Private vs Public Nursing - What's Best?

What is the best nursing career path? People pursue nursing for a variety of reasons such as helping others and job security. With the increasing availability of private hospitals and private healthcare, it is becoming increasingly challenging to choose the right path.

Private Nursing

Both sectors have pros and cons. At a private hospital, the salaries are, traditionally, significantly higher than in the public sector; however, with such salaries comes a different kind of pressure and stress. Often times, private hospitals face a shortage of doctors during the night resulting in diminished patient care and increased stress on the nursing staff as they wait for a doctor to arrive. At the same time, patients often receive far more personal attention.

Public Nursing

It is often thought that public hospitals offer inferior patient care. In reality, the lack of resources in all specialities at many private hospitals results in patients being transferred to a public hospital regardless of the patient’s preferred care facility if their situation becomes serious. The best emergency medical professionals often work at public hospitals, however patients may only receive minimal personal attention.

Job Satisfaction

It is essential to consider overall job satisfaction and the employer. Job satisfaction leads to a happy and well-balanced life. While working for a private hospital may seem like a dream job to some, nurses often have less flexibility in the care they provide because of health insurance restraints. At the same time, working in a public hospital will be frustrating because the patients often far outnumber the staff; however, a nurse at a public hospital may have greater hands-on involvement with the actual treatment of patients and a greater variety of cases.

Which path is best? At the end of the day, choosing the best path is simply a matter of personal preference.

References

http://critcare-reflectionsofamalenurse.blogspot.com/2012/07/fact-vs-fiction-in-public-vs-private.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23574295

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Healthcare In The UK Compared To The US - What Are The Key

When some in the United States talk about health care in the United Kingdom, they scream socialism and throw out emotionally charged diatribes about death panels.

If one were to believe the rhetoric, it would follow that every citizen in the UK wanted to switch to the American plan. Of course, that's not the case. These differences are some of the reasons why.

Provided Care vs. Available Care

The main premise of the UK system is that everyone is entitled to health care. The best argument for the US employer-based insurance plan is that the best care in the world is available. Without debating the merits of that claim the first comparison can be argued. Is health care a right? Should everyone be able to not only access but also afford care? The cost per capita is much higher in the U.S. but almost 50 million people aren't covered.

System Rationing vs. Market Rationing

Those against single-payer care say it inevitably leads to rationing. It's inflammatory but partially true. Procedures aren't granted just because a person asks in the UK NHS system but are evaluated. However, the U.S. system rations and in ways that are more cruel. Patients can be denied simply for lack of funds. The harsh reality is that much of American health care has become pay-to-play. Holes in the rationing argument against the NHS appear when the agency goes to extremes like paying for a patient to go to Florida for a treatment not available.

Everyone Has a Stake

In the UK all persons are considered to have an equal stake in the system. That's an important distinction. The American health care paradigm dictates inequality. Whoever has the best plan or the most money gets the best care and that's fundamentally wrong.

A Day In The Life Of A Nurse

Nurses can usually find employment in a wide variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers and other types of medical facilities. Some nurses can even join the military and work in military settings.

No matter the setting that a nurse works in, his or her main responsibility is to provide care to patients. Sometimes, the patients nurses take care of babies, young children and/or adults.

The type of nurse that a person becomes will dictate the atmosphere he or she works in as well as the patients he or she works with.

Working Long Hours

Nurses tend to work long hours. Some are able to find employment in places where they work three, 12-hour shifts each week. Others are able to secure employment working part-time. In emergency room settings, many times, nurses are asked to work overtime.

Types of Nurses

Pediatric nurses spend their time working with small children. Neonatal nurses usually work with infants who have been born prematurely as well as children who suffer from some type of severe medical condition.

What Does a LVN Do?

If a person does not want to become a Registered Nurse, it is still possible to become a nurse by becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse; this type of nurse is not granted the ability to carry out a wide range of duties. Instead, only a small amount of basic duties can be carried out, including changing bedpans and checking patients' vital signs. With proper training, some LVNs are allowed to draw blood.

Choosing to follow the career path of a nurse can lead to a very rewarding career. From great job stability to extremely good pay to exceptionally good health insurance benefits, this occupational field is one that tends to be very satisfying. There are many resources online to help you and nursing job websites such as Team24 Private Nursing.

Deciding Between Private Nursing Practice and a National Health Career

People who are going to medical school must inevitably choose whether or not they want to be a private medical provider. The difference between private practice and a national health care is essentially the difference between freelancing and an institutional job within the field of medicine. A student nurse can choose between running their own career and getting a regular job.

Whatever path a student takes, in nursing the same shoe does not fit all feet. Many of the classes are the same, but a separate degree or certification is needed for private nursing. People pursuing this option usually obtain a LPN/LVN, or a Licensed Practical Nurse diploma. It is needed to practice in people's homes and includes training specific to that task.

A certified nurse with a 4-year degree will work in a hospital environment, typically supervised by a doctor. Fewer decisions will be made by the nurse, and they will execute the same routine tasks every day. Decisions will be made by doctor, and the nurses will basically act in a supportive role.

Benefits of institutional nursing is regular pay and benefits such as insurance and free health care. There are some liabilities to working in a hospital, namely being surrounded by so many sick people. The patients are usually unfamiliar, and the nurse must become accustomed to handling great variety. Patients can be unpredictable, and some people arrive in very emotional states.

Working for a few clients is a long term relationship and the nurse must get to know their needs and temperament. The advantages include fairly predictable work as well as the ability to get to know people and their individual needs. It can be emotionally satisfying to take care of a person over an extended period of time, and these clients might not have infectious diseases.

The real disadvantage of being a practical or private nurse is the lack of a regular salary. Independents must pay for their own benefits, and assume liability for their own practice. On the bright side, being a private nurse is very much like running a business, and there is real profit potential. People who achieve good reputations can end up with higher salaries than their institutional counterparts.

A nurse is not fixed into his or her decision; it is always possible to go back to school and get a certificate that will grant access to the other side. Nursing credits and real world experience are always valuable, and a nurse can expect a flexible career.