where is it more difficult to work in; skilled nursing or hospital?

Missingyou, CNA · Apr 19, 2014

Sounds like you really want to work at a hospital rather than a nursing home.

I don't think one is really harder than the other. I think you will learn more at a hospital.

At a nursing home, you will get to know your residents.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2014

"Harder"? Can't say, as you can't compare apples and oranges. Some hospitals have better schedules and assignments than others, some floors in the same hospital will have a better schedule or assignment than others. No one can give you a definitive answer, because no one will know EXACTLY which floor at which hospital on which shift you'd work.....you get the idea.

There are pros and cons to each type of care (longterm vs acute). Some patients have ALOT of stuff going on and can be complicated to care for, some will be very simple. Same can be said in a nursing home, except that they aren't acute: some are difficult to care for, some are simple. Probably more learning opportunities in a hospital---actually, make that "definitely", not "probably"---but much will depend on what unit you find yourself assigned.

Whether you get 8 hours or 12 hours depends, again, on the facility. Policies vary; the best you can do is find out from the INDIVIDUAL hospital you're interested in what they are looking for, and whether it is a good match for you.

Good luck.

hookyarnandblanket · Apr 20, 2014

The hospital where I work does acute, observation/outpatient, skilled, and intermediate/nursing home type care. Essentially, we do it all. Some acute patients are more difficult than our intermediate patients. Some are not. It really will depend on where they assign you, what the census is like, who you have to work with as team members, and the general atmosphere.

ColorGreen · Apr 21, 2014

It really depends. This is my experience with both...

Hospitals:

Paid me more,

Never cared if I did overtime.

Did 3 twelve hr shifts, and had four days off.

More often than not they have better, more state-of-the-art equipment.

Patients don't stay long so you always have to update yourself with the changes.

Skilled Nursing:

More long term residents so u always know what to do i.e easier to develop a routine since your residents stay longer.

8 hr shifts, so mostly I've done five days a week.

Smaller work environment, so I bonded faster with the team.

Records are less computerized, so lots of flipping files and folders.

Remember...

This is just my experience, and since there are so many variables involved when comparing various experiences in various facilities, in various states, all this is not set in stone.

havehope · May 7, 2014

I love the hospital compared to skilled nursing. My personal experience: there is better teamwork at a hospital, I have fewer patients, and get to learn new things all the time (which is great since i'm in nursing school), and the pay is better. At the hospital there is also more staff so this allows for better teamwork,etc.

mee9mee9 · May 11, 2014

tips on how to get hired at a hosptial. it seems with certfication its still harder to get hired