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Private Practice or Hospital? What A Nurse Should Think About In Making This Decision

By: David Nalpak

No matter 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 decisions will come with different rewards -- along with limitations -- so this is a decision that you don't want to take lightly.

If You Choose a Hospital Environment

Combined with the signing bonuses they offer, hospital offers can be hard to pass up. Here are the primary reasons that you should talk to hospital HR departments:

· Unions! - Once you're into a unionized hospital, it's like you've been guaranteed steady work for life.

· Job Mobility - Most hospitals post nursing jobs that are available in other departments and give preference to internal candidates, especially those with more years of experience.

· More Variety - You can begin your career in one job 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 worrisome for some nurses, and can sometimes lead to burnout.

If You Choose the Private Practice Setting

If you're looking to become a nurse in a private practice, you'll find that there are both benefits and problems 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 - You will find that you learn more about and remember patients that you see regularly. 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 is often 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 Opportunities for Advancement - 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.

· Where's the Money? - 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. Look closely at the pro's and con's of each setting to decide what will be best for your nursing career - the decision is up to you!

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