join, signed up for volunteering, and the list goes on and on. I am well aware that this is becoming more and more common for new graduates, but what can I do to keep my sanity because I am just about out of hope!? I've applied for residency programs, internships, rural jobs, LTC facilities/nursing homes, jobs hours away (willing to live in a hotel) volunteering opportunities and am moving up to my next college degree. I keep my dean of my nursing program in touch and shes doing her best to help me out, but shes just as baffled as I am. If you were me, what would you do? Get any job to help pay the bills/student loans or just keep applying and wait for a phone call? The majority of the hospitals I have applied for, turned me down BEOFRE I ever got an interview. I'm only 23 and worked during the summers out of school, so that's all that I can use as "experience". . . . I really just wanted to set up this forum for my fellow "baby nurses" searching all over for ANYTHING. And I would love anyone's input!