"Old" new grad RN, feeling really discouraged.

[briechz]

Hi everyone, I will brief you on my story...

In May 2010 I graduate from an ADN program in NJ. Because of a family situation during that time that need my full attention I was unable to take the NCLEX right away. After relocating to Atlanta I took a few months of diligent studying and passed the NLCEX-RN at 75 questions on my first attempt in July 2012. I was so proud of myself and I immediately started applying at every hospital/LTAC/nursing home, etc in the area. Nothing.

After a month I was lucky enough landed a PRN position with a home care company, which I still work for. I knew that I needed to refresh my skills and continue my education so in December I enrolled in a BSN completion program and the GA BON approved RN refresher course. Over the summer I completed the 160 clinical preceptorship on an acute care unit, through the refresher course. I spoke with the nursing manager during my time there and she contacted the new grad program within the hospital on my behalf, but later came back and said that they were not hiring any "outsiders" now due to the transition they were making to EPIC. She said she wished she had better news for me because she knew I was doing a great job and to check back in January. I still try to stay in touch with both the manager and my preceptor, but I rarely get a reply. It's so discouraging.

Anyway I have continued to go to open houses and e-mail contacts that I make, thanking for their time and asking them for advice. It takes forever for people to respond, if they even do, and they typically just turn me somewhere else. Now all I have been hearing is that I need my BSN. Well, I won't have my BSN until My 2014. It's not THAT far away but, I will still be at such a disadvantage. More time will lapse since my latest acute care experience.

I don't know what to do. The rest of this week I am going to go directly to hospitals and rehabs and hand in my resume. I have done this before and always get asked, "did you feel out the online application." Yes, 1000s of times. But, it can't hurt.

A part of me wants to move back home, at least I have a few more connections with people at hospitals in NJ. But, I think it would just delay things even more. I don't know.

I am losing sleep over this because I just want to get my foot in the door. I know that I have a lot of offer. I had the lapse in time after graduating to becoming licensed, but things were out of my control and I have tried to do what I can to get myself refreshed and back into it.

Any advice would be helpful, or just encouragement.

Thank you