a 1st med-surg job: big hospital or small, that is the question

[Sterlink]

I will graduate in May (08). I am completing a preceptorship in a Cardiothoracic ICU. But I want more time to become proficient over-all. I am in a small to medium size city with 2 decent sized hospitals. Med-surg floors can be chaotic, and pt to nurse ratios can be 5,6,7 to 1. I have smaller community hospitals within a 30 or 45 minute drive. So...should I sacrifice exposures to higher acuities and challenges and work instead at a smaller community hospital? I was ok with the idea until some RNs told me I would not learn anything that way.

I appreciate any advice out there.

Thanks!

[helper T cell]

To me no matter where you start work as a new grad it will be a challenging learning expierence. When I first started back in Jan. my brain literally felt like a computer down loading new information at a very high rate. Way different from nursing school and internships. There is so much to learn at our early stage, new job new people learning to work with your preceptor, being more proficient at the skills, learning new skills

And then there is the big picture of assessing our pts. and keeping up with changes that they are having.

I would go to the bigger hospital for several reasons. True more things to see but also it is closer to where you live and you will find that the 12 hour shifts leave you minimal time for family, rest etc. plus as a new nurse I often have to stay late to finish my charting a habit I hope to break.

Good luck and congrats on finishing up.

[Austinite]

I too am curious about which would be a better start. Anymore input? Thx!