Feel guilty calling myself a nurse

I graduated and was licensed a year ago, cant find a job in the NYC area, although I have tried, right now it is a who you know job market here, anyway, I work for an agency since january 2011 but have only had 2 assignments one 2 months and one 1 month. Right now I am waitressing to stay alive when people ask me what I do for a living I say I am a waitress, however, my kids always correct me "Mom, your a nurse"! Well i feel guilty saying that cause I don't feel like a nurse, and really have given up on looking for nursing jobs, so I am a waitress, does anyone else feel guilty about calling your self a nurse when you never really worked as a nurse?
You are trained and licensed as a nurse. It's not like you are a CNA or Medical assistant trying to pass yourself off as an RN. Good luck with your job search

Girl, you fought the fight through nursing school and now fighting a rough period across the nation of sparse jobs that I think is going to get better, I'm proud to call you a fellow nurse. Welcome.

You are a nurse! You can be proud of your achievement of becoming a nurse! It's a tough time out there at the moment - but that doesn't influence what you are!Keep on looking for nursing positions and meanwhile proudly call yourself a nurse.

If it makes you feel more honest, say that you are an unemployed nurse. Who knows--it could lead to networking and an eventual job.The trap for many of you folks in this tough, tough situation is that you can let your feelings (I'm not really a nurse. I'm not a real nurse. Etc.) undermine your confidence and self worth. You ARE a nurse. No, really, you are. While you are waiting for a nursing job to come along, network, continue to study, keep actively seeking employment as a nurse. And tell yourself you are a nurse working as a waitress, not a waitress who wants to be a nurse.Hope things break your way soon.

be proud of your profession. getting the degree is no joke. i'm also having the same problem as yours here in my country because most hospitals are not hiring nurses anymore. :| but i know it won't be forever. We'll soon find our respective places in the nursing field. keep on looking and hoping. Good luck and God bless!

Be proud! Nursing school is NOT an easy thing to accomplish! I understand your frustration, as I too am finding it extremely difficult to get hired.. and in NY its so unfortunate, but employment is highly based on who you know, which is SAD! Ive considered even moving out of NYC because its so frustrating. I havent been able to put any of my skills to use and am in fear of forgetting... Hang in there! Something will come.. So I keep telling myself as well! Best of luck!!!

Quote from mb1949I graduated and was licensed a year ago, cant find a job in the [fill in the name of any large city in the US] . . . does anyone else feel guilty about calling your self a nurse when you never really worked as a nurse?

There is still a major nursing shortage in America. The problem is that the big cities don't have as much need since many experienced nurses re-entered the work force when the recession hit. It costs hospitals 50K+ to train a new nurse so that's why most jobs now are requiring experience. If you want to work, apply to jobs outside of NYC. It may require you to move for a year or two but then YOU'LL be one of those experienced nurses who are getting the big city jobs. Good luck!

You never know when an opportunity to get a job is going to present itself. If anyone asks you again, say you are a nurse. If they then proceed to ask where you work(most will) then tell them you are a waitress cuz there are no jobs! You dont know if that person is a nurse, or knows an agency or has a line in somehwere! I got a county job cuz I told my day supervisor I was bored, she knew someone in another agency, doing a compeltely different type of work.. and got me in. Just cuz I was bored. If you dont share your needs, nobody will know you need help fulfilling them!good luck, and keep a chin up. You are a nurse!!

You're a nurse! I work part-time in a sales job and people always laugh when I say I'm a nurse. In this day and age you'll meet MDs from other countries driving taxis and nurses from other countries working as PSWs. The job market is hard, but I know you'll find something. Don't give up! I networked with several facilities in my area before I got a nursing job. I emailed approx. 50 places every couple days to see if they had any positions. If they didn't I inquired if they knew of any. I try to keep in touch with people as well. Are they medical job fairs in your area? Have your portfolio and business cards/resumes ready

You ARE a nurse. Unemployed perhaps, but a nurse nonetheless. Hang in there. Don't fall into the trap of letting other nurses (yes, nurses---seems that often nurses tell those of us who teach/aren't working as a nurse right now/in school to further education beyond RN, fill in the blank)that we aren't. However, that's another thread topic.....Most importantly--hold your head high. You worked hard to get your degree. And, by the way---you may have a short amount of experience, but you DO have experience as a nurse, so don't discount that.

I work for an agency. They hired me as a nurse, but I have been doing CNA asssignments for the last year. I feel dumb going to a pts home to do aide work being an LPN (I know LPNs can do things like that anyway but still) We are not allowed to say we are a nurse since we are not there to provide skilled care. It can suck b/c if I am really connecting with the client I wanna tell them I am nurse. I have a few pts who do know only b/c I was their regular person. I start classes for RN in two weeks :redpinkhe I hope this nursing slump is over when I get out next year so I can get a great job!