subject: Doctors Office or Hospital? What A Nurse Should Consider In Making This Career Decision [print this page] Regardless of what you do for a living, there are always important decisions along the road. As a nurse, there are many directions to take when you first get started, some of these paths will result in diverging career paths. First and foremost, you need to decide whether to work in the hospital setting or in a private practice. Both directions will have different rewards -- along with limitations -- so this is a decision that you don't want to take lightly.
If You Choose a Hospital Environment
Hopefully, all nursing school graduates will be flooded with offers from hospitals. Here are the primary reasons that you should talk to hospital HR departments:
Look for the Union label - Once you're into a unionized hospital, your salary will go up yearly and you will be assured of comfortable benefits.
Job Flexibility - In the larger setting of a hospital, you have the ability to change your job as you get more experience.
Variety, the Spice of Life - You can start your career in one position and then transfer as you gain knowledge or if you just want a change in scenery.
However, as with any job in nursing, there are downsides as well:
Lack of Seniority - Since building seniority takes time, as a new nurse, you may find that job opportunities are initially slim and the hours available aren't the best. This should get better once you have a few years of experience under your belt.
High Ratio of Patients to Nurses - While this can be a benefit because you can build a lot of experience quickly, the fast paced setting and high patient ratio can be really tiring for some nurses, and can sometimes lead to burnout.
If You Choose the Doctor's Office Setting
If you're looking to become a nurse in a private practice, you'll find that there are both pro's and con's with this environment.
Benefits include:
Standard Hours - Because you only work when the physicians are there, you can be sure of a more regular schedule.
Fewer Patients - A lower number of patients allows for a more personal experience. There is also less stress than in the busy hospital setting.
Better Patient Interaction - When you only see a single patient at a time, you may feel more connected to the patients you work with.
Disadvantages of a doctor's office are:
Lack of Unionization - It can be easier to lose your job for any reason in this setting, regardless of seniority. Your benefits will also be subject to the whims of office management instead of being negotiated by your union representative.
Fewer Advancement Opportunities - You may not be able to get promoted to a higher position as a nurse in a doctor's office, plus the there aren't as many jobs available compared to a hospital setting.
Lower Pay - While some specialties pay better than others, a nurse's pay can be much lower in a doctor's office compared to a large research hospital.
Whether you choose to work in a hospital or private practice, the most important thing is doing what you like to do best - caring for patients. However, most nurses will find that one setting is a better fit than the other - the decision is up to you!
Doctors Office or Hospital? What A Nurse Should Consider In Making This Career Decision
