Best Hospitals to Work for in South Carolina

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Did you know that the state of South Carolina has become the number one place in the nation for Americans to relocate to? There are plenty of good reasons, including the fact that South Carolina is a wonderful place to live and work. In addition to being family friendly and home to some of the country’s best beaches, vacation towns, and America’s fastest-growing industries, South Carolina’s cost of living is an eye-popping 11.5% lower than the average state in the United States.

South Carolina offers natural beauty, world-renowned hospitality, and a thriving economy, and from a professional perspective, nurses will find a lot to love in the state. It was the first in the nation to form a health data and research collaborative, and several of South Carolina’s hospitals have been nationally and regionally ranked as among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. One of South Carolina’s facilities was recognized for its excellence as a teaching hospital on the Watson Health Top 100 Hospitals.

Incredible Health’s list of South Carolina’s best hospitals includes those that have been recognized as Magnet hospitals by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Earning and maintaining this status and distinction sends an important signal to nurses: it recognizes that they uphold high standards of patient care and that they are dedicated to nursing excellence.

South Carolina’s Top Hospitals

• AnMed Health Medical Center
• Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital
• MUSC Health
• Prisma Health-Greenville Memorial Hospital
• Prisma Health Baptist Hospital
• Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital
• Prisma Health Greer Memorial Hospital
• Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System

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Best hospitals in South Carolina

Each of the South Carolina hospitals listed below have either been granted Magnet status or been granted other important awards in recognition of the excellence of their care. Inclusion on U.S. News & World Report’s list of best hospitals, high marks for safety records from the government, and feedback posted by current and former employees on employment sites including Indeed and Glassdoor are among the distinctions that these facilities have received: all make it clear that they value the skills and knowledge of their nursing staff and provide supportive, enriching work environments. These honors, benefits, and testimonials from patients —as well as other criteria —are the reason they’re on our list of Best Hospitals in South Carolina.

AnMed Health Medical Center

AnMed is an independent, not-for-profit health system serving Upstate South Carolina and northeast Georgia. In addition to being named one of the nation’s 153 “Great Community Hospitals” by Becker’s Hospital Review, it is one of only 604 health care in the nation to be recognized as a Magnet designated facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program. AnMed Health is fully accredited by DNV Healthcare, a nationally recognized certification of commitment to quality performance standards. It also received an “A” safety grade from Leapfrog, with high marks for its support for its nursing workforce. Among other awards it has received are a quality achievement award from the American Heart Association and being rated high performing in four adult procedures and conditions by U.S. News & World Report. It is also located in a town that Travel & Leisure ranked as one of the best places to retire.

Notable facts about AnMed Health include: 

• Administration: Not-for-profit
• Acute care hospital
• Location: Anderson, South Carolina
• Hospital network: AnMed Health
• Employees: 3,600+

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and traces its history back to 1882. It was the first hospital in the state to have achieved Magnet designation for its nursing program three times, working within a patient-centered nursing culture built upon the Roper St. Francis Healthcare mission statement of healing all people with compassion, faith, and excellence. Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital has also received several other care awards, including Outstanding Patient Experience awards and an “A” safety rating from the Leapfrog Group. The hospital was listed as one of the top 150 Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, one of the “Great Hospitals in America” by Becker’s Hospital Review, and received a four-star overall performance and patient experience rating from Medicare.

 Notable facts about Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital include: 

• Administration: Non-profit
• General medical and surgical hospital
• Location: Charleston, SC
• Hospital network: Roper St. Francis Healthcare
• Employees: 5,700+ across the system 

MUSC Health

Medical University of South Carolina delivers groundbreaking education, research, and patient care that benefits communities across the state and the world. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked it as the top-ranked hospital in South Carolina, noting three specialty areas as among the best in the country. MUSC Health has been recognized as a Magnet hospital and has received of numerous honors and awards for its dedication to patient safety, for its supportive workplace, and for the accomplishments of its various departments and staff members. It received a four-star rating for patient outcomes from Medicare and was ranked among Forbes magazine’s “Best Large Employers” and “Best In-State Employers.”

