TL;DR: if I end up a waiting the better part of a year in northern CA for a new grad job, am I doomed? Should I bug out sooner? Stats: 36M. Graduated top of my class from an associates program in northern Virginia in May. Passed the NCLEX in July. Moved to northern CA. Got my CA license in August. Now working full time for a hospital system in a non-rn role. Full story: Was working as a pharmacy technician inpatient, wanted to improve my life, went to nursing school. Sometime towards the end we discovered my inlaws were either going to sell their northern sacramento starter home, or let myself and my wife move in (for very little money). Decided to go for it. Downside is, even though I managed to finish my degree and get my VA license (and then CA license right after via endorsement), I'm predictably freaking out about finding an actual RN job. I working as a pharm tech for Sutter, one of the bigger hospital systems in the area. They occasionally post RN I jobs suited for new grads, but since I'm already working I need to finish waiting 6 months for an internal transfer (which would be mid-January). I hear rumors that they consider internal applicants first, but its all an unknown. There's also UC Davis and Mercy General, though those have designated new grad application windows in November and December respectively. Kaiser will also probably have a window too, though I doubt they'd even consider someone with only an associates. An RN-to-BSN program is already in planning, but I need to be a resident here for a year to get in-state tuition. So here I sit, tapping my foot. I feel like if I dont land SOMEthing soon, I'm going to look really bad? Just my perception? I could, feasibly with an RN salary, move back home to VA temporarily and get 6mo experience, but that would mean leaving my wife and the life we've established here in CA behind. Still, if that's the sacrifice I need to make.... Thoughts/advice?   submitted by   /u/King_Bean_ [link]   [comments]