Teaching vs. Non-teaching hospital

[ericdb68]

I wanted some opinions on which kind of hospital would be better for a new grad to start out in the ICU. Teaching or non-teaching. Do you find you have more responsibility with no residents on site? Just wanting some thoughts.

Thanks

[RNperdiem, RN]

I recommend the teaching hospitals. In ICU, there are always doctors available.

Teaching hospitals often have dedicated nursing education departments and are often more equipped to provide a solid educational foundation. Non-teaching hospitals can run nursing ed on a shoestring by refusing to hire new grads to specialty departments.

Teaching hospitals see more interesting cases. I work at a level 1 trauma center and take patients other hospitals transfer. Major trauma, transplants, burns, are things found in teaching hospitals.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Another vote for teaching hospitals.

I love working with the residents. I feel like we converse more together about the patient instead of just being told what to do.

I also get to see really interesting cases, and receive really interesting orders! Many times I get to call and say, "Um, did you really want to do THIS order??? You know the patient has blank and blank, right???"

Lol, I love teaching hospitals!

[proclivity]

teaching hospital.....by far.

[Dinith88]

My vote is for non-teaching hospitals. Who wants to learn stuff anyway? That sux. I'd much rather not learn.

[TopherSRN]

I say private, because you'll actually learn how to think critically and not just page the resident/intern. Also often times the residents/interns are just as clueless as you, or even moreso.

[AliRae]

I'll throw in my vote for teaching hospital. They tend to have well-established orientation/internship programs for new grads. It's essential to have a thorough orientation with a good mix of classroom and preceptorship if you want to start out as a new grad in an ICU setting. I know we have attendings in our floor who think new grads can't succeed in an ICU. Given the proper start, though, it's a grand world!

[alex1]

I say private, because you'll actually learn how to think critically and not just page the resident/intern. Also often times the residents/interns are just as clueless as you, or even moreso.

I work in a teaching hospital and I do alot of critical thinking. Its a team effort. Sometimes the resident can offer a little more knowledge on a situation. We usually brainstorm together to provide the best care for the patient. Even in codes, sometimes the residents/interns don't have the best answer and they depend on seasoned nurses to help them out.

alex

[nursenpnk, RN]

Teaching all the way! I was a new grad in the MSICU and I loved the organized orientation process and being around doctors that were also learning ! I worked at nite so there were many times where we were discussing a particular condition and both bringing something to the table to determine what was best for this particular pt situation. I also liked participating in rounds during the day because it was a teach hospital the attending docs really helped put the whole picture together for complicated pts ect.

[JT RN]

I'd say teaching hospitals are probably the way to go, however, don't completely rule out non-teaching hospitals either. I just started at a non-teaching hospital and the orientation program is great, the education department is very on top of things, and the physicians are very open to discussion and teaching. It all depends on the hospital. Also, before I started as an RN I worked at a teaching facility, and there are always those residents who are... difficult to work with, although they are few and far between.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I say private, because you'll actually learn how to think critically and not just page the resident/intern. Also often times the residents/interns are just as clueless as you, or even moreso.

Uh, not only am I NOT clueless, but I actually have critical thinking skills as well! Imagine that!

[Hoozdo, ADN]

I think a new grad would benefit more from a teaching hospital. You can pick up a lot of tips from the attendings teaching the residents. The residents are really eager to learn and not jaded like a hospitalist is at a non-teaching hospital. One thing to be aware of though is stupid, wrong, and nonsensical orders - that will be a learning experience for you too. You will also get a lot of experience doing bedside procedures that simply are not done in non-teaching hospitals.

I started as a new grad in a teaching hospital and I am not sorry. I learned many things there right along with the learning residents. It is a good atmosphere for learning.

I now work in a non-teaching facility. The biggest difference is the doctors I am now calling expect me to know what to order and ask for it and he says OK. There is no pre-game huddle, or making grand rounds, or much discussion between doctors on how to treat the pt in the best way. It would be much more difficult for a new grad in that situation.