Small hospital stopping services?

[7vt0*8]

Hi all,

I've been a nurse for about a year now and recently switched hospitals to a small hospital of about 70 beds within the area. I recently found out that in January they are stopping Endo services. No EGDs or colonoscopies, and possibly stopping abdominal ultrasounds. I am a little upset about this because I did not know about this when I was hired in August. I like the hospital, but am wondering if this will have any harm on my med-surg experience and getting hired in a hospital in the future. The hospital also doesn't do cardiac caths or see dialysis patients. I like the hospital, but just don't like some of its limitations. It seems to be getting more limited. Let me know what you think. Thanks in advance.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I have worked in a couple of small hospitals over the years. You do develop skills in certain things; for instance, we had no IV teams, no respiratory personnel. The nurses did everything. If there was a procedure the hospital couldn't do, we simply shipped the patient out to a neighboring hospital for the test or procedure, then returned them. Many of our local residents preferred to come to the smaller hospital because they felt like they got more personable care.

[DowntheRiver]

If you're in FL, your facility will probably be bought out sooner or later if it hasn't been already. I can't even think of a hospital that isn't owned by a large corporation around here. Maybe in the Panhandle?

[RNliveoak]

Hi passionfornursing77,

I agree with brownbrook. Additionally, I also have worked at a small hospital before, and it actually did close down eventually. Some of the staff was absorbed into the nearby sister hospital, and some were not. I was not, and so I began travel nursing because of this. It was actually the boost I needed! So, even though I was concerned about losing my job due to the closure, everything worked out.

I also think that some of these things might be out of your control and also hard to predict anyways. You will never know what the eventual factors will be that will go into an employer making a decision to hire an employee, and it truly comes down to the level of the individual making those decisions. Even then, I imagine they will be much more likely to choose based on assessed traits like conscientiousness and openness or perceived motivation to succeed at their organization. I really hope this was helpful and that everything turns out well for you!

[7vt0*8]

I feel the same way too. A lot of frequent fliers I've realized. I do worry about the lack of skills we don't perform, such as CAPD and PCA Pumps.

[7vt0*8]

@ DowntheRiver I'm actually not in Florida, I'm in NY. I need to change that lol. We're part of a larger network and considered a smaller satellite hospital of a larger one.

[7vt0*8]

Hi passionfornursing77,

I agree with brownbrook. Additionally, I also have worked at a small hospital before, and it actually did close down eventually. Some of the staff was absorbed into the nearby sister hospital, and some were not. I was not, and so I began travel nursing because of this. It was actually the boost I needed! So, even though I was concerned about losing my job due to the closure, everything worked out.

I also think that some of these things might be out of your control and also hard to predict anyways. You will never know what the eventual factors will be that will go into an employer making a decision to hire an employee, and it truly comes down to the level of the individual making those decisions. Even then, I imagine they will be much more likely to choose based on assessed traits like conscientiousness and openness or perceived motivation to succeed at their organization. I really hope this was helpful and that everything turns out well for you!

Did you ever have any trouble getting hired by a travel agency coming from a small hospital? Just wondering what they thought and how they perceived you :)

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I love working with nurses that have experience from critical access hospitals. They become very self reliant. They're not used to some of the luxaries buffet hospitals have, so they have to become good at things like IVs, drug calcs, and multitasking. They also need to learn excellent assessment skills, because you need to pick up on those subtle signs of deterioration early on. These skills all translate well to bigger hospitals.

[brownbook]

I feel the same way too. A lot of frequent fliers I've realized. I do worry about the lack of skills we don't perform, such as CAPD and PCA Pumps.

Remember the basics of nursing, human anatomy and physiology don't change. There will always be new devices, pumps, computer systems, meds, etc. The best nurse in a large trauma hospital needs to learn these about new devices, charting systems, etc., just as much as you would if you get a job in another facility.

I was in management 5 years and so worried I had lost all my nursing skills, didn't know how to work the new monitors, etc. I went back to bed side nursing and was able to learn, or re-learn what, i needed.

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

These little HOSPITAL blues

Are melting away

I'll make a brand new start of it

In old New York

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere

It's up to you, New York, New York ....

OKAY, sorry Frank, I took a bit of creative license.

Look, you are a bump off critical access. I wouldn't worry about lack of bells, whistles and diagnostics. 95% of good care is true hands on assessment. Do this right and your assessment skills are going to be finely honed. Like, laser focused. Lay hands on folks. Auscultation is your friend. Listen. Look. Feel. Be great. Be that nurse.

You got this.

I think my time in small hospitals, critical access hospitals was amazing.

It will define you. It will not limit you in any way, unless you allow it to limit you.

I truly think good assessment is the key to everything I do right.

Good luck.

Let us know how it goes. I predict success.

:angel:

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Remember that sick patients don't bypass your little hospital, you'll still get them rolling in. You have to stabilize them before you ship them to the next place, even the pregnant women. No one cares that there's no OB department. You'll get great at those initial ABC assessments.