Is Hospital Experience a MUST as a New Grad?!

[FutureDNP18]

Hi. I am a senior nursing student. I will be graduating this upcoming May. I currently work at a hospital as a tech but have been thinking about putting my notice in due to the burnout and feeling of being overwhelmed with the business, acuity, and COVID. I have work on the floor as a tech for 3 years. I do not really care to work in the hospital setting as an RN when I graduate but have a lot of pressure to stay there from family, coworkers, and peers. My interests include public health/community nursing and Psych nursing! My question is, as a new grad  do I HAVE to have hospital experience if I’m 99% sure of what I want to do after graduation? Signed,

A Confused Nursing Student

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

No you don’t need to work in a hospital as a new grad. And if you ever decided that you do, you can always get a job in a hospital. It may take longer, but it’s not impossible. 

as for quitting your tech role, if you don’t need the money, then go for it. You already have 3 years experience, a few months more want make a difference if your not applying your current hospital. 

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Psych hospitals hire new grads all the time. The public/community health area might be easier to break into with some hospital experience though...