Notable facts about MUSC Health University Medical Center include: 

• Administration: Nonprofit
• Academic medical center
• Location: Charleston, SC
• Hospital network: MUSC Health (14 hospitals)
• Employees: nearly 25,000

Prisma Health-Greenville Memorial Hospital

Prisma Health’s Greenville Memorial Hospital has earned multiple awards and accolades from a wide range of nationally recognized organizations. In addition to being awarded magnet status, the hospital received a safety grade of “A” from the Leapfrog Group. It was named one of the nation’s best maternity hospitals by Newsweek and received Comprehensive Stroke Center certification from the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. 

Notable facts about Prisma Health-Greenville Memorial Hospital include: 

• Administration: Not-for-profit
• Tertiary referral hospital and academic center
• Location: Greenville, SC
• Hospital network: Prisma Health
• Employees: 28,761 across the health system 

Prisma Health Baptist Hospital

Prisma Health Baptist Hospital has received numerous accolades for its high level of service and care. In addition to receiving Magnet designation for nursing excellence, the hospital received a safety grade of “A” from the Leapfrog Group, was named a High Performing Hospital in knee and hip replacement from U.S. News & World Report, and was named a Best Maternity Hospital by Newsweek.

Notable facts about Prisma Health Baptist Hospital include:

• Administration: Not-for-profit
• Acute care hospital
• Location: Columbia, SC
• Hospital network: Prisma Health
• Employees: 28,761 across the health system 

Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital

Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital received Magnet designation in October of 2020. Additionally, it has received multiple awards and recognitions, including a safety grade of “A”” from the Leapfrog Group and being include on their Top 11 Hospitals list in 2021, a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and recognition as a High Performing Hospital from U.S. News & World Report.

Notable facts about Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital include: 

• Administration: Not-for-profit
• Acute care hospital
• Location: Columbia, SC
• Hospital network: Prisma Health
• Employees: 28,761 across the health system

Prisma Health Greer Memorial Hospital

Prisma’s Greer Memorial Hospital’s delivery of patient- and family-focused care has led to several awards and honors.  In addition to having received Magnet recognition in 2016, the hospital has been named a Best Maternity Hospital by Newsweek, was awarded a safety grade of “A” by the Leapfrog Group, a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for patient outcomes and overall performance, and an Outstanding Patient Experience award from Healthgrades.

Notable facts about St. Cloud Hospital include: 

• Administration: Not-for-profit
• Location: Greer, SC
• Hospital network: Prisma Health
• Employees: 28,761 across the health system

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is one of South Carolina’s top-ranked hospital systems according to U.S. News & World Report as well as one of Upstate South Carolina’s largest employers. Its six hospital campuses and over 150 officers employ over 700 physicians and more than 10,000 associates. The system has received awards for its locations, its specific healthcare programs, and workplace and employment recognitions including having achieved Magnet status and the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for three years in a row, and Spartanburg’s Pelham Medical Center was chosen by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 companies and organizations named The Best Places to Work In Healthcare 8 times over a 9-year period including 2024.

Notable facts about Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System include:

• Administration: Community hospital system serving upstate South Carolina
• Location: Spartanburg, SC
• Hospital network: Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
• Employees: 10,000+

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What makes a best hospital in South Carolina?

Beyond delivering care, hospitals are major employers. If you’re interested in working at a hospital in South Carolina, you’ll want to know that the facilities you’re considering value the people who work for them as much as they do the patient they provide care for.

Benefits

Hospitals that want to attract and keep top talent offer competitive salaries in South Carolina and generous benefits that make a difference in employees’ quality of life. These vary depending on the individual hospital, but may include health, life, and dental insurance, 401K retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, financial assistance for first-time home buyers, and sign-on bonuses. Other options include referral bonuses, onsite childcare, paid maternity and paternity leave, and the opportunity to take time off to pursue meaningful philanthropic efforts in the community.

Growth opportunity

Every new job represents new opportunities. Not only do you want to learn from colleagues, you also want the chance to advance yourself, to increase your earnings, and to add to your ability to work independently. The best employers encourage career growth and provide a path forward.

Employee satisfaction

Job fatigue is a real and present issue for nurses.,Though the worst of COVID-19 is behind us, the national nursing shortage continues to be a problem, particularly in the face of America’s aging population. Hospitals that provide their nursing staff with emotional support, a healthy work/life balance, and access to wellness counseling earn the highest rankings as being among the best to work for.

