Large hospital=worse care?

augigi, CNS · Nov 20, 2006

Depends on the quantity and quality of nursing staff, not the hospital size.

wooh, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2006

If I had to generalize, I'd say that smaller community hospitals tend to be even more obsessed with PressGainey scores than big ones. So at the smaller hospitals, you'll get in more trouble over not giving an old man a wash cloth in the morning, which we all know should be done before attending to the chest pain in the next room.

Nursonegreat · Nov 20, 2006

i worked at a larger hospital (10 floors) and i felt that the hosp in general gave very good care (i floated a lot and worked a few different depts full time) and i worked in a smaller hospital and thought it was not as good care (3 floors). its all about the management i think cause the base is the same (nurses, aides who usually START with the same kinds of goals and dreams about nursing and gets molded into how many resourses the nurses/aides get to work with...whether it be personel or supplies or support)

Trauma Columnist · Nov 20, 2006

I lived in Indy for four years (92 to 96) and felt that the care the large hospitals was provided was just fine. I too went to Marian College for my LPN to ADN bridge and did clinicals at Riley, Methodist, St. Vincents and Wishard.

I worked at the VA on 10 th street in the MICU/CCU and loved it. Felt that we gave great care.

kate1114 · Nov 20, 2006

I don't think it matters the size of the hospital but the nurses and support staff. What do you think?

In a way, I agree with you. It does depend on the quality of nursing and support staff. You have to be able to attract people who are knowledgeable and committed to helping the patients. You could argue that a larger hospital in a larger city would have a larger pool of nurses to choose from in the area. Plus, if there are other hospitals competing for the same pool of patients, you would think that there would be a lot more attention to patient issues and promoting the quality of the hospital.

I heard that statement before at a smallish hospital I once worked. It was in response to my idea that we use some evidence-based developmental care for our neonates (I know... "crazy talk"). The comment, about being so much better than those big hospitals in X City, came totally out of the blue, and with a very defensive tone of voice.

I think it's difficult to generalize on something like this. Yes, I would think that a larger hospital could be impersonal and a bit imposing, but I also think that a smaller hospital can find it easier to get stuck in a rut, especially if they are the only show in town.

bethin · Nov 20, 2006

you'll get in more trouble over not giving an old man a wash cloth in the morning, which we all know should be done before attending to the chest pain in the next room.

Yeah, I got yelled at because I didn't get a wash cloth to a pt when another pt was having an asthma attack and was turning blue.

RazorbackRN, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2006

I work in a very small 70 bed county hospital. I have put applications in at the larger hospitals in Indianapolis because I will be moving there. Everyone has said how in larger hospitals you don't get good care. Do you think this is true? I find that hard to believe. One nurse said that while her father was in a large hospital he didn't get a washcloth for his face in the morning. Well, if she thinks that's bad care, then she has skewed sense of what care is.
I don't think it matters the size of the hospital but the nurses and support staff. What do you think?

In my area it's reversed. The small hospitals around here have a horrible reputation. The larger hospitals get rave reviews.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 20, 2006

I've worked in lots of hospitals in lots of cities. It didn't matter what hospital I worked in, in casual conversation when someone found out I worked at XYZ hospital, there was always someone who swore it was the worst hospital in the world and they wouldn't even take their dog there. *shrug* Either that or they want to gripe about their bill.

I agree with a previous poster who said that smaller hospitals tend nit-pick more. Maybe they aren't as busy? Maybe the patient's aren't as ill? I don't know what it is. Personally I like bigger hospitals because you get exposed to a wider variety of things and get to try more things. I think the important thing is to focus on your career goals and what you hope to gain from your new experience. I think it's exciting! I wish you the best of luck.