Is it possible to not work in a hospital as a new nurse?

[Brooke2009]

Hi All,

I'm almost finished with my prereqs and will be applying to nursing school after my next semester. Although nursing is the only thing I've ever imagined myself doing, as it gets closer, I find myself sitting with a lot of concerns and so many questions.

Is it possible to become a nurse and not work in a hospital? When I was younger, that's all I wanted to do (worked as unit secretary in radiology at a trauma hospital for 4 years), but as I've gotten older, I'm not so sure anymore. I have a 4 year old daughter and have recently gotten divorced. While my ex-husband is pretty great about working with me on schedules, I don't think I would be comfortable with doing overnights and crazy hours. I'd rather not have her doing sleepovers on school nights as her dad and I aren't in the same school district and it would probably be very disruptive to her just starting kindergarten.

What I would absolutely love to do is school nursing, however, what chance would a new graduate nurse have in securing a position like that? I'd enjoy working in a physicians office as well, or maybe urgent care, but night shift or crazy hours in a hospital setting might be a bit much while trying to raise my little girl as a single mom.

My other concern is what I've heard and have read regarding hospital politics and admin not valuing their nursing staff, under-staffing, etc...

Is it a give in that a new ADN nurse basically has to start in a hospital or are there other avenues that I could take? This is basically going to make or break whether I decide to go to nursing school or not - my other option would be medical assisting, but my heart is truly in becoming a nurse.

Thank you in advance for any advice or information. Reading some of the stories about new nurses starting out on hospital floors has really made me rethink where I'd be going with my nursing degree.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

BSN isn't a requirement for CT either. I have two nursing school cohorts who graduated with me and who both began their nursing career as school nurses.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I agree that school nursing, or any other setting in which you are out there on your own with no back up is not at all ideal for a new grad. Assessment skills and clinical judgement take time to develop.

As I read your question, OP, it sounds like your concern is more about shift schedules, than about the setting in which you would practice nursing. Day-only positions are considerably harder to obtain, particularly without a BSN or higher degree - I think you know that already.

[mama.RN]

It is possible to get a position with a good schedule for a parent with a small child. As a new nurse with an ADN, I got a job in a specialty medical office. Note that these jobs usually specify that they want someone with experience, but apply anyway.

[NurseB2014]

I'm a new grad, and took a job in a hospital because I couldnt find anything else. In a similar boat as you, except not a single parent, but I do have a 4 year old. I want so badly to get into something with a better schedule, but just cannot find anything. I would LOVE the schedule of school nursing, and from what I know of it, possibly the work too. But, there has only been one opening in the last year and it was quickly filled and I didn't even get an interview. I did interview at a physician's office, but was passed over for someone with more experience. I work nightshift in ICU, I've been there 5 months. Hoping I can hold it together to get to the 1 year mark and will maybe have a better chance of finding something else. I hate the job stressful as all get out. Planning on enrolling in BSN school next year, since most of our school districts require that you finish your BSN within 3 years of being hired. I had considered a job with home care (that provides mostly inhome aid services that I would oversee) just afraid that I would hate it. The owner/manager doesnt have the best reputation as being great to work for, although the business does. They have several locations, and are the major home care agency in this area. I also dont want to make my resume look bad when maybe I could get something better in a few months. I want to be at home with my family in the evenings SOOOOO BAD! Hope you can find something that suits you better than I did!

[RUmedic]

You might want to consider outpatient centers. Another interesting area with normal hours is Cath Lab with scheduled balloon angioplasties.

[Gassyandiknowit]

It is definately possible to work in a none-hospital environment as a new grad nurse. Your pay will likely be significantly lower though, especially with no "clinical" experience to lean back on. Some options can be assited living/nursing home nursing, hospice nursing, school nursing (state-dependant - some require BSN), community nursing (health department), private practice, surgery centers and research nursing. You could always go the education route if you don't like bedside. I'll be honest though - give bedside a chance - even if it's just for 6 monthes to a year. The feeling you get seeing someone through from a terrible state to a state of peace and well-being is amazing.

[Brooke2009, ASN]

In our county school district, there was one school nurse position after another opening over the past 6 months. I have no idea why or what was going on, but I was constantly getting notifications. My daughter's private school where she's attending preschool just had an opening as well as their nurse was moving to Illinois. I couldn't believe how many were opened - of course that won't be the case when I graduate though!!!!

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Well, it is no secret that most nurses are employed by hospitals and new grads typically work the nights and other undesirable hours. If you aren't willing or able to put in your two years of acute care to get that desirable schedule/non-bedside job, I would rethink nursing altogether to be honest.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

BSN not being required isn't the same as BSN not being preferred. The rarer the opportuntity, the higher the competition....and where competition is high, minimum standards tend to go out the window. Case in point being where potential nursing students point to the minimum admissions requirement of 2.5 for the nursing progam they want, and they cannot get in with a 2.6. That would be because there are tons of 3.8's to choose from.

In nursing, while there is considerable flexibility when it comes to WHERE you can work, and subsequently the hours that CAN be worked, it's really a matter of what the candidate brings to the table over and above the others that gets him/her the job.

When considering jobs that don't require acute care experience, one has to decide on whether the possibility of NEVER working acute care is ok by him/her. What I mean is, a new grad who goes to work in a medical practice doing non-acute tasks and practicing no skills one would need in a hospital.....that grad has to realize that a year or two or three later when a job opens in the hospital that looks good, it will go to the person who has fresh skills in that area....not someone who has never once done any of it since nursing school XX years before.

If THAT is all still ok, then yes, there are opportunities in outpatient settings that have much more desirable hours than new grads typically get in hospitals :) Of course, it's also much less desirable PAY, but that's not surprising.

As for school nursing, while I personally have never done it, I have been asked to be on the sub list many times and do have a clue how it runs. There hasn't been an opening for an RN at any of our district's schools for about 15 years that I know of, maybe longer. And we don't have LPNs at any of them, RN only....and while an ADN is 'technically' all that is required, I know that when a position eventually opens up (like, when one of them DIES!) it will go to a BSN if not an MSN. Competition, after all.... :)

Good luck to you in your choices, it's a wild ride!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

School nursing - BSN plus a commitment to get your School Nurse Credential within 5 years here in California. The state gives you a temporary credential. The program takes a year and costs about $12,000.

And I'm leaving next November so if you want a job as a school nurse, come to rural Northern California!

It is possible to get a job outside of a hospital - just no guarantees.

Good luck!

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

My first job was working in district nursing. However from what I'm told by more experienced colleagues that was an exception rather than the rule.

As others have said, be prepared to do the time in the hospital to get experience