big or small hospital?

JaimeeG · Apr 5, 2007

My first OR job was in one of the busiest free-standing surgical hospitals in the U.S. We had 12 ORs and stayed busy constantly. I currently work in a small, 20-bed hospital with only 3 ORs. I like the feel of the small hospital because it's quieter and we have more of a team environment than I experienced in the bigger facilities. I often times find myself wanting a bit more excitement though! We do a lot of general surgery and foot cases, and we don't see a lot of variety. I have been spending a lot of time in outpatient lately though, and I enjoy doing something a bit different and interacting with the patients more.

Jaimee

brewerpaul · Apr 7, 2007

Watch out for those foot surgeons-- they're a bunch of weirdos!

(just kidding-- I'm a podiatrist myself!)

I like small for the same reasons already given. I'll be starting in the OR in June, and I went and shadowed in that OR yesterday and immediately felt like one of the family. Although fairly small, this hospital does a nice variety of surgery, so I don't think it will get very boring at all.

IsseyM · Apr 12, 2007

Which is your preference? I have done 2 OR jobs. One had 10 OR's and the other had 1 OR. I loved the smaller hospital and would never go back to a lg one.
What do you prefer?

Well i haven't worked in different hospitals but i have worked in different OR departments within the hospital. Currently I work in the main OR which consists of 18 rooms. We are really busy and do a variety of procedures. The other OR departments have 4 rooms. They are not busy. I enjoyed the smaller OR departments because i could find everything i needed close by vs the main OR i have to run quite far or downstairs to gather supplies (if no one is available to get them for me). Also seems like doctors are more pleasant to work with in the smaller departments vs our main they seem more aggitated, impatient, frustrated, etc. Our main OR is not too organized either, it can be like chaos. Things get lost, not much help available, preference cards are not that great, etc.

I do like the main OR right now because i'm new and i need to be exposed to a variety of procedures but once i get my experience i'm going to a smaller place. I've also heard in larger hospitals you will take ALOT of call. Fortunately i don't have to take call yet but i'm sure they'll be asking me soon.

rncali · May 12, 2007

Ive worked in several hospitals in their main ORs. Some large and some half the size. I quit working for 2 and a half years because of the amazing stress not because of the cases but because of the staff. Whats written above is correct. Larger hospitals tend to be less cohesive, lots of back biting, many territorial issues and people getting away with alot more attitude. I came back to OR Nursing because I really missed it but decided I wanted to be in an OR where theres no call, no weekends and no nights. So I picked a smaller setting. One OR specialty clinic. So far I love it. People are more team oriented pleasent. The docters are more pleasent. Coming from a larger OR its interesting because the surgi centers are a cake walk in comparison. I would never recommend a fresh grad to go into a small OR first. You'll be stunt your growth . But going from large to small is definately the way to go at least for me.

Ayvah, RN · May 16, 2007

...So I picked a smaller setting. One OR specialty clinic. So far I love it. People are more team oriented pleasent. The docters are more pleasent. Coming from a larger OR its interesting because the surgi centers are a cake walk in comparison. I would never recommend a fresh grad to go into a small OR first. You'll be stunt your growth . But going from large to small is definately the way to go at least for me.

Hm, why do you say that new grads should not go into a small OR first? Your entire post seemed to be saying how much better of an environment the smaller ORs are vs larger ones. I am considering going into the OR after a stressful time in med-surg. It sounds a lot more pleasant to go into a better environment, much less likely to burn me out after my med-surg time

rncali · May 16, 2007

Because, you are gaurenteed more latitude in the market the more experience you have. The surgicenter I went to only hired me because I already had experience in the OR over the other people who were applying for the same position. If you are lucky to get a job in a small clinic and you have never been to a big OR you are missing out on alot of learning.

ajaxgirl · May 18, 2007

Because, you are gaurenteed more latitude in the market the more experience you have. The surgicenter I went to only hired me because I already had experience in the OR over the other people who were applying for the same position. If you are lucky to get a job in a small clinic and you have never been to a big OR you are missing out on alot of learning.

I disagree. I went to a 10 OR hospital and it was difficult since everything was new, even the basics were new to me. It was way too much to absorb. I survived. I then went to a 1 OR hospital and loved it. I wish I did that 1st in order to get the basics down pat, then I could have focused more on the details. I wish I did small then large.