The "Perfect Hospital"

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Specializes in Postpartum, L&D, Mother-Baby.

OK nurses, I have an issue. I have only been working as a RN for 2 years. The first hospital I worked at was dangerous as all outdoors, and many of the employees there were afraid that our licenses were on the line every day. The hospital was 1500 miles away from home (I could not find anything closer to home because I had no experience). 2 months ago I moved much much closer to home and began a new job at a new hospital which is much safer than the first. I like my job but am plauged with thoughts of "did I chose the wrong hospital to work at?" when travel nurses at this hospital talk about shortcomings they see with this hospital. I guess I listen to what they have to say because they have been to many facilities and see things that this hospital can be doing better. I know there is no such thing as "the perfect hospital" and every hospital will have its issues. How do I get over this issue? :confused:

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Find a job that's not in a hospital. Just kidding. Of course some hospitals are better than others; not every hospital is created equal, and some hospitals are better managed than others, and hire better nurses, do more to retain nurses, etc. I wouldn't place too much weight in what the travel nurses say. If you're happy there, and it's a safe environment, then who cares what they say? Don't let someone else bring you down (even though they're not intentionally doing so, though I'm not quite sure what benefit it is to discuss with nurses there that there are greener pastures in other areas of the country). If I were a travel nurse, I wouldn't be saying, "Oh man, your hospital looks like an aged cow compared to the Hilton Hospital in Orange County." That's just not very nice lol.

If you're happy there, that's what matters. If you're not, then after a good period of time, you can search for another nursing job in a non-hospital setting.

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Specializes in M/S, ICU, ICP.

I think part of what you may be feeling is what they call reality shock. Schools try to warn nursing students about it but nothing can really prepare you. All facilities have issues, some more than others. There are facilities that are truly dangerous to work in for one reason or another. Some places are a better "fit" than others because of the location or type of nursing or even the phase in your life. As long as humanity has been on this earth there have been complaints of short staffing and higher acuity patients and the "do more with less" undertow. It is better to focus on patient care and not the politics.

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Specializes in Pedi.
OK nurses, I have an issue. I have only been working as a RN for 2 years. The first hospital I worked at was dangerous as all outdoors, and many of the employees there were afraid that our licenses were on the line every day. The hospital was 1500 miles away from home (I could not find anything closer to home because I had no experience). 2 months ago I moved much much closer to home and began a new job at a new hospital which is much safer than the first. I like my job but am plagued with thoughts of "did I chose the wrong hospital to work at?" when travel nurses at this hospital talk about shortcomings they see with this hospital. I guess I listen to what they have to say because they have been to many facilities and see things that this hospital can be doing better. I know there is no such thing as "the perfect hospital" and every hospital will have its issues. How do I get over this issue? :confused:

What are the things the travelers are bringing to your attention? Are they things you can live with? Are they things you can change?

As you have already realized, there is no such thing as the "perfect" hospital. If you come to the conclusion that this hospital is not the right fit for you, you can move on in the future.

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Let me begin my reply with a quote from the rocket scientist, Werner von Braun: "I have learned to use the word 'impossible' with the greatest of caution". PERFECT hospitals and perfect healthcare delivery are possible and do exist, even if only today in "parts" of the hospital. I am sympathetic to the plight of nurses. Nurses are assigned complete responsibility for coordinating and delivering Patient care without complete authority. A starting point for understanding your opportunity to catalyze a transformation of your hospital can be found by performing the same Internet search that led me to this posting. perfect hospital Good day!

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In a perfect world, we would all be perfect nurses and give perfect care in perfect hospitals:). But alas, it is not a perfect world, and we are imperfect and so we try to do imperfect things perfectly.

To answer your question, no there is no such thing as a perfect hospital but there is such a thing as a perfect hospital for you.

(I should pen an article on this:unsure:)

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Interesting. Thank you for your comment. Have you performed the web search I suggested above?

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