Known for its palm trees, pristine beaches and exciting nightlife, Miami has plenty to offer nurses. South Florida is also home to multiple trauma centers and community hospitals, giving nursing professionals a wide range of opportunities to gain skills and experience.
The list below was developed based on facility and employee reviews, along with research into the types of specialty care available at various Miami hospitals. It’s not intended to be a top 10 ranking list but a guide to the healthcare facilities preferred by reviewers. We also took into consideration rankings each hospital received from U.S. News & World Report and other independent reporting outlets. Consider these employers if you’re looking to grow your nursing career in the Miami area.
1. University of Miami Health System – UHealth Tower
Ranked as a top hospital in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area in 2022-2023, the University of Miami Health System-UHealth Tower provides highly specialized care from some of the region’s best oncologists, neurologists and neurosurgeons. UHealth Tower is also one of the best Miami hospitals for ophthalmology care.
As part of the University of Miami Health System, UHealth Tower offers many ways for nurses to advance their careers. Schedule flexibility, monthly educational opportunities and structured professional development programs are just a few reasons nurses choose to grow their careers at UHealth Tower and other UMHS facilities. Through its partnership with the Miller School of Medicine, the hospital emphasizes collaboration, allowing nurses to work with community physicians to promote continuity of care.
2. Mount Sinai Medical Center (Miami Beach)
Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach has been ranked as one of the country’s top 50 hospitals for geriatric care, making it an attractive option for nurses interested in working with older adults. The hospital also has the country’s only researcher-backed cancer program at an Ivy League university. Patients come to the Comprehensive Cancer Center to receive personalized treatment plans from a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including experienced oncology nurses.
Mount Sinai Medical Center is known as one of the best Miami hospitals for cardiovascular care, gastroenterology and orthopedics. The hospital has a high-volume cath lab, a specialty center for treating complex diseases of the aorta, an endoscopy center offering advanced procedures and orthopedic programs to address limb deformities and joint disorders. Nurses have access to tuition reimbursement, on-site child care and other valuable benefits. On-site housing is also available for certain nursing roles.
3. Jackson Health System
Jackson Health System provides high-quality care to patients from Miami-Dade County and the surrounding areas. This health system differs from other facilities due to its governance model. A team of volunteers known as the Public Health Trust works on behalf of county officials to provide the same standard of care to every patient, regardless of the patient’s financial situation. The hospital is also known for providing excellent pediatric care, ranking No. 40 in the nation for pediatric diabetes and endocrinology.
Jackson Health System has received recognition as one of South Florida Business Journal’s Healthiest Employers, a top performer in the Healthcare Equality Index created by the Human Rights Campaign and a Baby-Friendly Hospital. Employees can access comprehensive benefits, including medical insurance, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement and a defined benefit retirement plan.
4. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital for pediatric patients. Recognized as a Magnet facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the hospital emphasizes experienced nurses’ roles in delivering the best possible outcomes for children and teens. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has more than 800 attending physicians, giving patients access to highly specialized care. As a result, it’s routinely recognized nationally for its excellent pediatric specialty programs and tied as the No. 1 children’s hospital in Florida in 2022-2023.
Nicklaus is one of the nation’s top 50 hospitals for pediatric cardiology, neonatology, pediatric neurology and neurosurgery, pediatric orthopedics and pediatric pulmonology and lung surgery. The hospital has several quality initiatives, allowing nurses to gain valuable skills in tracking patient outcomes. Its commitment to quality is one reason it received the Pinnacle of Excellence Award from Press Ganey.
5. Baptist Health Doctors Hospital
Located less than 10 miles from Downtown Miami, Baptist Health Doctors Hospital is a Magnet facility with a well-known sports medicine program. Staff members provide specialized care to athletes from the Miami Dolphins, Florida International University, the Miami HEAT and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. U.S. News & World Report also lists Baptist Health Doctors Hospital as one of Miami’s best hospitals for orthopedics and geriatrics.
Patients and employees alike are drawn to the hospital’s neuroscience program, which offers innovative treatment plans for movement disorders, brain injuries, epilepsy and brain tumors. Its Miami Neuroscience Institute completed more than 6,000 interventional neuroradiology cases over 10 years. The neuroscience program also offers pain management, physical rehabilitation and other services to help patients recover from serious injuries. Depending on the position, Baptist Health Doctors Hospital may provide holiday pay, referral bonuses, flexible spending accounts and numerous other benefits.
