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Career Resources / Reasons to Love Rockford, Illinois

People pursue nursing because they have a passion for helping people, but there is so much more to love about the profession. Beyond improving and saving lives, nurses shape the health and wellness of both individuals for whom they care and of the communities in which they serve. And if it is a community that you seek, it is hard to find a better place to live and work than Rockford, Illinois. 

Rockford is a Midwestern town with charm to spare. Formerly known as Midway because of its location halfway between Chicago and Galena, the town was established in 1834. It was eventually renamed Rockford to honor the Rock River and its ford, and that name has proven appropriate, as some of the town’s most beloved landmarks and attractions make the most of the river. The town also calls itself the “City of Gardens” due to its extensive green spaces, parks, and gardens. 

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Rockford #127 in Best Places to Live in America and #104 in Best Places to Retire. Families that live and work here benefit from its position on the I-90 growth corridor, currently considered the third largest economic corridor in the United States. This region is also home to industry giants and leaders in aerospace, automotive, logistics, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. The city has a population approaching 150,000, and an outlying metropolitan area population of nearly 350,000. Residents here enjoy low housing costs, lower-than-average commute times and easy access to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. 

If you’re a nurse, Rockford offers a broad range of fulfilling work opportunities available to you. In addition to the hospitals and facilities connected within the area’s multiple healthcare systems, Rockford also has a highly regarded community health center, rehabilitation hospitals, home healthcare agencies, senior living facilities, and more. Registered nurses are very much in demand nationwide, and Rockford, Illinois is no exception.

1. Rockford, Illinois is Participating in an Exciting Healthcare Pilot Program

With only 150,000 residents, Rockford may not leap to mind as a hotbed of healthcare innovation, but the city is one of three across the country that is taking part in a Prometheus Pilot Project that creates a new model for compensating healthcare. The innovative program goes beyond the basics of establishing rewards for quality metrics and paying a flat fee to cover treatments and expenses for the diseases that it covers. It actually offers rewarding bonuses to physicians and hospitals for avoiding medical mistakes. Rockford hospitals, laboratories, and doctors are all enthusiastically participating, and so far the pilot program is providing great value for facilities, employees, and patients alike.

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2. Rockford, Illinois Hospitals Score Well for Patient Care and Safety

The national nonprofit organization, The Leapfrog Group, assessed several hospitals in Rockford to assess and grade their overall performance in 32 separate measures regarding surgery, safety, and staff. The grades specifically target the hospital’s prevention of medical errors and harm to patients, and Rockford hospitals scored well! FHN Memorial Hospital made a significant improvement in the grade that it received in the past and OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center received a B grade, as it has consistently over the last several years. The facility has also been recognized as a Magnet hospital four times, the first hospital in Rockford to receive this highly regarded status.

3. Rockford Nurses Are in High Demand, With Some Facilities Offering $30,000 Sign-on Bonuses 

Rockford, Illinois hospitals and healthcare facilities know and appreciate the value of highly trained, highly compassionate registered nurses. Salary.com states that new graduate registered nurses in Rockford earn an average annual salary of $66,683,  with more experienced nurses earning an average of $83,147. Nurses also earn an average overtime pay of $12,000 per year, with many facilities offering generous sign-on bonuses, some paying as much as $30,000 for nurses in certain specialties.

4. Economic Advantages of Living in Rockford

Rockford’s proximity to the city of Chicago has made it an economic powerhouse. It is part of the area that has been named the third largest economic corridor in the United States, attracting industries ranging from manufacturing to logistics. The city boasts some of the world’s best-known and most highly respected companies, including GE Aviation, Amazon, Lowe’s, and UPS. The area’s largest employers are the Rockford Public Schools System, UW Health, and Mercy Health.

The average cost of living in Rockford is 3% lower overall than the rest of Illinois, with housing costs a remarkable 24% lower than in other locales. Utilities cost approximately 5% less than in the rest of the state! 

