The Best Nursing Companies to Work For

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

So, you have a nursing background, you’ve crafted the perfect nurse resume, and you’re ready to open a new chapter in your career. Whether you’re an experienced nurse or a new grad, finding the right nursing company to work for can make all the difference in your career and job satisfaction.

Reputable nursing companies have much to offer both nurses and patients, including competitive pay, a positive workplace culture, better patient outcomes, and plenty of room for advancement. This article will help you explore the best companies for nurses to work for and help you determine which nursing company is the right fit for you.

Who Are the Largest Employers for Nursing?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the companies and facilities that employ the highest number of nurses include:

General medical and surgical hospitals – over 1.7 million nurses.
Offices of physicians – over 208k nurses.
Home healthcare services – over 173k nurses.
Outpatient care centers – over 152k nurses.
Nursing care facilities – over 124k nurses.

How to Evaluate Nursing Companies

With so many nursing companies out there, it can be daunting to try to find the best one. But it’s important for your fulfillment and job satisfaction to evaluate nursing companies before you apply to find the one that aligns with your needs, goals, and values.

Below, you’ll find important factors to consider when choosing the best nursing employers to apply to.

1. Patient Outcomes

Patient outcomes can tell you a lot about the quality-of-care nursing companies provide. Here are a few ways to evaluate patient outcomes:

Check patient satisfaction ratings, rates of complications and infections, and overall health outcomes.
Make sure a nursing company has enough staff to provide adequate care for all patients. Nurse-to-patient ratios are a key metric here.
Look for companies that are transparent and handle patient complaints professionally.

2. Work-Life Balance

Nursing can be demanding. Look for nursing companies that prioritize employee well-being by offering flexible scheduling, generous paid time offer, and other benefits that support work-life balance. Here are some ways to assess a nursing company’s work-life balance:

Review the company’s policies on work hours, vacation time, sick leave, and other benefits.
Reach out to current and former employees to get their perspective on the company’s work-life balance.
Find out what kind of workload you can expect from different companies hiring nurses.

3. Career Advancement Programs

The best nursing employers will offer various opportunities for career advancement, such as promotions, specialized training, and continuing education. It’s also important to consider the growth potential of a nursing company itself. Is the company growing, expanding, and investing in new technologies and services?

You can also find out if a nursing company offers advancement opportunities by reviewing the company’s nursing job description and requirements and inquiring about continuing education courses, mentorship programs, and other nurse training.

4. Reputation

It’s important to consider the reputation of a company before applying for a nursing job. This can give you valuable insight into what it’s really like to work for a company, including its work culture, management style, and employee satisfaction.

Here are a few ways to learn about a nursing employer’s reputation:

Check out online reviews from existing and former employees. Take note of patterns in the reviews such as positive and negative feedback, or repeated complaints or compliments.
Look for the company on the Better Business Bureau website. You can find reviews of a nursing company and see how it responds to complaints.
Check with your state’s regulatory body that oversees nursing companies and find out if there are any violations or complaints against a nursing company.

5. Industry Recognition

Research whether a potential nursing employer has received industry recognition that signals positive things about its reputation and future success. Here are a few ways to evaluate a company’s industry recognition:

Look for nursing companies that have won national awards for excellence in patient care, staff training, workplace culture, and other important areas.
Check for accreditation from organizations such as The Joint Commission or The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Research a company’s industry rankings from reputable sources such as U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and Fortune Magazine.

6. Company Culture

Assess a company’s culture to evaluate whether it’s a good fit for your personality and lifestyle. Start by looking at a nursing company’s:

Leadership style.
Turnover rate.
Work environment.
Communication and transparency.
Employee benefits.
Emphasis on patient care.

10 of the Best Nursing Companies to Work For

If you’re considering a career in nursing or looking for a new nursing job, it’s important to know which nursing employers offer the best opportunities for your career. Below you’ll find details on the top companies hiring nurses.

1. Aya Healthcare

Aya Healthcare is one of the largest contract nursing companies in the U.S. The company’s mission is simple yet powerful: to provide exceptional healthcare staffing services that prioritize the needs of both healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities. The company has grown significantly over the years and services healthcare facilities across the U.S.

Aya Healthcare’s core values include passion, accountability, collaboration, empowerment, and integrity. Its commitment to helping healthcare professionals find the right jobs makes it one of the best Fortune 500 companies that hire nurses.

