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As part of the Loyola Medicine health system, nurses at Loyola University Medical Center practice in a dynamic environment that combines compassionate patient care and medical innovation. This academic medical hospital offers exciting opportunities to work alongside clinicians and researchers advancing health science in various fields.
Loyola Medicine provides a supportive environment for nurses to develop and grow as leaders. If you’re living in Illinois and pursuing a healthcare career in Chicago, our employment spotlight features the nursing specialties, job benefits and other perks available at this leading Magnet hospital.
Loyola University Medical Center at a Glance
Located in Maywood, a suburb west of Chicago, Loyola University Medical Center is the seventh-largest hospital in Illinois. It opened in 1969 and now serves as a teaching hospital for Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. According to data from the American Hospital Association, the 547-bed hospital admitted 19,240 patients in 2021.
Loyola University Medical Center falls under the umbrella of Loyola Medicine, a regional health system serving Chicago’s western suburbs. The health system operates two other hospitals. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital has 254 beds and serves Melrose Park, and MacNeal Hospital has 374 beds and is in Berwyn. Patients can also access primary and specialty care through Loyola Medicine’s physician practices and ambulatory clinics in Chicago and surrounding areas.
Loyola University Chicago sold its health system to Trinity Health in 2011, although it retains the university’s name and remains dedicated to training the next generation of healthcare professionals. Trinity Health is a national not-for-profit Catholic healthcare system based in Michigan. It operates 88 hospitals and additional urgent and continuing care facilities in 25 states and employs more than 115,000 people system-wide.
Mission and Values
With its roots in Jesuit Catholic values, Loyola Medicine’s mission is “to serve together in the spirit of the Gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities.” Loyola Medicine strives to create an environment that inspires innovation, diversity, respect for life and human dignity to achieve this mission.
Awards and Distinctions
A nursing job at this healthcare facility puts you in an environment consistently recognized for excellence in patient care. Some of the medical center’s recent honors include the following:
- U.S. News & World Report rated Loyola University Medical Center as the No. 6 best hospital in Chicago and Illinois for 2022-2023.
- Newsweek Magazine ranked the medical center at No. 56 in the nation and No. 4 in Illinois on its 2021 list of the World’s Best Hospitals.
- Becker’s Healthcare included Loyola on its 2020 list of 100 great hospitals in America.
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center renewed Loyola’s prestigious Magnet designation for nursing excellence in 2019. It previously received this honor in 2009 and 2014.
- The American College for Cardiology recognized Loyola University Medical Center with a 2022 Platinum Performance Achievement award for exceptional care for heart attack patients.
- Leapfrog Group gave Loyola its second consecutive A-grade in patient safety in 2020 and recognized it as a top teaching hospital in the country in 2019.
Specialties at Loyola Medicine
Whether you want to care for the hospital’s youngest patients in the neonatal unit or work in the fast-paced critical care setting, you can pursue rewarding roles in several specialties at Loyola University Medical Center.
U.S. News nationally ranked two of these specialties in 2022-2023, including the hospital’s gastroenterology and GI surgery program and ear, nose and throat services. The center also rated high-performing in cardiology and heart surgery, geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics and pulmonary and lung surgery.
The following list features other top specialties nurses can practice at this Chicago hospital.
Emergency Medicine and Trauma
Loyola is home to the only Level 1 Trauma Center in Illinois verified by both the state and the national American College of Surgeons. Combined, Loyola’s trauma center and burn center treat more than 40,000 patients annually. Loyola also offers the only 24-hour pediatric trauma program in the Chicago suburbs, caring for 15,000 patients yearly.
Burn Center
Loyola’s Burn Center is the largest in Illinois, treating adult and pediatric patients with burns, inhalation injuries and soft tissue infections. Its team of specialists, including burn care nurses, provide critical care, trauma and reconstructive surgery.
Center for Heart and Vascular Medicine
Cardiac care nurses can work with heart and vascular specialists who are leaders in the field. The center was the first in Illinois to offer the noninvasive FFR-CT test for coronary artery disease and one of the first to provide a heart valve replacement procedure by catheter, eliminating the need for open heart surgery. A heart attack rapid response team offers around-the-clock care for patients in the emergency department.
Transplant Center
Loyola Medicine is a leader in organ transplants, launching Chicago’s first heart transplant program in 1984 and its first lung transplant program in 1988. In 2019, surgeons completed the hospital’s 1,000th lung transplant, more than all other transplant centers in Illinois combined. Specialists also oversee kidney, liver, pancreas, bone marrow and stem cell transplants, including multi-organ transplants. The center features 20 beds for stem cell transplant patients.
