Whether you’re new to nursing or you’ve got years of experience under your belt, being a registered nurse is a reflection of your kindness, your knowledge, your professionalism, and your commitment to caring. But even the most dedicated nurses need time away from the job that gives them a chance to recharge. The best way to find and enjoy a healthy work/life balance is to do it in a place that is as invigorating and rewarding as your career, and for that, you won’t find a better place than Vancouver, Washington.
Vancouver is one of Washington state’s most desirable places for registered nurses to live and work. Nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River, this city of 193,000 is half of the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area that is famous for fantastic outdoor activities, magnificent scenery, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and a remarkably high quality of life. If you don’t mind a little rain during the off-summer months, you’ll find that living and working in Vancouver provides you with tremendous career opportunities that are enhanced by living in one of the best cities in the United States.
Vancouver, Washington’s Healthcare Employers
Vancouver is a modern city with small town charm. Sometimes viewed as a suburb of Portland, when it comes to healthcare Vancouver is second to none. It is home to one of Washington state’s top hospitals in PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, as well as the Vancouver Clinic, the comprehensive services offered at Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek Medical Office, and numerous assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, hospices, home health service organizations, and private practices. With so many great options, you’re sure to find a professional opportunity that is just right for your career aspirations, your skills, and your lifestyle.
Types of Nursing Jobs in Vancouver
Nurses looking for new opportunities will find plenty of great options in Vancouver. As is true across the nation, the city (and Washington state beyond) is facing a nursing shortage that it is working hard to overcome. As legislators work to create more educational programs for aspiring nurses and to boost nurse compensation, healthcare facilities are taking their own decisive actions, offering generous compensation and benefits packages, cutting down nurse-to-patient ratios, and providing innovative recruitment and retention perks. There are many great employers eager to hire, but these are among our top picks for registered nurse employers in Vancouver, Washington
Peace Health’s Southwest Medical Center
As one of Clark County’s largest employers and newest healthcare facilities, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and Medical Group provides care for over 280,000 patients each year. Part of the larger PeaceHealth not-for-profit health care system, the Southwest Medical Center serves the Columbia-Willamette area of Washington and Oregon. The hospital has a total of 450 beds and almost 4,000 employees who provide medical service offerings include advanced heart and vascular care, a level II trauma center, a modern birthing center that is capable of managing high-risk pregnancies, multiple outpatient surgery centers and Cyberknife centers dedicated to treating brain, spine, and other tumors, a nationally-certified stroke center, the Kearney Breast Center, a neurosciences center, and more.
Registered nurses working at Southwest have the confidence of knowing they are working for a hospital that was awarded an A grade for overall quality and safety by the Leapfrog Group and that prioritizes supporting them socially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially. The hospital is dedicated to respecting diversity and creating a culture of inclusivity, and demonstrates its high esteem for nurses by offering competitive, comprehensive compensation and benefits packages with generous and innovative recruitment and retention packages. Hiring bonuses and relocation assistance are available for some positions.
Vancouver Clinic
The Vancouver Clinic is currently the largest private, multispecialty clinic in Clark County, but back in 1936, it was just two physicians: a gynecologist and a family practitioner operating from an office in downtown Vancouver. In the next two years, they added a surgeon and a pediatrician, never dreaming that it would continue expanding to what it is today: 12 locations, more than 1,200 employees and 400 providers, and one of the largest employers in the region.
Nurses seeking employment at the Vancouver Clinic can choose from positions at locations throughout Southwest Washington and the greater Portland area in over 40 specialties, as well as primary care, urgent care, and adult medicine. The organization pays a competitive salary and offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% payment of the premium for full-time employees’ standard medical, dental, and prescription drug plan. The clinic also provides life insurance, long-term disability insurance, paid holidays, paid time off, flexible spending account, 401(k) retirement plan, education reimbursement, and even pet insurance!
Community Home Health & Hospice
In 1977, a supervising nurse at a local public home health care program set out to deliver what she knew the Department of Health was unable to provide: home health needs for her community. With $10,000 of loans and lots of efforts, the non-profit organization was established and began receiving federal funds for operation. The program then expanded to provide hospice care for terminal patients, and the facility became the first freestanding hospice inpatient unit in the state of Washington. Today, Community Home Health & Hospice serves both Cowlitz County and Clark County, bringing peace of mind to those who need compassionate care.
Nurses working for the organization are treated like family and take pride in both the services they pride and the fact that they work for an agency that truly cares about them, their success, and their growth. The work itself is meaningful, and compensation includes health and dental benefits, retirement, paid time off, continuing education, and more.
Registered nurses in Vancouver, Washington have all the benefits of working for great employers and the extra bonus of living in a locale that is the envy of people all over the country. To learn more about employers in Vancouver who would like to speak to you, start by visiting Incredible Health’s nursing job search page.