The company places a strong emphasis on employee satisfaction and engagement, recognizing that happy employees lead to better patient care and outcomes. It’s no wonder it’s been named a “Top Workplace in the USA,” for employee appreciation, well-being, and professional development.

Nurses at Aya Healthcare enjoy benefits such as competitive pay, comprehensive health coverage, 401(k) matching, travel reimbursement, credentialing assistance, and generous paid time off. Plus, the company offers housing assistance for traveling nurses and tuition reimbursement for employees who want to pursue advanced degrees in nursing or related fields.

Find Aya Healthcare jobs on Monster.

2. HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare was established in 1968 and has since become one of the largest healthcare providers in the U.S., with over 185 hospitals and more than 2,000 care sites nationwide. The company is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care to all its patients. HCA has been ranked on of the nation’s top healthcare companies for professionals who want to grow their careers.

Nurses are an integral part of the healthcare team at HCA Healthcare, where they’re responsible for a wide range of tasks, from administering medication and monitoring vital signs to providing emotional support to patients and their families.

The company offers professional development opportunities for nurses, including tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, and certification assistance, and more. It also offers health insurance, paid family leave, paid time off, well-being support, retirement savings, and more.

Find HCA Healthcare jobs on Monster.

3. DaVita

DaVita is one of the world’s leading providers of kidney care services, with over 3,000 locations across the U.S. and 11 other countries. The company was founded in 1994 and has since built a strong reputation for its personalized approach to patient care. The company also made the Fortune Magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list due to its commitment to providing quality care to its patients.

DaVita is one of the best companies for nurses to work for because it puts its employees first. Its core values include service excellence, teamwork, fulfillment, and fun. These values not only guide the work that its employees do each day, but they also create a positive and supportive workplace culture that makes everyone feel like they’re part of a family.

The company also invests heavily in employees by offering a slew of benefits, such as health coverage plans, paid time off, 401(k), family support, tuition reimbursement, leadership development programs and much more.

Its company culture is centered on fostering a caring and supportive environment for its employees and patients. Employees at DaVita are referred to as “teammates” and are encouraged to work collaboratively to provide the best possible patient experience.

Find DaVita jobs on Monster.

4. Seattle Children’s Hospital

Founded in 1907, Seattle Children's Hospital is a world-renowned pediatric hospital located in the heart of Seattle, Washington. It’s known for its excellence in patient care, research, and education and has consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals in the nation.

The hospital has a mission to provide hope, care, and treatments to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. It specializes in cancer treatment, cardiac care, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and much more. It also offers a full spectrum of pediatric care, from routine check-ups to complex surgeries and procedures.

What makes Seattle Children’s Hospital one of the best nursing companies to work for? For starters, it values nurse input and empowers nurses to lead initiatives that drive quality patient care. Plus, it offers mentorship programs that provide new hires with a supportive and collaborative learning environment.

Nurses at Seattle Children's Hospital can develop their skills and advance their careers through continuing education courses, certification programs, leadership development training, and other educational programs and resources.

Seattle Children's Hospital prides itself on its teamwork, collaboration, diversity, inclusion, and valuing the contributions that each employee brings to the table. The hospital also has a strong commitment to employee well-being and offers a wide range of benefits, including comprehensive health coverage, competitive compensation, paid time off, retirement savings, and more.

Find Seattle Children’s Hospital jobs on Monster.

5. Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is a non-profit healthcare organization that employs more than 200,000 people across the U.S., making it one of the largest healthcare companies nationwide. The company offers a wide range of health services to patients, including nursing.

It offers several benefits and perks to its nursing staff, including comprehensive healthcare coverage, retirement savings, and generous paid time off. Additionally, the company offers tuition reimbursement, which allows nurses to continue their education and advance their careers.

Kaiser Permanente is also committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. The company has received several awards and recognition for its diversity and inclusion initiatives, including being named one of the best companies for diversity by Forbes.

Find Kaiser Permanente jobs on Monster.

6. Triage Staffing

Triage Staffing is a healthcare staffing agency that helps nurses find jobs that match their skills and experience. As one of the largest travel nursing companies in the nation, Triage Staffing works with healthcare facilities across the U.S. to provide top-notch nursing professionals.

In 2006, Triage Staffing initially started as a radiology staffing agency by John Maaske and Tyler Pieper. Today, the company believes in being transparent with its nurses and healthcare facilities about its services and capabilities. It also values teamwork, communication, and the well-being of its nurses.

