Nurses- What options are available?

This is a more detailed question. I see myself working with children as a nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner. I am not clear about the options available. Do all nurses have to work in a hospital? Also, do they all have to work crazy hours? Do any 8am-5pm hours exist? I want to have a family one day and family will be my first priority so basically, is nursing "family-friendly" ? I really do see myself as a nurse but I dont see myself running around, helping the doc with a wounded patient. I want to work with kids in general and I dont have the stomache for having to witness someone dying. I know I sound naive and clueless but thats what the "question-answer system" is for right? Please advise- is it really that stressful ! :)

There are alot of options for scheduling. You can choose to work in a doctors office and work 8-5 Mon-Fri but the pay is less and probably fewer benefits. You can choose float pool in a hospital and set your own schedule but again I think you lose benefits. You can work day surgery and that is usually Mon-Fri daytime hours. Travel nurses make alot but that would not be very family friendly. There are school nurses and nurses who get a law degree and spend their time advising lawyers. Some nurses get a business degree and manage floors of the hospital, also 8-5 Mon-Fri. So many options out there.
Nursing can be a stressful job. You are the middleman between family,patient and doctor frequently. There is alot of responsibility, after all the person's life is in your hands while you are on shift. But it is a good job that is always in need.

With all the things you dont want to do perhaps being a nurse iisnt your best choice.Did yoo ever consider being a elementry school teacher no weekends the hours are pretty much in line to what you want.Summers offand teaching young students can be rewarding.Depending on what type of Nursing degree your after,you would have to go to college a couple more years to become a teacher.You can get an assiocietes degree in nursing in 2 years or your Bachelors in 4 both give you a RN nursing degree.Oh yea Nursing at just about any position can be very stressfull,your dealing with doctors ,patients family,patients,etc. all going on at same time that you are trying to take care of injured or ill people