Working in a Hospital vs Independent Clinic

Choosing where to work after getting your license is just as important as just finding a job. There are significant differences between hospitals and clinics and pros and cons for each. In this blog post we’ll show a few of those and that’ll hopefully guide you in making your decision. 

The first thing you need to think of is size. Clinics tend to be considerably smaller in size and, therefore more personal work environment. On the other hand, hospitals have a wider range of departments and, therefore bigger chances for career development and different area experiences.   

Working at a clinic will provide you with more standard hours and no crazy night shifts and 12+ hour shifts. But the administrative tasks are way longer in clinics than hospitals.  

The predictability of a clinic can prove boring to some, as the diversity of patients, cases and scenarios presented at a hospital are greater and usually less repetitive.  

Thinking of where you’ll be most comfortable plays a part as well. If you’re someone that doesn’t deal well with death, sadness or difficult situations, maybe a hospital isn’t for you. A clinic would allow you to create long-term relationships with patients and take care of less intense situations. But if you are not bothered by said situations you will probably do well at a hospital!  

The same applies for the work environment. If you like a more fast-paced, unpredictable and sometimes unknown environment, you’ll most likely thrive at a hospital. But if you’re someone that like a routine, following a set schedule and having a more predictable day-to-day, a clinic will probably be your heaven! 

Considering your life-style when choosing is really important as well. Working night shifts, long hours and unpredictable shifts every week affects your familiar situations and responsibilities. Then a clinic is a safer bet.  

Regardless of where you choose to work, the service you’re doing to the community is the same, and the impact on people’s lives is the same. The first thing you need to do to be able to have that impact is to get your GMC license. Give us a call today and no matter where you are in your GMC registration journey, we’d be delighted to assist you and prepare you to have that impact in people’s lives. We’re available on +44 2036376722, via WhatsApp on +44 7511 441874 or via email on doctors@iemedical.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you!