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From picturesque mountains and forests to popular historical sites, Pennsylvania offers many unique activities and lifestyle options for healthcare professionals. Some of the best hospitals in Pennsylvania are known for their excellence in nursing, research and technological advances. With so many healthcare facilities throughout the state, you’ll find plenty of staff nursing jobs in Pennsylvania to choose from. If you’re seeking a unique travel opportunity, Pennsylvania also has numerous travel nursing jobs available.
Compiled below is a list of some of the best hospitals Pennsylvania boasts. Using rankings from the 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report and facility and employee reviews, we provide details on 10 great healthcare employers in Pennsylvania. While this isn’t a top 10 list, these facilities offer unique employment opportunities for registered nurses and allied health professionals. If you want to pursue a healthcare career in the Keystone State, consider one of the Pennsylvania hospitals below.
Spotlight on 10 Top Hospitals in Pennsylvania
1. Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Located west of the Schuylkill River near downtown Philadelphia stands Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. This 345-bed healthcare facility is part of Penn Medicine and lies within the Penn Presbyterian campus. Penn Presbyterian Medical Center ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania on U.S. News & World Report’s U.S. Best Regional Hospitals for 2023-24. This medical center has an outstanding record for medical accomplishments and ranked nationally in 11 adult specialties, including these four specialties in the 10 top:
- No. 5 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
- No. 6 Cancer Care
- No. 9 Ear, Nose & Throat
- No. 9 Urology
In addition, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center earned high-performing rankings in two adult specialties and 21 procedures and conditions. Since 2012, this hospital has earned Magnet designation for its nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Joint Commission gave this healthcare facility its Gold Seal of Approval, which has been a top performer on key quality measures.
2. Temple University Hospital
Affiliated with Temple University and serving as the primary clinical training site for Lewis Katz School of Medicine students, Temple University Hospital (TUH) is a teaching hospital where future healthcare providers come to learn. This 979-bed facility is part of the Temple University Health System, also known as Temple Health. It ranked No. 10 in Pennsylvania and No. 4 in Philadelphia on the 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Regional Hospitals list, with some high-performing specialties including:
- Diabetes & Endocrinology
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
TUH offers a new graduate nursing program and several professional development opportunities. This hospital initially earned Magnet designation for its nursing excellence, continuous education and practice standards in 2019 and is reapplying in 2023. TUH also has 21 residency and 18 fellowship physician programs, and Philadelphia magazine named 264 Temple Health physicians as “top doctors” in 2023.
3. Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
Located in Hershey, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital is one of the state’s top children’s hospitals. It ranked as No. 3 on the 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospital in Pennsylvania and No. 47 in the nation for Pediatric Cancer care. The American College of Surgeons designated this teaching hospital as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center, the highest level of trauma care. Some areas of expertise at this facility include:
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Dermatology
- Hematology & Oncology
- Psychiatry
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital was awarded a three-star rating for congenital heart disease by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in 2017. In 2022, it earned its fourth consecutive Magnet recognition from the ANCC. This healthcare organization participates in nursing shared governance and professional practice models, a unique blend of nursing practice.
4. Pennsylvania Hospital
Source: Luca Borghi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Located in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hospital is the nation’s first hospital. This 432-bed facility, founded by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond in 1751, is now part of Penn Medicine, a larger healthcare organization. Pennsylvania Hospital regionally ranked as the No.6 Best Hospital in Philadelphia and No. 12 in Pennsylvania on the 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report. Its Emergency Department earned a Lantern Award for exceptional practice and innovative performance by the Emergency Nurses Association. Additional awards and accreditations the healthcare system has received include:
- Magnet Award for Nursing in 2015, Redesignation in 2020
- Many physicians were named “Top Doctors” in 2022 by Philadelphia magazine
- Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses in 2021 for its Critical Care and Intensive Care Nursery units
Pennsylvania Hospital was rated high-performing in five adult specialties, including Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Geriatrics and Urology. According to its website, it’s home to the nation’s first surgical amphitheater and medical library.