6. HCA Florida Kendall Hospital
HCA Florida Kendall Hospital has more than 440 beds dedicated to short-term acute care, outpatient services and educational programs to help patients live their best lives. The American College of Surgeons lists HCA Florida Kendall Hospital as one of just two Level 1 Trauma Centers in Miami-Dade County, giving residents access to high-quality 24/7 care. The hospital is known for its Comprehensive Stroke Center, advanced robotic surgery program and certified burn unit. Expectant parents rely on HCA Florida Kendall Hospital for its Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit.
Employees can access comprehensive benefits packages, including health insurance, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending accounts and participation in an employee stock purchase plan. The hospital has received recognition for its performance from The Joint Commission, Thomson Reuters’ 100 Top Hospitals and Healthgrades’ Top 250 Best Hospitals.
7. HCA Florida Westside Hospital
Previously called Westside Regional Medical Center, HCA Florida Westside Hospital in Plantation provides specialized care to residents of Broward County and the surrounding areas. The 250-bed hospital is one of only nine facilities in the United States that’s Joint Commission-certified for minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery. The facility is also certified as a Thrombectomy Capable Center by The Joint Commission and a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Agency for Health Care Administration.
Based on patient outcomes and other factors, HCA Florida Westside Hospital earned recognition as being high performing in four procedures/conditions, including the treatment of heart failure, heart attack, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The hospital has received awards from Healthgrades and the American Heart Association, including AHA Gold Plus Target Stroke Elite Recognition. It employs more than 800 nurses and allied health professionals. Nurses benefit from competitive salaries, comprehensive orientation and numerous opportunities for advancement.
8. Memorial Regional Hospital
Located in Hollywood, Memorial Regional Hospital is a public hospital providing Level 1 trauma care. It’s also the site of several specialty centers, including Memorial Cancer Institute, which treats more than 4,000 patients annually. Named a Cancer Center of Excellence by the Florida Department of Health, its Memorial Cancer Institute conducts clinical trials to give patients access to cutting-edge care that addresses their physical and psychological needs. The Memorial Cardiac & Vascular Institute provides university-level care in a community setting, giving patients access to a team of cardiologists, cardiac electrophysiologists and other experienced specialists.
Memorial Regional Hospital is also known for providing high-quality pediatric care. It ranked as Florida’s No. 5 children’s hospital in 2022-2023 and earned national rankings in pediatric orthopedics and pediatric cardiology and heart surgery. For adult specialties, Memorial Regional Hospital earned high-performing marks in aortic valve surgery, treating heart attack and heart failure, and five other procedures or conditions.
9. HCA Florida Mercy Hospital
HCA Florida Mercy Hospital is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission and has a rehab program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities. Nurses with experience in wound care may be especially interested in coming to HCA Florida Mercy Hospital to pursue opportunities at the Hyperbaric and Wound Care Center. The hospital also has a Level III NICU and offers robotic surgery, weight-loss surgery and expert orthopedic and cardiac care.
It boasts several accolades, including the Stroke Gold Plus Honor Roll managed by the American Heart Association and the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for Inpatient Rehabilitation and Outpatient Oncology. HCA Florida Mercy Hospital has also received The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval. Staff members benefit from competitive salaries, numerous opportunities for advancement and comprehensive benefits.
10. Larkin Community Hospital
Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami is one of Florida’s largest teaching hospitals, giving nurses the ability to frequently collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, dietitians and podiatrists in training. The hospital is also associated with Larkin Nursing School, increasing access to educational opportunities for practical nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners. Once hired, nurses interested in advancing their careers can use Larkin’s employee education portal to view presentations on IV insertion, pain management and other relevant topics.
Based on excellent performance related to medication safety, preventing and responding to patient harm and delivering person-centered care, Larkin Community Hospital is an A+ Leapfrog Safety facility. The Leapfrog Group has also named it a Top Urban Hospital for its dedication to providing high-quality care with low infection rates, high survival rates following high-risk procedures, short hospital stays and few re-admissions.
Learn more about the Miami, Florida area and find a job at one of these and other well-regarded hospitals on Vivian.