Small hospital vs. Bigger hospital

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Hi Everyone,

I interviewed last week at a small and big hospital and I cannot decide if offered both positions if a smaller hospital would be a better learning environment compared to a bigger hospital environment. I feel the bigger hospitals may offer better opportunities as far as moving around to different facilities in the long run since they have multiple locations while the smaller hospital only has that one locations. The smaller hospital if offered a position will be on a medical floor and at bigger hospital will be on a cardiac/telemetry floor.

I don't know too much about working as a RN in a small hospital environments vs big hospital environment. If anyone can share their experiences with me that would be helpful.

Thank you.

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I have worked both and I like the small hospital feel. Everyone knows everyone. The administrative staff, CNO, CEO, CFO, know me BY NAME... and make rounds to all the units multiple times a week. I really like the closeness. I think larger hospitals have lots to offer experience wise. However, I hated m/s... not really the unit itself, just with having so many patients and never feeling like I was giving my patients the attention they need.... I love my ICU position the best of everything I have worked. Check the difference (or maybe you know) with their nurse/patient ratios... that is definitely a factor to consider when deciding on a job. What sort of support you have as far as unit secretary, techs, etc. These all make a difference as far as what your experience will be.

Both have things to offer. Do you like cardiac? If so, and if this is something you maybe want to specialize in, that would be a great choice for you.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I went from a 30 bed country hospital to a 400 bed urban hospital. Honestly I prefer the larger setting. I feel like I get a lot of experience, I have better networking potential (working on moving into nurse education), and I prefer living near a large city than in a 10K community. However at the smaller hospital I also worked 11p-7a and hated the five days a week. Much happier in the 12 hour work environment.

I also work on a complex med-surg/tele floor and love cardiac nursing. So for me, it's a perfect fit.

I would make a list of what your priorities are/pros/cons and see which one fits!

Best of luck getting an offer!

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A co-worker started out in a small hospital. There the nurse wore many hats. They did their own breathing treatments, did their own EKG's, drew blood for lab work, mixed their own IV's, etc. The hospital had cardio/pulmonary techs, pharmacists, and phlebotomists, but for routine situations the nurse did it all. It gave her a lot of experiences larger hospitals don't offer the floor nurse.

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A co-worker started out in a small hospital. There the nurse wore many hats. They did their own breathing treatments, did their own EKG's, drew blood for lab work, mixed their own IV's, etc. The hospital had cardio/pulmonary techs, pharmacists, and phlebotomists, but for routine situations the nurse did it all. It gave her a lot of experiences larger hospitals don't offer the floor nurse.

Not all small hospitals are like this... the only thing that we don't have that we had at the larger hospital is IV therapy. IV therapy is great, but I had literally no IV starting skills when I started at the smaller hospital, so in that sense I do agree that the smaller hospital allows you to be current on all your skills because you don't have other depts doing it for you. I know of larger hospitals that their IV team changes central line dressings and does the blood transfusions. Sure this is nice to free your time, but if you go to a hospital that does not offer this, and have to do it yourself, you may not know "how".

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Thank you for all the responses. It's helpful.

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