hospitals

mattsmom81 · Apr 29, 2002

Preferably a not for profit...the corporate giants make all decisions on $$$$.

Preferably a teaching hospital....it's usually a better atmosphere.

Good management who really does some listening to the staff...knows how to organize and facilitate a unit....the most important is your direct line manager and how he/she runs your particular unit cuz they can make or break the unit morale. Decent pay and adequate staffing for safe care are essentials.

Docs with good reputations in the community and good patient outcomes. Preferably a bunch that doesn't treat nurses like dirt. I hate when that happens.

I can add more but I'll let others add to the list...:)

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Apr 29, 2002

Go visit the hospital (if possible) that you are considering. The initial "feel" of the place is important. Are the nurses smiling, do they seem to be professional, pleasant interaction noted between staff? OR, are the nurses scurrying about frantically, pained expressions on their faces, bad vibes in the air?

Atmosphere can vary greatly between units in the same hospital, even between night and dayshift on the SAME unit, so consider carefully:

1) Staff turnover. If staffing consistency is better at your local fast-food, something major is amiss. If, however, you see 50- or 60-year-old nurses still on the floor practicing, this is a very good sign (translates into: NURSE FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT).

2) Nurse/patient ratio. Is it sane, safe, and DOABLE?

Brownms46 · Apr 29, 2002

Checkout the want Ads for a while...and go for the hospital you don't see in the paper every week....and the one who rarely has an ad! Definitely stay away from the ones that have openings on all shifts... :cool:

Dr. Kate, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2002

Don't rule out the for profit hospitals, at least they are honest about what they're about. The not for profits have to make money and watch the bottom line just as closely, they just aren't as honest about it.

But really, what you need is to talk to as many people as possible who work there. What is good for one person isn't for another. You need to find a culture that is compatible with you. The hard part is that the corp. culture of a hospital can vary from unit to unit. There are units in my primary hospital I wouldn't work on a bet. You have to be willing to give a unit or hospital a chance. You also have to be willing to cut your loses and go elsewhere if the hospital is a bad fit.

Gomer · Apr 29, 2002

Parking (is it available? is there a waiting list? is it close by? is it free?)

Food (how good is the food service? would you eat there if you didn't have to? is there hot food for the night shift?)

Don't make me walk too far to work in a snowstorm; keep my belly fully at night -- I will be a happy camper.

(I write this with a tear in my eye, as there is nothing I can do about the sh**ty staffing, losey benefits, and low pay that we all receive. Ah, maybe in our next lives we will come back rich and not the beauties that we all are; then we will not need to work!)