Small vs Big hospitals??

TooterIA · May 26, 2005

I have never worked in a big hospital but I can give you my opinion on a small one. I have worked in a 25 bed hospital for two years and I love it. Since we are so small, most staff crosstrains-meaning I have worked in OB, ER, and Med/Surg. I am now training into surgery. I love that I know all of the hospital's staff and we get in a variety of patients (personally I think I would get bored on a heart unit, but that is just me). There are many large hospitals in my area that I could work at but I love where I work!

I am not sure what you mean by having staff set up differently. In my facility there is one supervisor for each shift and the supervisor goes to all OB deliveries and helps out in ER if needed. Then on Med/Surg there is a 'team leader' who assigns patients and breaks.

Jessica

nursepotter05, RN · May 26, 2005

I work at a level one regional medical center. I have done clinical rotations at smaller hospitals. At the big hospital, you have every thing that you need at your finger tips, and there is a lot more ancillary staff to assist you. However, every one knew who every one else was at the small hospital. They knew if you had just started the job. They knew the pharmacy workers, cafeteria workers, ect by name.I found you have to do more with less, so to speak,at the small hospital.I personally like the big hospital, but I live in a very small town, and I think I like the change of working for a medical center who has almost as many employees as live in my town!!

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · May 26, 2005

I have worked both too. the big places have better pay and more opportunities but the smaller ones have more warmth. the smaller ones can be the best place to work if you plan on retiring soon but bigger ones have better benifits. the small place i was working was bougth by a big one and turned into a psych hospital and offered all the nurses to work there if they wanted or transfer to a big place that was owned by the same company and we could keep all our seniority. I chose that. I have to say I am not as happy but I do make more money with it. I am torn both ways but there are some of my opinions for you.

fergus51 · May 26, 2005

I've done both. I prefer working in bigger hospitals because you get to see the biggest variety of patients in your specialty (meaning for me, I always got to see the biggest variety of NICU and OB patients because smaller hospitals couldn't provide them with care). I get to see everything from a 23 weeker to a term baby who is just a little jaundiced. I also like the increased training opportunities, the opportunities to change specialties but stay in the same hospital, the increased number of docs and support personnell, etc. I did like the familiarity of the smaller hospitals, but that can also be a bad thing sometimes.... Plus, I know all my unit's staff even though we're big.

TooterIA · May 27, 2005

Dalzac it is interesting that you say that bigger hospitals have better pay and better benefits. In my area the smaller hospitals pay better, have better retirement programs, and the health insurance is not only great, but less than half the price than it would be in a larger facility. Our annual raises are also better than what large hospitals give. I guess it just depends on the hospitals.

Jessica

zacarias, ASN, RN · May 28, 2005

I've worked in a large teaching hospital and a smaller community hospital. I SO prefer the larger teaching hospitals. The nurses and doctors are equal members of the team in a large hospital. The smaller hospital I worked at did a lot of things behind-the-times and were bending over backwards for the docs; Not my thing.

KPOP · May 29, 2005

Hi There.

I Think I Would Like To Work In A Small Facility When I Go Back To Nursing And I Will Go Back As A Cna First Before Lvn

Now Adays Not Like In Some Cities Even Now Working For A Small Facility Could Be Quite Liberal Meaning To Say You Call In Sick And They Bring You A Banana Bread

But Some Cities In Usa Whether It Be Big Or Small Facility They Do It Exactly To The T

But They Have Great Benefits O/t, Sick Pay, Vacation, 401k And Perhaps Christmas Party And Bonus Or Might Even Have Floating Holiday

And Both May Also Have Cafeteria Or I Know Some Snf Have Showers For Both Nurses And Doctors And Locker Rooms

Right Now If I Will Go Back To Work And I Will Have In My Hours In My Day Work As A Cna I Will Probably Work At Either Meadowbrook Convalescent Hospital Or Devonshire Care Center

Then When I Am An Lvn I Might Work At The Shut In Alzheimer's For My First Work At The Sunwest Village Health Care

I Would Love Also To Work With My Husband As His Secretary

And Also I Would Love To Do My Own Home Base Business

Might Even Call It Kathy's Best Office Business And With A Subscidiary Of Kathy's House Cleaners

Well Good Luck

Mabuhay!

Kathy

Kpop