is a teaching hospital better experience than a nonteaching hospital?

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I am choosing between two offers, one is with a teaching hospital which is associated with a large university, the second is a very large hospital but is not a teaching hospital. The first has a pension plan, something I haven't seen as a benefit in many years...very appealing for someone like me who just turned 50, but otherwise the benefits are comparable. I like both jobs a lot but the nonteaching hospital I favor a bit more. With the teaching hospital I would work in intermediate neuro trauma, the other geriatric med-surg.

Can anyone shed some light on whether the learning experience and/or job environment would be better at the teaching hospital or would things be about the same?

thank you!

If at 50 you think you will just settle down into one institution or the other I would pick

the one with the pension as it meets your retirement needs.

As a younger person, in my recklessness, I am less concerned with retirement and more

excited by the opportunity to seek out challenges as a nurse. I am not afraid to switch jobs after few years. So for me the best is the teaching hospital where younger professional are doing research and learning.

congrats on the offers! Many new grads would be grateful for just one offer.

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not that i am saying you are ungrateful. :heartbeat

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Specializes in CCU.

Both hospitals are large. The nonteaching hospital is 750 beds. Ah...I'd like to do them both...maybe one I can do just a shift a week or PRN! I could be giving myself too much credit for energy!

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Specializes in CCU.

The pension certainly is REALLY attractive!!!

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intermediate neuro trauma will have a lower pt ratio and because it's neuro might

be a calmer unit. neuro units like to be a place of calm, its good for the brain.

the geriatric unit sounds a little more busy.

I would go for the teaching hospital. Focus more on the unit environs rather

than the whole hospital in making your decision. BC no matter how much you like the hospital if the unit is terrible you will quit or move on quickly. Look at if you feel like

they are going to give you support and teach you. I would also try night

shift. Night shift tends to be more supportive from my exp. Dont do 3-11,

thats when all the transfers happen and you will be so busy.

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