I can't get my foot in the door!

The title says it all...I can't seem to get my foot in the door.

Those older and perhaps wiser than me tell me that I'm being a little impatient. "Its only been 2 months since you've had your license" they tell me. And while it may be true, I'm having a very hard time swallowing it. You see, throughout nursing school and even as early as when you're frantically taking your pre-requisite classes, everyone around you keeps telling you'll have a job...no matter how bad the economy, no matter how bad the job market, no matter where you are....IN THE WORLD, you WILL have a job. And for the first time in my life, I am seeing what a load of crap all that encouragement was.

I used to be a business major, I quickly quit wasting my time studying for it when I saw those who graduated before me having a hard time landing a job and/or having a tough time trying to keep the job they once had. I think if I went ahead and did accounting and graduated with no job....it would be expected. But, I'm a nurse, with a degree and a license, living in a world where people are always sick and I cannot for the life of me land a job.

Sure, its been only 2 months....quickly inching 3, but no one told me to expect this...no one prepared me for this. I'm curious how many of my fellow May 2009 graduates expected this economy to affect us, because I definitely was not one of them. I remember my clinical instructor telling me that I couldn't expect to get my dream job straight out of school, she told me to be open minded....well, MY MIND IS AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE...so much so that I am contemplating taking on a retail job for the time being until someone in HR finds it in their heart to give a new grad with no experience a chance.

Now what I'm about to say might upset some people, but unless you're in my shoes you couldn't possibly understand where I'm coming from: I will start by saying I am the HUGEST advocate for immigration, my parents were immigrants, but GOD it pisses me off when hospitals in the states are CHOC full of foreign nurses when I am sitting on my butt with a pen in one hand and a phone in the next, calling countless hospitals in cities I never new existed only to get rejected because I have no experience.

I'm cringe because I think I sound like a right-winger, but I'm so LEFT. I can't help that this is how I feel. I wish I could go to the nurse who is here on a work visa and tell her "Dear Nurse So-and-so, I have absolutely no problem you coming here for an opportunity you won't get back home, but I spent money in this country to to go school, I pay taxes here, I was born here and I can't get a job...can you work in your country until my countries Economy picks up so poor old me can get a job?"

Perhaps I sound foolish? inconsiderate? ignorant? But I'm curious...is anyone in my situation??