High patient satisfaction

Nurses are dedicated to patients. When they choose their careers, they commit to providing compassionate, high-quality care. Many studies have confirmed that working for a facility that delivers excellent outcomes and high levels of patient satisfaction increases job satisfaction for healthcare professionals across the board.

Other factors that make a top hospital

There are so many tangible and intangible elements that add up to a top hospital. These include attention to customer satisfaction, adherence to safety protocols, engagement with the community, and a strong adherence to medical ethics and values.

Safety record is critical

Improving patient safety is an industry-wide goal, and hospitals that make reducing infections and improving patient outcomes a priority are at the top of their field.

Hospital policies focus on customer services

Thinking of patients as their customers leads to improved healthcare overall. Hospitals that stress this in their training and in their attitude lift the attitudes and mood of their organization, creating a more satisfactory work environment for the entire organization.

Latest technology and training improve healthcare

Hospitals that invest in state-of-the-art technology and training not only provide improved delivery of care for patients: they also provide their nurses and other staff members with more effective tools that help them do their jobs. Incorporating advanced hospital vape detectors enhances the safety of both patients and staff by ensuring a healthier indoor air quality and preventing potential fire hazards, thereby creating a more secure and efficient healthcare environment.

Ethics lead the way

Hospitals deal with diverse issues involving staff, patients, and their communities. Overlapping interests can create conflict, and well-run, top quality institutions maintain their values and express their ethics clearly.

Next steps

Nurses who are interested in working for one of the top hospitals in South Carolina need more than skill and experience. To demonstrate your interest and qualifications for a job at a top hospital, you need to be organized, strategic, and meticulous in your attention to detail and your approach. Below you will find helpful steps to help you win the job that you want.

Build your resume

A resume provides a hospital’s hiring manager with a detailed summary of all that you have accomplished in your career. It lists your education, your job titles, your skills, and your strengths. To set yourself apart from other applicants, be sure to echo the terms used in the hospital’s job description within your resume and cover letter and highlight any special awards or achievements that you’ve received.

Join a nurses’ association

Nobody knows the ins and outs of working for a specific hospital – or about who to speak to about a job – then nurses who are already employed there. Joining a local nurses’ association like the South Carolina Nurses Association can help you connect with and network with those invaluable resources. These union organizations can act as powerful advocates, though choosing to join is a matter of personal choice.

Attend industry educational conferences and workshops

Attending professional nursing conferences provides you with several important career advantages. Not only do they expand your knowledge base, they also provide you with an enhanced circle of nurses with whom you can network and from whom you can seek guidance and support.

Keep up with continuing education requirements

Remaining current on all of South Carolina’s continuing education requirements is essential to demonstrating your adherence to all state compliance regulations, and Incredible Health makes it easy for you to do that. We provide free accredited South Carolina CEU courses, as well as immediate access to course completion certificates that you can attach to your job applications.

Search for job openings

There are few things more frustrating than searching for a new job. Though hospital websites and job boards have made openings easier to find than in the old days of searching want ads in newspapers, it can still be a mind-numbing task. Incredible Health’s recruitment tool has turned searching for a job at one of South Carolina’s top hospitals into a pleasure by turning the process around. It allows you to build your own profile and define your career goals so that hospitals can match their needs to your skills and then reach out to you.

Transfer your nursing license to South Carolina

South Carolina is a Nursing Compact State, so if you are currently licensed in a state that is likewise part of the compact, then moving and starting a new career is fairly easy. If your nursing license is from a state that is outside of the Nursing Compact, you’ll need to apply to transfer your nursing license to South Carolina.

 Sources

• “Best Hospitals in South Carolina.” health.usnews.com. Accessed May 25, 2024.
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• “Best Maternity Hospital.” newsweek.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Best Places to Work in Healthcare.” modernhealthcare.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification.” jointcommission.org. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “COVID Combat Fatigue.” nytimes.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Health Sciences South Carolina.” healthsciencesc.org. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “This South Carolina Town Is One of the Best Places to Retire in the U.S.” travelandleisure.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Medscape Nurse Career Satisfaction Report 2021.” medscape.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Patient safety topics.” Jointcommission.org. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Striving for Work Life Balance.” journals.lww.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “The Impact of Emerging Technology on Nursing Care: Warp Speed Ahead.” nursingworld.org. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Thinking of patients as customers.” beckershospitalreview.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Watson Health Top 100 Hospitals.” Ibm.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.