I delivered both my kids at the same hospital, the first in 2010 and the second a couple of months ago. With my first they had room in but they took her to the nursery for tests during the night she would be gone an hour or two at the time. I stayed two nights, my MIL stayed one night and my mom stay another night but they both just slept, they didn't help once. I struggled with breastfeeding so she cried most of the time which stressed me out. I was EXHAUSTED when I went home.
With my second, no nursery, she stayed with me the entire time. They did all the tests and shots in room. Nobody stayed with me the two nights I was there, I worried less about breastfeeding and accepted formula, I slept with her in my arms (sitting up at an incline), left her in the room alone when I needed to use the bathroom (although I wheeled her in there when I took a shower), my husband wasn't even there that much since he was home taking care of our older kid and the pets. Having a baby and taking care of her wasn't tiring to me, it was all the people interrupting me and "helping" that did it. I was SOOOOO much more well rested going home with her even though there was no nursery to send her to. My only complaint was that they would give me one bottle at a time so I would have to page a nurse when she needed to feed. They also didn't have pacifiers (they gave them with my first) but I just happened to pack one so I didn't care.
However I know that my experience doesn't speak to everyone's experience. For me, not having a nursery wasn't a big deal but I can see where it would be for other moms. I was like the previous poster's roommate, I would have been fine going home hours after the birth and jumping right into chores. I felt great after having my kids.