5. Jefferson Hospital
Part of the Allegheny Health Network, Jefferson Hospital, located in a suburb of Pittsburgh called Jefferson Hills, is a national leader in emergency, cardiovascular and women and infant care. In 2021, it earned Magnet recognition for ongoing nursing innovation and practices. As experts in medical and surgical care, it’s received many awards and accolades over the years, including:
- American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Heart Failure and Stroke Quality Achievement Awards
- International Board of Lactation Consultants Care Award for lactation care
- The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Perinatal Care
- Listed on Healthgrades’ America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery from 2019 to 2021
Jefferson Hospital also earned the 2021 Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award from Healthgrades and received a five-star rating in Overall Bariatric Surgery from Healthgrades for 2020 and 2021. This 289-bed healthcare facility is a certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Hip/Knee Replacement through the Joint Commission.
6. UPMC Shadyside
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This 520-bed hospital is part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Presbyterian Shadyside network, which includes three other healthcare facilities. UPMC made the 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare list in 2022 and was No. 2 on Diversity MBA Media’s 50 Out Front Companies: Best Places to Work for Women & Diverse Managers Ranking in 2021. According to its website, UPMC Shadyside’s primary services include:
- Cancer Care
- Endocrinology
- Heart and Vascular Care
- Orthopedic Care
- Senior Care
It received Magnet Recognition status from the ANCC in 2010, 2015 and 2020 and strives to improve patient safety through reliable and consistent quality care. This healthcare organization’s mission is to serve its communities with outstanding care and to be leaders in healthcare transformation.
7. Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital
Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital stands in Greenburg, a more suburban area of Pittsburg. It’s a Joint Commission-designated Primary Stroke Center and recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for exceeding the American Heart Association’s quality standards in the early management of stroke and TIA. This hospital provides many acute care and outpatient services, with some top-rated service centers, including its:
- Advanced Sleep Center
- Advanced Wound Center
- Breast Health Services
- Family Additions Maternity Center
Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital is a certified Primary Heart Attack Center, displaying high performance in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) heart attack care. Its Family Additions Maternity Center earned a post on Newsweek’s Best Maternity Hospitals list in 2022.
8. Geisinger Medical Center
Situated on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River in Danville, Geisinger Medical Center is a 525-bed teaching hospital and part of the Geisinger Health System. Geisinger Medical Center is central Pennsylvania’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center. Some additional specialties offered at the healthcare facility include:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Disease
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Pain Medicine
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
In addition, Geisinger Medical Center made Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2023 list. This healthcare facility partners with the Geisinger School of Nursing to offer clinical training for student nurses and offers many opportunities for new and experienced nurses.
9. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest
Located in Allentown, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest is a 1,203-bed facility ranked as the No. 6 hospital in Pennsylvania in the 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals list. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest is ranked No. 27 in the nation for Orthopedics and rated high-performing in five adult specialties, including:
- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
- Urology
It’s also rated high-performing in 15 procedures and conditions and received Magnet designation in 2020 for the fifth consecutive time. As part of the larger Lehigh Valley Health Network, Lehigh Valley Hospital made Fortune’s 2023 list of America’s Most Innovative Companies. It also received a Level 10 rating on the College of Healthcare Information Executives’ 2022 Most Wired Survey.
10. Forbes Hospital
About 10 miles east of Pittsburgh in Monroeville, Forbes Hospital boasts 233 beds and has served surrounding communities since the 1970s. Forbes Hospital offers comprehensive medical care and is part of Allegheny Health Network. The healthcare facility offers a wide range of specialties, with some of the more popular including:
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Joint and Spine Care
- Physical therapy and Rehabilitation
- Wound Care
It also provides trauma, stroke and women and infant health services and earned a Stroke Elite Award from the American Heart Association for stroke care. Forbes Hospital has one of the top heart surgery programs in northeastern America for aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery. According to its website, Forbes nurses work in an enriching environment and are “known for providing high-quality, compassionate care.”
Search Pennsylvania staff nursing jobs at some of the best hospitals in the state on Vivian Health.
