If you’re looking for your first nursing job or you’re looking to move up the ranks, it’s important to be happy where you work. We looked at the top hospitals in Pennsylvania and evaluated how they rate as a workplace. Many of these hospitals have awards for patient satisfaction, quality of care and safety.
But which hospitals are the best places to work as a nurse?
We reviewed the benefits offered beyond the customary health insurance and paid holidays, and found some of the most innovative workplaces for nurses in the Keystone State.
Lancaster General Hospital
Location: Lancaster
Magnet Hospital? Yes
Lancaster General Hospital has been recognized for excellence in diabetes and endocrinology, orthopedics, gastroenterology and pulmonary care by U.S. News & World Report.
This nonprofit hospital offers comprehensive benefits, including some unique perks such as day care discounts, dry cleaning services, discounted transit tickets and an employee wellness program. The hospital also provides student loan forgiveness and private mortgage insurance to help employees purchase a home.
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Location: Philadelphia
Magnet Hospital? Yes
Penn Presbyterian is home to one of the first coronary care units in the U.S. as well as Penn Medicine’s family medicine, internal medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedics, psychiatry, radiology, surgery and trauma units. The hospital is known for its leadership in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery.
Employee benefits here are generous and emphasize education and professional development. Tuition reimbursement is offered after six months of employment and the hospital has an “Encore Careers” program that assists employees in navigating career change. Plus, after three years’ of employment, your dependents are eligible for tuition assistance at the University of Pennsylvania.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Location: Philadelphia
Magnet Hospital? Yes
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is known for its expertise in orthopedics, cancer, ear, nose and throat, gastroenterology and G.I. surgery, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery and urology. This 951-bed hospital employs more than 1,800 nurses full-time.
Unique benefits include adoption assistance, breastfeeding rooms for new moms, benefits for domestic partners and GlobalFit, an employee wellness program.
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Location: Hershey
Magnet Hospital? Yes
The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a 475-bed teaching hospital. The medical center is ranked nationally in six pediatric specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The perks are sweet here with an on-site fitness center, on-site child care, an employee assistance program and generous tuition reimbursement. There’s also a tuition discount program from Penn State University for employees and their spouse and children.
Lehigh Valley Hospital
Location: Allentown
Magnet Hospital? Yes
Lehigh Valley Hospital is a 793-bed hospital that’s ranked nationally in 10 adult specialties: cardiology, diabetes and endocrinology, ear, nose and throat, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, neurology, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology. The hospital has the third-largest heart surgery program and the sixth-largest cancer program in the state.
Benefits include generous paid time off, free health insurance for employees, wellness incentives, tuition reimbursement and compensation tied to the hospital’s performance.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Location: Pittsburgh
Magnet Hospital? Yes
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is a 1,528-bed medical and surgical facility and teaching hospital in Pittsburgh. It is ranked nationally in 14 specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report, and ranked first in Pennsylvania.
UPMC’s benefits include adoption assistance, tuition assistance for employees and their spouse and children, and an employee assistance program that provides support in eldercare, child care, wellness and more.
Geisinger Medical Center
Location: Danville
Magnet Hospital? Yes
Geisinger Medical Center is a 505-bed facility that is designated as one of the safest hospitals in the country by The Leapfrog Group. Geisinger was also one of the first health systems with integrated insurance, facilities and doctors.
Benefits at Geisinger include a generous time-off policy, opportunities for continuing education and incentives for wellness and healthy living.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Location: Philadelphia
Magnet Hospital? Yes
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has the distinction of being the first pediatric hospital in the U.S. The hospital is ranked on U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll as one of the country’s best children’s hospitals.
CHOP offers tuition reimbursement as a benefit as well as college scholarships to 20 employees each year. The hospital has a work-life balance initiative that offers resources in financial planning, eldercare and college applications, among others.
Abington Memorial Hospital
Location: Abington
Magnet Hospital? Yes
Abington Memorial Hospital is a 665-bed teaching hospital just outside of Philadelphia. The hospital is a regional referral center for cancer care, cardiac care and surgery, including orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery.
In addition to traditional health benefits, Abington Memorial offers on-site child care, tuition reimbursement and an employee assistance program to help with work-life issues. The hospital also has a mission service leave program where employees are entitled to five paid days every two years to volunteer.
MossRehab
Location: Elkins Park
Magnet Hospital? No
MossRehab has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the country. The hospital is part of the Einstein Healthcare Network and has been recognized as a top workplace by Philly.com for five years in a row.
Benefits include flexible scheduling and support services to help with child and eldercare, financial management, college planning and legal assistance. MossRehab also offers tuition reimbursement.Learn More: Click to view related resources.
"Lancaster General Hospital"
"Penn Presbyterian Medical Center"
"Thomas Jefferson University Hospital"
"Milton S. Hershey Medical Center"
"Lehigh Valley Hospital"
"University of Pittsburgh Medical Center"
"Geisinger Medical Center"
"Moss Rehab"
"Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia"
"Abington Hospital"
"Best Hospitals in Pennsylvania," U.S. News & World Report
"Top Workplaces," Philly.com