One benefit of working in a large regional center is that you can specialize in the type of cardiac care that most interests you. For instance, if your main interest is the operating room, you can make arrangements to spend your shifts working there.

Cardiac care at smaller centers requires a more experienced nurse. Often, the operating room nurses handle all surgeries, and the patient will be released onto the critical care floor. If you do have training in cardiac care nursing, you can use your skills in a variety of ways, but it is unlikely that you will receive the level of on-the-job-training that you would in a large regional center.

Ultimately, the decision whether to work in a large cardiac care center or a smaller hospital is a matter of personal choice. Some individuals prefer the variety of working in a smaller hospital where you are required to have many skills, but with the knowledge that the more interesting cases will be transported out of your hospitals and the advancements in cardiac care will not reach your hospital for years.

Others prefer the atmosphere of a larger hospital, where you are expected to know one thing and know it well. If you are not sure which you prefer, talk to nurses that have worked in each and get a feel for the type of work environment each hospital provides.

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