Best Hospitals to Work for in South Carolina

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South Carolina is a wonderful place to live and work. It’s family friendly and home to some of the country’s best beaches and vacation towns as well as its most essential industries. From a professional perspective, South Carolina has a lot to offer nurses. The state was first in the nation to form a health data and research collaborative. Several hospitals in the state have been nationally and regionally ranked as among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. One of the state’s facilities was recognized for its excellence as a teaching hospital on the Watson Health Top 100 Hospitals.

Our list of the best hospitals in South Carolina is highlighted by 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 Hospital

• 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

Best hospitals in South Carolina

Each of the South Carolina hospitals listed below have been granted magnet status, as well as other important marks of recognition for excellence. 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 all tell nurses that they value their skills and knowledge and provide supportive work environments. It is this information, as well as other criteria, that warranted their inclusion on our list.

AnMed Health Medical Center

In addition to being recognized as a Magnet designated facility, 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. 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 the first in the state to have achieved a third Magnet designation for its nursing program. Additionally, it has 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 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 has repeatedly been ranked the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report, with three specialty areas ranking among the best in the country. Recognized as a Magnet hospital, MUSC Health has been the recipient 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 awarded the 2022 SCHA Capstone Award by the South Carolina Hospital Association, the association’s highest honor, in recognition of the hospital’s “expansive and comprehensive efforts [that] have produced extraordinary results for their patients, employees, and community.”

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

What makes a best hospital in South Carolina?

The general public thinks of hospitals as places that deliver care, but they’re also major employers. The best hospitals place as much value on the people who work for them as they do on the patients who they treat.

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 within the nursing profession, particularly after the hardships imposed by COVID-19 and exacerbated by the national nursing shortage. Hospitals that provide their nursing staff with emotional support, a healthy work/life balance, and access to wellness counseling rank high among the best to work for.

High patient satisfaction

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

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.

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

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• “Nurses’ Job Satisfaction Linked to Patient Satisfaction.” Journals.lww.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “Best Hospitals in South Carolina.” health.usnews.com. Accessed June 28, 2022.
• “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.

Top South Carolina RN jobs on Incredible Health