5. Quality of Life for Nurses in Rockford, Illinois

Beyond all of the economic and professional factors that make Rockford an attractive place to live and work, are the quality of life aspects that make the city so special and the community so strong. Rockford residents love their city, and for good reason: foodies and shoppers both will enjoy an embarrassment of riches! Downtown Rockford is home to a bevy of retail shops, coffee shops, casual restaurants to kick back and enjoy the views and the people watching, craft breweries, Chicago-style pizza, and fine dining. 

Adventure lovers and adrenaline seekers can enjoy their favorite activities in every season, as the region is an oasis for paddlers, cyclists, skiers, and hikers. Golfers will find themselves in Midwestern heaven, as they are able to enjoy what Golf Digest calls the “best mid-sized golf city in the United States.” Even those who are not sports-minded will enjoy the area’s amazing conservatories, the remarkable Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, one of the top Japanese Gardens in the United States, and the nearby state park and 42 forest preserves that attract millions of visitors every year. Entertainment wise, Rockford boasts excellent rock ‘n roll venues, theaters, museums, and the remarkable historic Frank Lloyd Wright Laurent House.

We have just scratched the surface on all of the things that make Rockford, Illinois a top place for nurses to live and work. For more information about amazing permanent job opportunities available in this beautiful city, check out Incredible Health’s job search platform, where the top Rockford employers can find you and reach out to you. 

Career Resources / Why Columbus, Ohio for Registered Nurses

There are so many reasons why you chose to become a nurse. While the main attraction is almost always the profession’s caring aspects, there is no denying the practical aspects of job security, generous salary and benefits, flexible scheduling, and the ability to continue to advance and grow your professional career. Being a nurse can make as much of a difference in your quality of life as you make for your patients and offers you the opportunity to carry the skills that you’ve learned to careers beyond hands-on care.

Whether your preference is to work in the high-energy setting of a major metropolitan hospital, to apply your skills in a private practice, or even to teach future nurses at one of the nation’s top-ranked nursing programs, nurses in Columbus, Ohio have wide-ranging job options combined with an unbeatable place to live. Described as the “Biggest Small Town in America,” Columbus has so much to offer. It is affordable and friendly, has a robust economy, and is home to some of the nation’s best healthcare companies. 

From nationally recognized hospitals and health systems like OhioHealth, Wexner Medical Center, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to global health giant McKesson and innovative companies like NetSmart and Olive, Columbus is a healthcare hub. It’s also home to Ohio State University and dozens of other nursing programs, offering nurses the opportunity to mentor and teach the next generation. Columbus is a wonderful place to be a registered nurse.

1. Columbus Hospitals and Health Care Facilities are Nationally Recognized

From their position in Ohio’s largest and most populous city, Columbus’s hospitals and healthcare facilities provide top-level medical care to its citizens, and that excellence has won recognition from all corners. The not-for-profit and charitable healthcare system, OhioHealth, has been named one of the top five largest health systems in America by IBM Watson Health six times, and its individual hospitals have received various awards for outstanding patient experience, most wired hospital, and being among the top 100 hospitals in the country. Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center has received the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience seven years in a row in recognition of its sustained excellence, and Forbes has repeatedly named Nationwide Children’s Hospital one of “America’s Best Large Employers.”

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2. Columbus is Where Medical Breakthroughs and Health Technology Come to Life

Columbus is home to multiple hospitals, universities, research centers and life science companies that are engaged in groundbreaking research and development that will make a real change in the future of healthcare. From gene therapy research to innovations making information sharing between healthcare providers easier, Columbus has attracted a highly motivated and intelligent talent pool that engages with, employs, and depends upon nurses as essential voices and team members. 

