I think I had picked the wrong career path

I graduated with a BA in social work and now that I'm out looking for work I feel so discouraged that maybe I should have picked a totally different degree. It is so hard to look for work in the social work department and every one wants to hire someone with a master degree. I want to help people but after years of school and a student loan I feel so lost. I had a job for 6 months and I was laid off about a week ago. The job had nothing to do with social work but it helped with paying my bills. I should have went into the medical field, there are always jobs in that area.

Could you look into a hospital setting or medical practice job to get your foot in the door, one that maybe isn't directly related to social work; like a 'Transport Tech'-you'd take patients to tests, rooms, etc. ? or what about an 'Activity Aid' at a nursing home?
Could you become CPR certified, this would probally help if you want to be in a hospital setting.
(I work in the medical field, I work at a hospital and have worked at a nursing home.)

Have you considered looking into what is required to be a hospital social worker?

While it is true that there is always a need for medical workers, it is not necessarily true that one can obtain the training required to get a job in the field that will pay enough to make a decent living. I worked 10 years in medical billing and coding...an extremely stressful job that paid only OK. As I look at the want adds now, places are looking for people with certification in that field or who can do the job at home (requires large expenditures for proper computer programs, etc). That is just one example.

What I am dealing with right now is trying to get into a nursing program... nearly impossible! There is a shortage of nurses (including nurse educators) which makes the field extremely attractive, but there just are not enough seats in the programs due to the shortage of educators. My local ADN program is now on a lottery system for entry. They average 500 applicants a year, 15 seats. The local BSN program is worse. I have a friend who has a 4.0 GPA, has completed all prereq's, is an EMT, and she has applied to both programs 3 times.

All career fields are hard at entry-level right now. Don't give up hope!