Do all nurses want to work in a hospital?

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I'm asking because I'm a PCA now in the PCU of my hospital and I'm always the only tech with over 20 patients every night. And I'm thinking maybe getting my bsn and working in a hospital isn't for me. I have always thought and wanted to work in a hospital. But the nurses here get angry because it takes me 2 hours to do the whole floors vitals. And god forbid a patient needs changing or a bed alarm goes off. It puts me further behind.

So my question is would it be a waste to get my bsn and not work at a hospital? And does every nurse want to work in a hospital?

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No and no.

Pursue your career as you desire, we cannot tell you what will make you happy or work with your life.

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I will most likely never do traditional beside nursing...I chose psych for many reasons and so far I love it....there is alot of flexibility in nursing but the majority of jobs are at a medical hospital

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Specializes in Emergency Department, Float Pool.

For me I started in a LTC, liked it okay to hated but now I'm in a hospital working ER, ICU and Tele! Those are my favorite floors. I recently got an opportunity of going back to LTC making tons of money, but I think I'm going to turn it down because my heart isn't in it. Originally I wanted to be a psych nurse but I never got a chance in that field. I honestly liked the adrenaline rush of those floors.

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Specializes in Cath lab, acute, community.

My auntie who is also a nurse (we have 4 in my family!) started in aged care as a 17 year old and has stayed in aged care her whole life! Now she is 60. She wanted to work in aged care from the start. Personally I only want to go into aged care/a nursing home perhaps at the end of my career when I'm slowing down. I guess everyone is different. Some people chop and change, never quite comfortable. Other people search and find a niche then stay there... Go where your heart desires! Nurses are needed everywhere so our options are wide!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I'm asking because I'm a PCA now in the PCU of my hospital and I'm always the only tech with over 20 patients every night. And I'm thinking maybe getting my bsn and working in a hospital isn't for me. I have always thought and wanted to work in a hospital. But the nurses here get angry because it takes me 2 hours to do the whole floors vitals. And god forbid a patient needs changing or a bed alarm goes off. It puts me further behind.

So my question is would it be a waste to get my bsn and not work at a hospital? And does every nurse want to work in a hospital?

It doesn't matter what other nurses want to do. What do you think you will want to do? Get your education and see what interests you once you know more about the profession.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Yes total waste. Only good nurses work in hospitals :smokin:

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

When I got out of nursing school *back when dinosaurs roamed the earth* I couldn't imagine working anywhere other than a hospital. For many years I worked in hospitals, in various departments. Some jobs I liked, one job I absolutely HATED--so I changed jobs. I have been working as a school nurse for 5+ years and it is about as far from hospital nursing as you can get.:nurse: I love working school hours being in a school setting, taking off all school holidays, and NOT dealing with doctors, labs, and visiting hours! I don't make nearly what I could working 12 hour night shifts in the ER, but my job allows me to have a normal family life and time to be creative on the side. I will never go back to hospital nursing

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
My auntie who is also a nurse (we have 4 in my family!) started in aged care as a 17 year old and has stayed in aged care her whole life! Now she is 60. She wanted to work in aged care from the start. Personally I only want to go into aged care/a nursing home perhaps at the end of my career when I'm slowing down. I guess everyone is different. Some people chop and change, never quite comfortable. Other people search and find a niche then stay there... Go where your heart desires! Nurses are needed everywhere so our options are wide!

Honey, "aged care" is not something you do when you are "slowing down". Sorry, but this just cracked me up. Who refers to LTC as "aged care".

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Honey, "aged care" is not something you do when you are "slowing down". Sorry, but this just cracked me up. Who refers to LTC as "aged care".

Oops, my bad. Looking at your history I see that you are in Australia. Maybe they do refer to it as aged care and maybe it really is easier over there. Apologies.

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It would not be a waste if you could find a job outside the hospital. A lot of jobs want you to have some hospital experience though. The RN job in the hospital would be different than what you're doing so you may like it better. You could also work in a school, dr's office, insurance company, health dept, jail, etc so there are many other nursing positions than hospitals and since there are many nurses doing them obviously not all nurses want to work in a hospital.

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Specializes in Allergy/Immunology.

I can only answer your second question, and my answer is no. I don't have any desire to work in a hospital.

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