Will a small hospitals ICU still offer patient variety and opportunity?

[essenm25]

I was offered a position on my dream unit (an ICU) but it is at a smaller hospital. I am a little worried about the variety and severity of patients I will see. Does anyone have any experience with this that they can share? I would love some advice. THANKS!

[ixchel]

Smaller hospitals are going to give you more variety than large ones depending on where you are. Many larger hospitals have the ability to have ICUs that are by specialty (like neuro, cardiac, etc.). If your smaller hospital is like mine, all types of patients go to your one and only ICU, giving you all specialties in one place. You may not be getting level one traumas or open hearts, but you'll never find yourself bored. Personally, I prefer it this way.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Now that I am in a larger, regional referral center, I have less variety in the patients I see, but higher acuity. Larger hospitals are going to have specific ICUs for everything. Smaller hospitals are going to get all of the ICU patients of any variety in one place, but really juicy stuff is going to get shipped out. I hope that helps.

[Austincb]

There may be less critical patients in a smaller hospital but probably still more critical than med-surg. I would take it and use it as a foot in :)

[dressagerdr]

I have worked 2.5 years in a level 2 trauma center, semi-rural hospital ICU. We have a total of 21 beds, and I am very happy and satisfied with both the acuity and variety of patients I have had the opportunity to take care of. My ICU takes pretty much anything... Infants 6 months of age and older, open hearts, CRRT, neuro trauma, sepsis, you name it. Yes, we did ship some patients out, but it was usually related to a lack of specialists vs too high acuity if that makes sense. For instance, a complex pelvic fracture involving spinal roots that our ortho couldn't handle, or liver dialysis.

Basically, I would suggest asking some questions about your particular unit to find out if the acuity and variety is what you're looking for. Ask how often ventilators are utilized, what drips are routinely used, etc. I think working in a smaller hospital ICU can be extremely educational and rewarding. I can't imagine specializing at this point!