Loyola Medicine Children’s Hospital
If you’re passionate about pediatric nursing, you might be interested in a role at the children’s hospital. The children’s unit is on the fourth floor of the medical center and has 98 beds, including a 14-bed PICU and 50-bed Level 3 NICU. The overall survival rate of NICU patients at this facility is 98%. Nurses continue to care for premature or sick infants through a home care program, with a follow-up program for high-risk infants during their first 3 years of life.
Benefits of Working at Loyola Medicine
Loyola Medicine’s 5,500 employees enjoy a full range of benefits supporting their well-being. In addition to a competitive salary, available perks include:
- Medical, Dental and Vision Care
- Prescription Plans
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Life Insurance
- Retirement Savings
- Including 403(b)/401(k) plans with employer matching and core contributions
- Student Loan Relief
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Professional Development
- Flexible Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal and Sick Days)
- Paid Holidays
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
- Voluntary Home, Auto, Pet and Legal Insurance
- Childcare Discounts
- Employee Discounts (Local and National Businesses)
Workplace Diversity Initiatives
Loyola Medicine recognizes that it serves diverse cultures, religions and communities, so it aims to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. It has programs designed to encourage a greater understanding of the importance of diversity and equity. The health system also provides education on unconscious bias, systemic racism and cultural proficiency to help improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. It strives to create a diverse workforce through training, recruitment, retention and development.
Pursuing Nursing Excellence at Loyola Medicine
As a Magnet hospital, Loyola Medicine focuses on delivering high-quality nursing care to all its patients. The hospital endeavors to create a compassionate and respectful environment where nurses can succeed at all stages of their careers, with a shared decision-making structure and ongoing professional development support. By ensuring its nurses feel valued, Loyola University Medical Center benefits from having one of the lowest nursing turnover rates in the United States, according to the hospital’s website.
New Graduate Residency Program
Starting your professional nursing career can be daunting, so Loyola created a program to help with this transition. New graduates with less than a year of experience can apply to its RN Residency Program. Residents complete a 12-month program designed to help new nurses develop their knowledge and clinical competencies, building a foundation to move into professional practice successfully. The program includes classes, skills labs, a group evidence-based practice project and mentorship from experienced nurses. Residency opportunities are available in various specialties.
Tuition Reimbursement
One of the best ways to advance your nursing career is to continue acquiring knowledge and training. Nurses furthering their education may be eligible to receive tuition reimbursement when completing degree programs at Loyola University Chicago. For example, the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing offers the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing, including RN-to-BSN
- Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing, including RN-to-MSN
- Doctor of Nursing Practice with nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and systems leadership tracks
Leadership and Advancement Opportunities
It’s essential to have opportunities to challenge yourself and grow as you gain clinical expertise and knowledge. When comparing nursing jobs among top Chicago healthcare employers, consider how the facility supports its employees’ long-term career development.
Loyola University Medical Center provides nurses with numerous opportunities to progress along various career paths, depending on their interests and skills. The facility also promotes from within. Nurses earning advanced degrees may take on greater responsibilities or move into leadership or management positions.
According to Loyola Medicine’s website, its nurses have climbed the career ladder to Regional Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and Regional Director of Emergency Services.
Travel Nursing at Loyola University Medical Center
If you want to put your nursing skills to work without relocating to the Windy City permanently, consider a job as a travel nurse. Chicago hospitals rely on RNs from around the country to fill staffing gaps in various specialties. Contracts are typically 13 weeks, providing time to get to know Chicago like a local. While in the area, explore Lake Michigan’s shoreline, hang out in Millennium Park, cheer on the city’s many sports teams and discover all its vibrant neighborhoods.
Getting to Loyola Medicine
Loyola University Medical Center is just 11 miles west of Chicago’s downtown core and easily accessible by car or public transit. Designated employee parking is available. A campus shuttle runs on weekdays and stops at the employee entrance of the medical center and other buildings on campus, such as the Loyola Outpatient Center and Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center.
Nearby Amenities
Employees at Loyola University Medical Center can enjoy sit-down meals or grab-and-go options at the hospital’s food court, which offers Asian, Mexican and American cuisine. Other dining options include a cafeteria at the Stritch School of Medicine, coffee shops near the Center for Heart and Vascular Medicine and Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, bagels and coffee at Loyola Outpatient Center and healthy salads, sandwiches and smoothies at Loyola Fitness Center.
Contact Information
Loyola Medicine
2160 South First Avenue
Maywood, IL 60153
(888) 584-7888
