Good Hospital Bad Unit, or Bad Hospital Good Unit?

Sour Lemon · Feb 7, 2017

Hi guys!
So I've worked at this hospital now for only a month. The facility itself is absolutely amazing, magnet status, wonderful administration, we have the unique experience of nuns helping us care for the patients, and overall it's just great. But I absolutely hate the unit I'm on. I've only been on the unit for 3 weeks, and the staff is wonderful and friendly but I hate the population and in general, I just hate the job. It's a neuro med surg unit. I have absolutely no interest in strokes, seizures, or adults for that matter. I took it because I needed a job. It's also an hour away from my home.
The local hospital in my town pays the same and obviously would eat up less gas. I've also found out that they're hiring now, in the unit I actually like a lot, which is L&D/nursery, and I know a few of the women there who are all very friendly. It's just not a prestigious hospital and it's not known for being a great hospital, particularly their med surg floor.
My question is, should I stick out the next 7 months at the magnet hospital in a unit I hate until I can transfer, or do I take the job in my home town in a unit I like but at a mediocre hospital?
Thank you in advance!!

When you say, "take the job", has it actually been offered to you yet? If not, I'd apply, see if I got an interview and go from there. As of yet, there's not much of a decision to make.

maraacaitlinn · Feb 7, 2017

Thank you Sour Lemons for correcting my wording error. I did say "take the job" and you are correct in saying that as of right now I don't have a choice to make. I guess I should've have said "take the job if offered." I guess I thought that would've been implied.

I do have all of the qualifications for the unit that they require as well as recommendations from people that work on that unit already. So far, my prospects for getting the job look pretty good. I would have applied before taking my current position had this L&D/nursery position been available beforehand.

allnurses Guide · Feb 7, 2017

Apply. Go to the interview if invited. Ask all your questions and then weigh out the pros and cons. If you hate the population you are working with right now it is probably because, at one month in, you are barely proficient and likely pretty stressed. You will experience that in the new position as well, though your passion for the specialty may help with that a bit. Some people get into the specialty they thought they wanted and find it doesn't live up to their expectations. You won't know until you try it out.

The fact that the med-surg floor has a "reputation" doesn't mean much to be honest, in reference to the whole hospital. Different floors have different cultures. The fact that where you work now is an hour away would be significant in my world. I am not willing to drive that far to work unless I have no choice. Others do it on a regular basis and are fine with it. You mentioning it in your original post tells me you probably aren't crazy about the amount of time you spend in the car.

If you have the option to check out something closer, take the opportunity. There is no downside to applying. Don't try to work out whether or not you will make the switch until you have the option to do so. Once you start cultivating discontentment and putting one foot out the door it can sting hard to have to pull it back in if you don't get the job offer.

Jules A, MSN · Feb 7, 2017

As someone who lives between 2 large metropolitan areas with many highfalutin "magnet" hospitals and a ton of community hospitals its just not that impressive especially imo because their rate of pay is often lower due to their self-inflated resume wow factor which I think is ridiculous. My experience has generally been that it is more friendly and supportive at the community hospitals so unless you are moving across country where a fancy name is recognizable that concern is likely a moot point.