Opportunity-rural hospital or urban hospital

pdxmomazon · Jan 25, 2011

Not an RN (yet;-) ) But I wold never willingly commute 1-2hrs. (I'm assuming you mean each way) Growing up, my father was a teacher, and he/we had a 45minute-1hr commute each way to his/our school. It was miserable. Unless moving closer is an option, I'd choose to stay closer to home. (although personally the large hospital sounds more exciting/challenging/has a greater long-term career potential and exactly where I'd want to be!)

belgarion · Jan 25, 2011

Working in a rural hospital I can only reply from that point of view.

Pros-

Less stressful, more relaxed atmosphere

More of a "family" atmosphere, fewer employees = fewer cliques

Better nurse to patient ratios (sometimes)

Cons-

Less pay (bears repeating), lousy benefits

Much less opportunity to advance your career

Not much variety in patients, again, less opportunity to learn.

Lots of frequent flyers, I know some patients med lists better than they do.

Not the most cutting edge equipment. We have a narc box, not a Pyxis.

You have to decide what is best for you. I commute about 45 minutes each way to get to my job so I can imagine what a drag two hours in big city traffic would be. The pay is about 3 dollars an hour less than most of the "city" facilities but I don't run myself to death every night. I get tired of seeing the same patients over and over for the same complaints but at the same time familiarity has it's advantages.

But it is the lack of learning opportunities that has me looking at jobs in the city, which btw, would only be about a 15 minute drive. If you are happy with the idea of the same routine most of the time and the commute is bothering you, then you should go for the rural facility. If career advancement and learning opportunities are your thing, go with the big teaching hospital. Like I said, it's about what is important to YOU.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2011

For me, I find people putting a lot of emphasis on things like what unit to go to so on so forth, but that doesn't seem to be what makes me like/dislike a job in the long term.

For me, what matters is:

1. Schedule, I hate nights.

2. Parking: Am I paying out the wazoo just to come to work?

3. Commute: I find anything > 1/2 hr annoys me after awhile.

4. Stability: Are low census call offs the rule or the exception?

5. Charting and med passing: Is it paper or computer. I have a strong preference for computer.

In the short term, I can do anything for a year. But, this is the stuff I find myself focusing on after a year. Someone said to me "Nursing is rough everywhere, so choose the place most suited for you with commute and schedule" once and I agree.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 25, 2011

i worked in two small rural community hospitals. if i had a choice, i would have started out in a large teaching hospital in an urban area because i was born and raised in a big city environment. my life-style, personality, and personal career goals are more suited to an urban area hospital environment. on the other hand, i work with wonderful nurses who were raised and/or born within this small rural community that have no desire to leave. they are content and in their eyes, very successful.

for instance, they love caring for patients they knew back in high school. they love helping and serving their surrounding community and have established a reputation for doing so during their off hours. also, many love to run into people they know at the local mall, grocery store, or school, etc.... to include the doctor that birthed him/her and his/her siblings, their pediatricians and dentist, and the teacher that encouraged him/her to attend college who is now his/her kid's football coach..... in fact, many of my co-workers are not interested in how things are done at the bigger hospitals because this hospital, their community hospital, is their baby!!! they make it and develop it into what they want and are proud of what they accomplish even if it is very small in comparison. therefore, i think you need to clarify your life-style goals as well as your career goals.

do you plan to remain in the small town or not? if so, what are your career goals and how will you be able to accomplish them in that community? if you choose the urban hospital you may meet your career goals, but will you meet your life-style goals?

by the way, do not worry about what others may think of your choice. the people whom think you should definitely choose one over the other are not the same person that has to live with the choice you make. gl!

WindyhillBSN · Jan 25, 2011

Rural-less stress, less headaches, but less money

Urban- more stress, more experience, more money.

Perpetual Student · Jan 25, 2011

The commute for the urban job sounds miserable. I imagine you'd burn up a good bit of the extra pay in gas, too.

Guest296136 · Jan 25, 2011

a long commute after a 12 hour shift is brutal and will wear you down. Go with the rural until you get your feet wet again and then maybe consider something else.

AndyLyn · Jan 25, 2011

I work in a small, rural ED and love it. It's the best job I've ever had. We take good care of our patients, and it's like a big family there. I know all the docs, all their little quirks, and what I can order to help speed things along. No job is worth a 2 hour drive, especially if it's more stressful while you're there! Plus, working in an ED is sooo good for your nursing skills. They get used and used until they shine.

Guest717236 · Jan 25, 2011

If the commute were shorter, I would favor the teaching hospital.

I found the environment more interesting because of the

interaction with house staff and attendings . Many of the medical house staff/attendings

were individuals doing research and making advances to their specialty.

If you love learning, it is a great environment but more demanding at times.

In light of gas prices,parking fees, and the stresses of nursing in this

economy, I would start with the rural hospital. It would be a closer knit

group and you could update your practice without

having a long commute home each shift.

Whatever job you take, wishing you the best!

DesiderataRN · Jan 25, 2011

Thank you everyone for your feedback. You have given me a lot of food-for-thought. I will keep you all posted on which hospital I choose and how I am doing witht the adjustment back to bedside. Thank you so much for your support!

hope3456, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2011

Just curious-when you say'rural' exactly how big is the hospital in what size of town? i worked in a rural facility (60 bed hospital in a town of 6800) and it was horrible. No pixis machines, antiquated computer charting, paper MARS, no supplies, ect. Is this the norm in a rural hospital?