Staying Alive...or at least in a semi comatose state..

[NurseWinn]

I graduated from my BSN program in May of 2011 and I am still unemployed. I have heard it all and tried it all. I understand that my location most likely is the cause of my current sad state but I am incapable of moving. The general consensus is that if we new grads/soon to be old grads/stale grads and just plain unemployed nurses hold on....it will get better. Recent articles state that by 2017 there will be a large shortage again. 2017 is a long way off..so what should I do with the vast amounts of waiting time I have. What can I do to make myself marketable, current on skills and not empty out my dilapidated wallet? What are the rest of you "employer free spirits" doing to keep up with all the brand spanking newbies coming out every four months?I am honestly open to anything I can do that does not cost more than what I make :)

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

classes do not sub for experience. I wish I had a good answer for you, but until the economy changes a bit more the mature nurses do not want to retire. Have you considered all possible places for an RN - school nurse, health dept, MD office, ---I wish you all the luck in the world