New Grad, don't want to work in hospital

BrookeeLou_RN · Mar 14, 2011

Only place I can think of with no nights, weekends or holidays would be a medical office setting.. health Dept, local MD, outpatient clinic, surgical center..etc.. These are hard jobs to get with experience let alone as new grad. Perhaps home health might meet some of your needs.. perhaps prn but some still require call, some weekends and some holidays.

Could I ask what you thought you would work when you started in nursing school??

Katie5 · Mar 14, 2011

Only place I can think of with no nights, weekends or holidays would be a medical office setting.. health Dept, local MD, outpatient clinic, surgical center..etc.. These are hard jobs to get with experience let alone as new grad. Perhaps home health might meet some of your needs.. perhaps prn but some still require call, some weekends and some holidays.
Could I ask what you thought you would work when you started in nursing school??

But it CAN be done, right? If that's what the OP wants, she would work extra hard to achieve it. As long as it can be done, then it is achievable.

BronxRN28 · Mar 14, 2011

Have you tried looking into school nursing? Depending on where you are located at they may accept New Grads. It may be hard to transition from school nursing to a hospital setting. Some hospitals won't even accept Long term care as experience, so it would probably be even harder for a school nurse. You could also try Clinics & Home Care (some home care agencies will hire new grads).

Good luck with everything :)

Ahhphoey · Mar 14, 2011

I personally know of two new grads who opted out of the hospital setting after school. One went right into school nursing and the other got a job in occupational health for the health department, so it is definitely possible, though not common. I also know of a couple new grads that went right into home health, so you do have some options, but it'll depend on the market in your area. Good luck!

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 14, 2011

not all hospitals shifts are 12 hours... some are 10 hours and 4 days a week while others are 8 hours 5 days a week. the shift schedules depend on the facility and the department's management... to address your concerns, yes, a new grad can work outpatient and yes, later the nurse can work in a hospital setting.

i have a few friends who started out in outpatient settings. one worked hospice and continues to do so. several others started out working in clinics, school nursing, public health, md offices, and ltc (8 hour shifts in ltc) and continue to do so. none have tried to work in a hospital setting after two years because none want to. however, i know of a few experienced nurses that worked more than ten years in outpatient settings prior to working in the hospital setting.

their past experience within the hospital setting was so long ago they might as well be considered new grads. in any case, not many of them did well due to the pressures of the hospital and choose to leave or work part time. the ones i talked to reported that the experience reminded them why they choose not to work in a hospital in the first place. i only know of one that still works in the hospital setting that returned after many years, but that one nurse works per diem. she literally works 1 day a month in the hospital setting because in her words she can only "tolerate 1 day a month".

so, maybe rather then spend 100% of your nursing experience on the outside, after one or two years outpatient, try to work per diem in a hospital setting to learn hospital nursing skills (i do not call them nursing skills exclusively because it implies that nurses only apply nursing skills in a hospital setting and that is not true). otherwise, if you find a setting you like, are able to grow as the nurse you wish to be, then do not worry about ever working in a hospital setting. this means do not allow others to make you feel less than any other nurse. have pride in your job and the type of nurse you wish to be. gl!

Mission · Mar 14, 2011

Community health centers will hire new grads. I don't know how it looks when you apply for a hospital job after working in community health but it does give you great experience for becoming a primary care NP. You also qualify for HRSA Nursing Education Loan repayment if you work full time.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2011

I have a few classmates that started out in community jobs. good luck!

colleennurse, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2011

As others stated you may be able to find non hospital jobs, but I do not think it will be easy. I am not trying to sound mean, but if you do not work in a hospital, how will you learn? I worked in home health after a year of hospital and I could not imagine having gone straight to HH. I would have had no assessment skills. Just curious? Good luck- I hope you find what you want! :)

RNMom2010 · Mar 14, 2011

I am a new grad that has passed my NCLEX. I have a family and small children and just can't see myself working 12 hour shifts let alone night shifts in a hospital. I want something with regular hours where i can be home at night and on holidays. Will I never be able to go to a hospital later on in my career if i don't start out there? I am really thinking I would be ok with that but want to keep my options open. Any advice out there? It would be greatly appreciated!

When I graduated it was pretty hard to get into the hospitals so I was applying elsewhere. I ended up landing a job as a new grad in Home Health. I work M-F 8-4 with a weekend admission every so often and we don't work holidays. My hours are very flexible and I am home with my family every night. I do fear that going into a HHA has more than likely prevented me from ever working in the hospital. But I love the pace of where I work. I can take the time with my pts and I cannot see myself working in a hospital environment. I think I was one of the lucky ones who found my niche in nursing right away, and also found a boss who was willing to take on a new grad. Best of luck to you. It IS possible to not work in the hospital!!

wooh, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2011

Could I ask what you thought you would work when you started in nursing school??

This. I'm always amazed when people get out of nursing school and are just now realizing that hospitals are open nights and weekends and holidays.

CeilingCat, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2011

Then apply for a position that's set around a 4 x 10 hour shift. Or a 5 day x 8 hour shift. They do exist in hospitals.

Can you get away with doing no weekends? Depends on the hospital/unit. The feedback I get is that the people making the really good money are those willing to do evening or night shift. So, if you do go for a hospital day shift, they do exist but your paycheck will reflect it.