Does working at a small hospital make me less of a nurse?

[Jaellys]

I was told that working in a small, 30 bed hospital as a med surg nurse makes me less of a nurse than one who works in a large hospital. Is this true?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

It's no more true than the debates about ICU nursing vs. med/surg nursing, ER nursing vs. floor nursing, acute care vs. ambulatory care nursing. You know what they say about opinions, right?

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." -Eleanor Roosevelt

[db2xs]

These are the types of people who say that unless you become an acute care nurse in med-surg, you are not a "real" nurse. They probably also say that we all have to live life the same way. This is totally untrue. Working in a smaller hospital gives you a different experience, that's all.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

The person who told you this is wrong. And why would you even listen to it?

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

Hell no!

if anything, working in a small hospital makes you more of a nurse because you have to do more with less.

less resources, less specialists, often less equipment.

my first job was in a 60 bed hospital and that's where I learned to think on my feet and improvise when necessary

[Libby1987]

Less of a nurse? Is that like less of a person?

True you may not have the same exposure as another facility might give you but only an idiot would say you are less of a nurse.

I'd hate to think you hang with idiots so are sure you accurately interpreted their intent?

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

"Less than a nurse" sounds quite like "just a little bit pregnant" for me.

[Wuzzie]

Is this a critical access hospital? Many nurses in these types of hospitals actually practice more independently than those in huge teaching hospitals. They frequently do not have 24 hour physician presence so guess who runs the codes until the on-call gets there? Or manages the trauma that just shows up at the door or the unexpected laboring patient who's crowning? One of my friends who worked in one in Texas had hair-raising tales about her shifts there including beating a rattlesnake, that had slithered in one of the doors, to death with a ball at that they kept just for that purpose.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Small hospital means you make it work with fewer resources. At the big university center I am a bit spoiled with my IV team, ICU transport team, residents in the unit at all times, 24hr hospital pharmacy(my old workplace locked up the pharmacy and went home at 10pm). If I call out sick, no worry, the flex team will send a nurse to take my assignment.

Very small hospitals will have you managing more situations independently. You will be a real nurse.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

I was told that working in a small, 30 bed hospital as a med surg nurse makes me less of a nurse than one who works in a large hospital. Is this true?

No, it is not.

[Jules A, MSN]

No but even considering it and asking for reassurance makes you sound a bit cluster B. In all fairness however I'm an old psych nurse on the lookout for maladaptive traits. :)

[loriangel14, RN]

Why would you listen to this ?