3. Columbus Nurse Employers Offer Creative, Comprehensive Compensation 

Nurses are in short supply throughout the United States, and Columbus’ nurse employers have responded to the national crisis by offering competitive compensation and benefits packages that ensure that they’re attracting top talent. Employers like OhioHealth are going well beyond the norm, extending their offerings to include wellness resources and cash rewards for engaging in healthy lifestyles, partnering with local educational institutions to offer no- and low-cost degrees and certificates, time-away benefits and flexible schedules to ensure positive work/life balance. Many healthcare employers in Columbus have demonstrated their respect for their nursing professionals and the critical role that they play by creating councils and leadership opportunities to ensure that nurses are directly involved in facility governance.

4. Economic Advantages of Living in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus has a strong economy and a relatively low cost of living. Home prices are affordable and rent and essentials like groceries and utilities cost less in Columbus than in other major cities in the United States – in fact, the cost of living is 12% lower than the national average. Though overall salaries in the city are lower than the national average, Columbus nurses are the exception to that rule, and the low cost of goods and services makes their high level of compensation go even further. Family members will also find plenty of opportunity, as the city has a thriving job market highlighted by the presence of several Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and colleges and universities. Columbus workers have several tax advantages, as Social security benefits, pension income, welfare payments, state unemployment, workers’ compensation, interest, and dividends are not subject to city tax.

5. Quality of Life for Nurses in Columbus, Ohio

Beyond all of the professional benefits of working as a nurse in Columbus, the city itself has so many wonderful features and attributes. The city has a friendly feel that imbues every aspect of life, from its vibrant arts and cultural scene to its enthusiasm for the university whose presence gives it extra energy and color. Columbus lives for Buckeye sports, and the town is flooded with fans from far and wide when there’s a home football game. Outdoor enthusiasts will revel in the city’s 400 beautiful parks, as well as the extensive trail network that offers over 92 miles for pedestrians and cyclists both. There are also paddling opportunities on the city’s beautiful water trails, which flow through the Ohio State University campus and Columbus’ historic neighborhoods.

Columbus hosts multiple cultural events and festivals that attract world-class talent, and you’ll find stimulating art installations throughout the city, as well as at multiple museums. Foodies will enjoy the breadth of the city’s gourmet offerings from popular food trucks to artisanal donut shops and neighborhood gems.

Being a nurse is a vocation rather than an occupation, but it’s even better when you can practice your calling in a place that you love. Columbus, Ohio’s nurse employers have so much to offer, and they’re looking for top talent. To learn about amazing job opportunities, check out Incredible Health’s job search platform, where top Columbus employers are waiting for you to log on so that they can reach out to you.

Career Resources / Top Nursing Opportunities in Columbus, Ohio

Few people realize how drastically nursing has changed over the years. Nurses were originally relegated to roles that focused on domestic duties. While their responsibilities evolved to tending to wounds and caring for the sick, even this was strictly limited, with decision-making and patient management the sole domain of physicians. 

Today’s nurses are empowered, and their skills and knowledge are respected. Nurses work alongside physicians as valued members of the healthcare team and – depending on their title and education – may be the main point of contact for patients. Corresponding to this shift in their status, they’re also earning generous salaries and compensation, and facilities compete with one another for the most talented, thoughtful, and experienced professionals available. 

If you’re a nurse considering a new position, Columbus, Ohio, is a tempting and exciting place to live and work. Here are a few of the city’s top hospitals, specialists, and healthcare employers who are anxious to meet you and discuss the opportunities that suit your skills and their needs.

The city of Columbus may label itself as having a small-town mentality, but there’s a good reason why it is known as the “Biggest Small Town in America.” The city proper has a population of over 900,000 residents, and when you count all the surrounding areas that make up the Columbus metropolitan area, the count is well over two million, making the city currently the 14^th most populous in the country. 

While most people know Columbus as home to Ohio State University, there’s more to the city than the renowned school and football powerhouse. Columbus is also where you’ll find the headquarters of some of the biggest companies in the country, as well as research institutes such as Battelle. A century-old, this private nonprofit applied science and technology development company boasts research endeavors that include genomics, life sciences research, medical device development, neurotechnology, and public health studies. The city itself has a revitalized downtown area, a world-class zoo, a remarkable network of trails and waterways for outdoor enthusiasts, and a remarkable collection of neighborhoods that give it a unique and diverse character.

