whats so good about working in a hospital?

RN403, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2014

I think it depends on the person and their career goals. A lot of people have goals to further their education and become NPs, CRNAs, etc. In order to obtain the positions one must have some acute care experience under their belt.

You are right that all nurses utilize their critical thinking skills, nursing knowledge, and nursing judgment on a daily in multiple settings, but, the acute care setting is sought after IMO because the experience is highly valued in the job market and allows for further educational advancements.

It all depends on the person and what they want to do. I don't think people who work in nursing homes are dumb. Maybe they haven't been exposed to all of the things we see as hospital nurses, but, that does not equate to dumb.

firstinfamily, RN · Oct 4, 2014

Hospitals have been eliminating LPNs since the late 80's, they still hire them but very few. Reasons for going into the hospital is mostly the learning opportunities. Traditionally hospitals were willing to put more dollars into training and expanding the nurses knowledge base. The variety of clinical rotations provide a better base for over all training. The ANA is mostly to blame for the elimination of LPN positions from acute care facilities, as well as insisting that all RNs be on a BSN entry level. I was trained by LPNs in the early 80's and have a great deal of respect for LPNs. It does seem however, that the LPNs have problems with the RNs being able to provide higher levels of care(RNs to do assessments, IV medications etc.) The hospitals are not the only ones to blame in this elimination process. The luer of the hospital as a place of employment comes down to the opportunities that are there for further education/training and being exposed to the latest and greatest in medical care. Where I live the hospitals are always changing the pts medications to the newest ones on the market only to have the patient request they be changed back to the tried and true older medication that costs them less. The hospitals started the protocols of tighter blood sugar controls and when our patients came to rehab they were having hypoglycemic problems. Was this due to the higher levels of insulin being administered or the patients increase levels of activity affecting their blood sugar, who knows? Hospitals typically pay more than LTC or ambulatory nurse positions. That may not always be the case but, in the past it was always true.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Oct 4, 2014

It's all about a person's career goals. It seems that you took a big leap from "hospitals don't hire LPNs" to "SNF workers are dumb."

Because I work acute, rehab, and in-facility SNF, I see the different nursing focus in each environment. I feel that I use pure nursing skills much more in rehab and in-facility SNF than I do acute. I do more extensive teaching, I'm more focused on improving functional abilities, I can get more creative with figuring out what tools and devices and approaches would assist the patient toward independence.

It's a different kind of nursing, and it meets the patient where he/she is NOW. To the patient's well-being, all of it is important. Who gives a flying fig what others who are not the recipients of our care think?

One of my co-workers in acute who was floating to SNF one time said, "It's so easy on that floor!" If she was stuck in the acute mind-set when she floated there, yes, it would have been easy. Pass meds and you're done because you don't have new orders coming in fast and furious. But, it's more than that. It takes a different mind-set, you MUST adjust to continue being an effective NURSE.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2014

Like it or not, non-acute care healthcare workplace settings outside the highly exalted hospital are the wave of the future as the bean counters shift more diagnostic testing, surgeries, complicated wound treatments, and nursing care into the community for cost containment.

Acute care hospital positions are declining in sheer numbers. It is time to get with the program or potentially get left behind while insisting that trauma ICU is "my dream and I refuse to lower my standards."

I worked as an LVN for four years before earning RN licensure. As an LVN in nursing homes and subacute rehab, I earned more money than many RNs in my city of residence. Local hospitals have no need to offer the most competitive pay rates because people willingly accept any wage just for the acute care experience on their resume.

my dream job is at psychiatric facility.

I totally loved my gig at a psychiatric facility. Never a dull moment.

