Career Resources / Five Reasons Nashville for Nurses
Nursing is a rewarding career that offers innumerable ways to make a difference, and Nashville, Tennessee is one of the best places in the country to find your perfect position. Forbes.com calls Nashville the health services capital of the United States, citing its extensive reach, its impact on healthcare education, the presence of one of the largest healthcare IT companies in the world, and its reputation as a “hospital town.”
Not only is Nashville home to some of the best nursing employers in the United States: registered nurses in Nashville are in demand and highly compensated. The low cost of living, as well as the lack of state income tax, means salaries go further in Nashville than that of peers in other locales, and nurses living in Nashville have the opportunity to advance their nursing education at some of the country’s top nursing graduate programs. Finally, Nashville is a vibrant, active city that is home to a legendary music scene and numerous cultural offerings. The city is growing rapidly, ranking second in the country for job creation in the last ten years, with healthcare leading its growth.
- Nashville is Home to Top Nursing Employers
The Nashville metropolitan area boasts more than 30 hospitals, including the world-renowned Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Heart Transplant Center, which is the largest in the world. Vanderbilt is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in nine adult specialties and 10 pediatric specialties, and as high performing in 4 specialties and 19 procedures or conditions. Nurses interested in a hospital setting can also opt to work for Ascension St. Thomas Hospital, TriStar Centennial Medical Center, which is also where you’ll find the city’s Children’s Hospital.
Registered nurses in Nashville have work options that go far beyond hospital settings. Nashville is home to more than 500 healthcare companies: it is where many of the nation’s largest investor-owned hospital chains are headquartered, including Hospital Corporation of America, as well as a growing number of pharma and biotech companies. Additionally, there are dozens of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, including six that were top-ranked by U.S. News & World Report, and countless clinics, private practices, schools, and government agencies that are in need of qualified, compassionate nurses.
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- Registered Nurses in Nashville Have Access to Top-notch Graduate Education
Registered nurses in Nashville can take advantage of some of the top nursing schools in the country to expand their knowledge and advance their careers. Some of the best nursing schools in the country are located in Nashville or the immediate vicinity, including Vanderbilt University, whose master’s in nursing program ranked 8th in the country and whose Doctor of Nursing Practice degree was ranked 7th in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Other Nashville-based options for earning an Advanced Practice nursing degree include Belmont University, which also offers both MSN and DNP degrees.
- High Demand for Nashville Nurses Drives Generous Salaries and Bonuses
While there’s a significant nursing shortage across the nation, the situation in Nashville is so acute that Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America has offered $1.5 million in scholarships to the city’s Fisk University specifically to fund nursing education. With demand continuing to skyrocket and nurses leaving the field, healthcare employers in the city are anxious to recruit and retain qualified registered nurses – and they are offering significant salaries, bonuses, and benefits to sweeten their offers. According to Indeed.com, the average base salary paid to registered nurses in Nashville is $112,572, and on top of that they are paid an average of $11,250 in overtime each year. Even those with less than a year of experience are earning six figures, and nurses with more than ten years of experience are earning over $132,000.
In addition to paying generous salaries, hospitals are offering significant hiring bonuses to registered nurses, with some as high as $12,500 on top of benefits that include paid time off, 401K accounts with matching deposits, health and life insurance, relocation reimbursement, and tuition reimbursement. Nurses who are already on staff are eligible for equally significant referral bonuses.
- Economic Advantages of Living in Nashville
The salaries and sign-on bonuses being offered to registered nurses in Nashville make the city an attractive career option, but when you factor in the low cost of living and other economic advantages of living in Tennessee, the financial attractions are even greater. According to Payscale.com, the overall cost of living in Nashville is 2% lower than that of the national average. Add to that the fact that Tennessee has no state income tax and your paycheck will go even further.
- Quality of Life in Nashville
As rewarding as a career in nursing is, there’s more to life than the hours we spend at work. Nashville is Tennessee’s most populous metropolitan area, and the city’s creative roots have attracted innovators in all phases of life, making it one of the top cities in the country for job creation.. With almost two million people living and working in the city proper and surrounding suburbs, it is also one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the country. Voted one of the Best Places to Live in America, Nashville is internationally known as the home of the Grand Ole Opry and country music in general, but music lovers can also enjoy classical music at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. In recent years Nashville has blossomed into a culinary haven and enjoys multiple outdoor attractions for those who want to enjoy the region’s natural resources.
Registered nurses will thrive in Nashville. To find a rewarding career in Nashville, start with Incredible Health’s innovative Nurse Job search platform and get multiple job offers from top Nashville employers.