The people who live, work, and play in Columbus rely on its many healthcare facilities to keep them healthy. According to the Columbus Dispatch, the city was ranked seventh for health care access, including access to primary care providers and behavioral health care. There are 15 hospitals in the city, including an internationally recognized pediatric hospital, a nationally ranked cancer hospital, two heart hospitals, and many great medical centers, urgent care clinics, private practices, and long-term care facilities.

Plenty of Healthcare Jobs in Columbus

Nurses have so many career paths available to them, from bedside care or specialties, including nursing and pediatrics, to working in private practice, in home health, in schools, and in hospice. Columbus’s abundance of top healthcare employers adds to the list of great options available. Below you’ll find a few of the city’s best places for nurses to work.

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OhioHealth

OhioHealth is a not-for-profit healthcare organization that encompasses 14 hospitals, six of which are located within the city’s borders. The system also has more than 200 ambulatory sites and services providing hospice, home health, and medical equipment. The organization’s dedication to quality care has resulted in it being listed among the top 50 cardiovascular hospitals, being certified as a Great Place to Work, being named a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity, and being named one of IBM Watson’s top five health systems for several years in a row. The system’s Grant Medical Center has repeatedly been designated as a Magnet hospital, a prestigious recognition that awards healthcare organizations for nursing excellence.

Nurses working for OhioHealth benefit from the organization’s dedication to delivering world-class patient care through a workforce that encourages learning, growth, and work/life balance. OhioHealth encourages nurses to continue their education and take on leadership roles. They are supported in their professional endeavors from the very start: OhioHealth offers new grad nurses the choice of multiple fellowship programs and pairs nurses with Patient Support Assistants to provide them with a much-needed extra set of hands. The hospital has a shared governance structure as well as generous benefits and compensation and multiple development plans in place to ensure that nurses continue to grow and advance in their careers.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Families come from around the world to receive care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The hospital is a global referral destination that sees patients from all 50 states and more than 50 countries and is an NIH-funded free-standing pediatric research institute. Founded in 1892 with nine beds, today, the hospital encompasses more than 65 sites and sees over one million patients each year. The hospital has repeatedly been named to U.S. News & World Report’s honor roll of “Best Children’s Hospitals” and Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers” list. Nationwide Children’s has also been designated a Magnet organization, among other awards that it has received.

Nationwide recognizes that its nursing professionals are the front line of delivering care, and beyond the rewards of delivering state-of-the-art pediatric care, it offers its nursing professionals generous compensation as well as sign-on bonuses, tuition reimbursement, scholarship opportunities, academic support for family members, financial and retirement benefits, and more.

Central Ohio Primary Care

Central Ohio Primary Care was founded over 25 years ago as a group of 33 physicians dedicated to providing better quality patient care. The organization now includes a full-service laboratory, complete radiology services and cardiac testing, as well as health management programs, physical therapy, diabetes management, and asthma management services. The group includes adult practices, an orthopedic urgent care center, pediatrics offices, specialists, and same-day centers. All locations work to cultivate a culture of kindness that reaches both patients and colleagues.

In addition to generous compensation and sign-on bonuses, nurses working for Central Ohio Primary Care are offered retirement benefits, including a 401(k) plan and profit sharing; health benefits including health care coverage, cancer support benefits, accident insurance, and reduced-cost access to the group’s same day centers for employees and their families; time away including paid time off, holiday pay, paid parental leave, and more; educational discounts; DoorDash membership; identity theft protection, and more.

With multiple hospitals and countless clinics, private practices, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care sites, and more, Columbus, Ohio, offers registered nurses plenty of options. If you are looking to advance your career, consider exploring nursing programs Columbus Ohio to start or continue your professional journey.

If you are interested in professional opportunities in Columbus, visit Incredible Health’s nursing job search page.