All Hospitals the same?

[eyeball]

Long story short: After 13 months of suffering through my first RN job on a chaotic and unsupportive MS/Tele floor, I have been offered a new job at another hospital at an intermediate care unit. My initial impressions have been good (strong manager/ clean,new facilities, lower nurse pt ratio) but I realize I'm feeling just a little doubtful/fragile after the past year. I've had some mixed feelings about taking another hospital job. (It's very hard to find the community nurse positions everyone offers as an alternative to hospital work.) I feel relief at being able to leave the floor I'm on, but part of me is scared to death to work in another hospital. Another part of me is scared at being jobless. I have a lot of mixed feelings which are too much to go into here. My bottom line question is this and it's based on so much of what I read in AN: Are all hospitals the same? Are there any of you who found a large difference in units? Any tales of experience any of you can share will be appreciated.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I have worked in 4 different hospitals in a variety of departments. They are all different.

[DutchRN09]

I have worked at several departments at the same hospital. Each dept is different.

[I<3H2O, BSN, RN]

I agree with the PPs, every unit is different even within the SAME hospital!

[Simply Complicated]

I have worked quite a few units, as I did travel nursing. Everywhere is different. The big thing is, just go in with a positive attitude, ready to jump in and do what you can. Just be friendly, be a team player, and try not to compare things constantly to your old unit. I have worked in some great places. Keep in mind everyone's perception and experience is different. I had a contract that one of the other travelers asked me if I felt like I wasn't wanted, if I hated it, etc. I felt none of that, I felt very welcome. So just try to keep a positive attitude.

Good luck!!

[birdie22]

As above, all units are different. It's not where you work, but who you work with. That's the defining factor. Unfortunately, this is a big question mark in the equation that cant be answered. Is it too late to shadow a nurse at the potential new job? Then you can get a better feel for what its like working there (its nice to know the manager comes off as strong, as you said - but that really isnt a defining factor in your every day tasks at work in my opinion).

So if you want to take the people part out of the equation since that's really a toss up, I would compare the hospital facilities in general. Are they both teaching hospitals? Both private, both public? Are the patient populations similar (urban vs. rural)? These factors make a difference in the working conditions in my experience. I've working in small community hospitals that could barely afford the paper and the laundry bill and then I've worked at large teaching hospitals with docs around 24/7. There can be a real difference in the quality of care that is able to be provided to the patients. Just something to think about.

[PediNurse3]

I have worked at two different facilities and they couldn't be more different. It's definitely more than a difference in hospitals though, the units/floors are very different within the same facility. Good luck with your decision!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

The organization should define the culture, and its up to the managers and the shared governance structure to reinforce it. Working with a good team makes all the difference in the world

I've worked at 4 facilities, with a total of 7 departments or units. Only two were highly unpleasant, the other 90% of the time has been in generally good work environments.

So, No- all hospitals aren't the same.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

totally agree..... and i used to ask myself .....if i hate it here, do i have a lot to lose by trying something new? (just leave with the appropriate notice, so just in case, you are rehirable... you want that anyway) :)

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

The manager is most key person in shaping the culture of the unit. If they are good, they usually attract and keep other good people. Bad managers drive away good people very quickly.

[belgarion]

Are all hospitals the same? Are all people the same?

Hospitals are managed by and staffed by people. Answer the second question and you'll have the answer to the first.