OnlinePersona, LPN · Oct 4, 2014

Like it or not, non-acute care healthcare workplace settings outside the highly exalted hospital are the wave of the future as the bean counters shift more diagnostic testing, surgeries, complicated wound treatments, and nursing care into the community for cost containment.
Acute care hospital positions are declining in sheer numbers. It is time to get with the program or potentially get left behind while insisting that trauma ICU is "my dream and I refuse to lower my standards."
I worked as an LVN for four years before earning RN licensure. As an LVN in nursing homes and subacute rehab, I earned more money than many RNs in my city of residence. Local hospitals have no need to offer the most competitive pay rates because people willingly accept any wage just for the acute care experience on their resume.
I totally loved my gig at a psychiatric facility. Never a dull moment.

ooo i cant wait :wacky:

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 4, 2014

my dream job is at psychiatric facility.

We can use you! There are LVNs at both of the psych hospitals that I work at. At one facility the LVNs primarily do meds, vitals and help maintain the milieu. At the other, the LVNs are assigned a patient load and do total patient care for them, with a RN signing off on the LVN's continuing assessments, or doing anything the LVN's scope of practice won't let the LVN do.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2014

Personally, I don't think working in a hospital is any better than anywhere else! I'm really, really happy to NOT be a hospital nurse and will happy to never have to!

mariebailey, MSN, RN · Oct 4, 2014

I know what you mean! I did my 1st 6 years in public health nursing, where I gained invaluable skills with regard to critical thinking, teamwork, the healthcare system, & patient relationships. Just because I wasn't starting IVs, interpreting ECGs, & titrating drips doesn't mean the experience is any less valuable.

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2014

I'm a district nurse. Bascially that means I visit people in their homes to deliver nursing care anywhere from meds wounds, catheters, continence, palliative etc

I have no desire to work in a hospital. My assessment skills have vastly increased, critical thinking is an essential part of the job.

,

i hear the basis for people not wanting to be a LPN or rather wanting to be a RN is "hospitals are phasing out LPNs" or " hospitals dont hire LPNs"..... my question is whats so good about a hospital in the first place?

I get the impression people think those that dont work in a hospital = dumb/not so smart as hospital workers. You still use nursing skills/critical thinking/advocate/etc in a SNF right?
my dream job is at psychiatric facility.
who cares if hospital dont hire lpns? geez
:)

amoLucia · Oct 5, 2014

Folk who want the hospital position are freq blind-sided by the glamorous appeal of the fancy, schmancy hospital environment. I'm thinking ER, ICU, NICU and/or peds. All highly desirable positions. Think TV glamour. Have you ever seen a TV show set in a nsg home?

Occ a show may be in a MD office or clinic setting which is OK by TV standards, but the hospital position is the golden fleece desired position.

And hospitals and MD offices are the 2 settings with which everyone has prob been exposed to.

It is true that many LPNs/LVNs are being phased out of hospitals (just like those RN nurses WITHOUT the BSN degree), so those nurses need to start being proactive re their futures, and plan ahead. Hospitals can pretty much staff any way they want, so those nurses at risk of non-hospital employment see themselves having to seek positions in those non-glamorous jobs, like LTC, HH, PDN, corrections, etc.

Gasp! Horror of horrors!

It is also believed that hospitals staff better, pay better, benefit better, have better work environments, etc. While it may be partially true, it is NOT always the case. But that hospital job still sits out there like the coveted Biblical apple, twinkling, shining, enticing, ...

kungpoopanda · Oct 5, 2014

Like it or not, non-acute care healthcare workplace settings outside the highly exalted hospital are the wave of the future as the bean counters shift more diagnostic testing, surgeries, complicated wound treatments, and nursing care into the community for cost containment.
Acute care hospital positions are declining in sheer numbers. It is time to get with the program or potentially get left behind while insisting that trauma ICU is "my dream and I refuse to lower my standards."
I worked as an LVN for four years before earning RN licensure. As an LVN in nursing homes and subacute rehab, I earned more money than many RNs in my city of residence. Local hospitals have no need to offer the most competitive pay rates because people willingly accept any wage just for the acute care experience on their resume.
I totally loved my gig at a psychiatric facility. Never a dull moment.

This! Out of hospital care is the way of the future.