Triage Staffing provides its traveling nurses with free housing and travel reimbursement. Other employee perks include competitive pay, comprehensive healthcare benefits, 401(k) plans, paid time off, sign-on bonuses, referral bonuses, and much more. The company also offers ongoing training and support to help nurses develop new skills and stay up to date with the latest nursing trends.

The workplace culture at Triage Staffing is built around diversity, inclusion, and support for all staff. The company welcomes candidates from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to create a more dynamic and effective workplace.

Find Triage Staffing jobs on Monster.

7. CVS Health

CVS Health is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world with over 300,000 employees in the U.S. alone. The company was founded in 1963 as Consumer Value Stores in Lowell, Massachusetts, by brothers Stanley and Sidney Goldstein and business partner Ralph Hoagland. Today, CVS Health serves millions of customers through its retail pharmacy locations, healthcare clinics, and online services.

Nurses at CVS Health can work in a variety of settings including retail clinics, infusion centers, long-term care facilities, and home health. They are responsible for providing health assessments, immunizations, medical management, chronic disease management, and many other services.

Working as a nurse at CVS Health comes with benefits like competitive pay, health insurance, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, flexible scheduling, and opportunities for growth and advancement. The company understands the importance of a healthy work-life balance and strives to create an environment that is conducive to the personal and professional lives of its staff.

The company is committed to creating healthier communities and improving people’s lives, and that mission is reflected in its company culture. At CVS Health, you can expect a positive and inclusive work environment that values collaboration, respect, and innovation.

Find CVS Health jobs on Monster.

8. Cigna

There are many health insurance companies hiring nurses. One of them is Cigna, a health insurance company that provides health, dental, Medicare, and Medicaid plans to individuals and businesses. It also offers health-related services such as wellness programs, disease management, and behavioral health services.

Nurses at Cigna work alongside physicians, care managers, and other healthcare professionals to provide personalized care plans to their customers. They guide customer outreach and provide health education and counseling to customers.

Cigna values the well-being of its staff and understands the toll nursing can take on one’s physical and mental health. It provides programs to support its nurses, such as the Cigna Healthy Life program, which provides employees with access to wellness coaches, nutritionists, fitness classes, and more.

Nurses at Cigna also have access to retirement savings, disability benefits, healthcare coverage, family services, and much more. The company also offers educational programs to help its staff achieve career growth and advancement.

Find Cigna jobs on Monster.

9. UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group offers remote nursing positions such as case manager jobs, clinical nurse specialist jobs, and nurse practitioner jobs. Remote nurses at UnitedHealth provide healthcare services to patients over the phone or through telehealth appointments.

UnitedHealth Group was founded in 1977 by entrepreneur Richard Burke. Over the years, it has grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Today, the company operates several businesses—such as UnitedHealthcare, Optum, and Diversified Services—and employs over 325,000 people worldwide.

UnitedHealth Group recognizes the important role that nurses play in patient care and provides them with training and advancement programs, health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and many other benefits. It also offers a supportive and collaborative work environment for nurses and values diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workplace.

Find UnitedHealth Group jobs on Monster.

10. Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a world-renowned non-profit medical center that has provided exceptional healthcare services for over a century. Founded in 1864 in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic now has offices in Arizona, Florida, and Wisconsin as well. From routine checkups to complex medical procedures, the clinic offers a wide range of medical services to patients from around the world.

Mayo Clinic’s commitment to patient-centered care and innovation has earned it numerous awards. For example, it was named one of “America’s Best Large Companies” and No. 1 “Best Employer” in Arizona and Wisconsin by Forbes.

Nurses at Mayo Clinic work closely with other healthcare professionals, including physicians, researchers, and allied health professionals. This collaborative approach not only benefits the patients, but also provides a supportive and fulfilling work environment for nurses.

The clinic offers a several benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, flexible work schedules, and much more. Its education and career advancement programs include nurse residency and training, nursing intern and extern programs, fellowships, and more.

Find Mayo Clinic jobs on Monster.

Additional Notable Nursing Companies

There are plenty more top-notch nursing companies to work for. Check out nursing job listings from these companies as well:

Advance Your Nursing Career

Complete your profile on Monster to connect with nursing companies in your area. We’ll help your resume get noticed by job recruiters in the nursing industry. Plus, we’ll send free job alerts directly to your inbox, so you can stay informed about new nursing positions that match your skills and interests.