As an employee "for" a hospital (preposition)

[A keen learner]

Hi!

I'm wondering if it might be possible to use the preposition "for" in this sentence:

She had never worked as an employee for a hospital before.

In my area, I've heard people say "an employee in/at/of a hospital" (or a hospital employee), so I don't know whether its use is grammatical or not.

 

[probus]

No. In my region only "of" works in any context, although "at" is possible in some contexts.

 

[jutfrank]

This isn't about grammar, it's about meaning. Different prepositions have different meanings.

She works for an IT company. = The IT company is the employer.
She works at the airport. = The airport is the place where she works.

Your original sentence, with for, suggests that the hospital is the employer. Is that what you mean?

 

[teechar]

The choice of preposition depends on the sentence/context.

1- She works as a fundraiser for St Alban's Hospital. [ She does not work in/at the hospital. She works off site].
2- She works as a nurse in/at Worthington Hospital. [ I would use "in" in that sentence].
3- She works as a part-time landscaper in/at Boreham Hospital. [ I would use "at" in that sentence].

As for the first sentence in the original post, I would use "hospital employee" instead of "employee of a hospital". Thus: "She had never worked as a hospital employee before". By the way, is there a reason for the past perfect in that sentence?
[cross-posted]

 

[A keen learner]

Thanks a lot for your kind answers and comments.

Your original sentence, with for, suggests that the hospital is the employer. Is that what you mean?

Yes, the hospital is her employer in the sentence. Does "for" work in this context, then?

As for the first sentence in the original post, I would use "hospital employee" instead of "employee of a hospital". Thus: "She had never worked as a hospital employee before". By the way, is there a reason for the past perfect in that sentence?

Yes, indeed. It continues as follows:

"Therefore, she didn't have any experience when she was offered her new job".

 

[Tarheel]

She didn't have any experience working at a hospital?

 

[A keen learner]

She didn't have any experience working at a hospital?

No, she had just finished her pharmacology degree .

 

[Tarheel]

No, she had just finished her pharmacology degree .

That changes everything. Why do I say that? Well, it's not like it was something totally unanticipated. Not at all! In fact, she was probably very well prepared for that. I would say something like, "She had never worked at a hospital before, but she was looking forward to it."

 

[jutfrank]

She had never worked as an employee for a hospital before.

It's unnecessary to say 'worked as an employee'. Say either:

She'd never worked for a hospital before.
She'd never been an employee of a hospital before.

 

[emsr2d2]

She'd never worked for a hospital before.
She'd never been an employee of a hospital before.

or
She'd never been employed by a hospital before.