Hospital nursing a must?

[SunflowerStars]

I have been working as an RN for a little over a year now in an Assisted Living facility. I got very discouraged with job hunting, finding my first job took several months so I've been hesitant to leave knowing how hard it is finding a nursing job in NJ. My job isn't ideal right now, the stress isn't bad but the politics in the particular place have driven many nurses away, and I can't see myself staying here forever. I have job anxiety and seem to have a lower threshold for stress than others, so I worry about hospital nursing for this reason. My questions are:

Does a new nurse absolutely have to have hospital nursing experience to broaden her prospects in the future? If so, what recommendations would you make so I wouldn't overwhelm myself while getting this experience?

Can a nurse without hospital experience ever go into nursing informatics or a job that's more away from direct patient care?

Thanks! I just don't want to shoot myself in the foot by avoiding hospital nursing, I'm just worried if I do it I will burn out quickly or quit from the stress.

[MissJessRN]

Nope you do not have to do hospital nursing. I met plenty of nurses who like public health nursing, case management, working at clinics, or specialize in computers and have no interest of being in the hospital. U only need hospital nursing if you want to be Director of Nursing or nurse manager in a hospital. But for Nurse Informatics...direct care is not necessary...just a talent or passion for computers. In fact, most workplaces that are not hospitals like when applicants have strong interest in NOT being in a hospital, this means they will stick around longer and not jump ship and go to a hospital when the opportunity knocks.

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

I have been working as an RN for a little over a year now in an Assisted Living facility. I got very discouraged with job hunting, finding my first job took several months so I’ve been hesitant to leave knowing how hard it is finding a nursing job in NJ. My job isn’t ideal right now, the stress isn’t bad but the politics in the particular place have driven many nurses away, and I can’t see myself staying here forever. I have job anxiety and seem to have a lower threshold for stress than others, so I worry about hospital nursing for this reason. My questions are:

Does a new nurse absolutely have to have hospital nursing experience to broaden her prospects in the future? If so, what recommendations would you make so I wouldn’t overwhelm myself while getting this experience?

Can a nurse without hospital experience ever go into nursing informatics or a job that’s more away from direct patient care?

Thanks! I just don’t want to shoot myself in the foot by avoiding hospital nursing, I’m just worried if I do it I will burn out quickly or quit from the stress.

This is exactly right! School nursing is another avenue to explore.