Best Hospitals to Work for in Washington in 2023

Career Resources / Job Searching / Best Hospitals Washington

Have you ever considered working in the Pacific Northwest healthcare industry? In this article, you’ll learn about five high-performing hospitals in Washington with Magnet status, as determined by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Washington’s Top Hospitals

• Harborview Medical Center
• Providence Holy Family Hospital
• Providence St. Peter Hospital
• Seattle Children’s
• University of Washington Medical Center

---

---

Best Hospitals in Washington

Magnet hospitals are recognized as the benchmark for nursing innovation and practice. They often give nurses autonomy to not only lead patient care but also drive institutional change and innovation.

This is why we included only Magnet hospitals on this list. The hospitals also received high grades from U.S News & World Report, Medicare and Newsweek — some of the main sources, besides ANCC.

Harborview Medical Center*

This hospital, managed by UW Medicine academic health system, has been ranked nationally for rehabilitation care by U.S. News & World Report. 

Harborview Medical Center is also designated as a Disaster Control hospital for Seattle and King counties and it’s the only healthcare institution designated a Level I adult and pediatric trauma and verified burn center in the state. 

The organization received the COVID-19 Innovations Award in 2022, the Qualis Health Award of Excellence in 2018, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses: Beacon Award in 2015. The federal government gave it a two-star rating.

Learn more about Harborview Medical Center:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Seattle, Washington
• Hospital network: four facilities
• Employees: 4,000 

Providence Holy Family Hospital

One of Spokane County’s largest hospitals, Providence Holy Family Hospital is rated high performing in two adult procedures or conditions – kidney failure and knee replacement –  by U.S. News & World Report.

The organization has been recognized for its excellence in the treatment of sepsis (Five Star Recipient) by Healthgrades in 2022, and in cesarean delivery (Five Star Recipient) in 2021. According to the federal government, the institution has a two-star rating.

Learn more about Providence Holy Family Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Spokane, Washington
• Hospital network: 11 facilities
• Employees: 1,000+

Providence St. Peter Hospital

The St. Peter Hospital, also part of the Providence health system, is ranked No. 3 in the state by U.S. News & World Report and it’s considered the main hospital of Washington’s southwest area.

Nurses at Providence St. Peter Hospital have received various awards, such as The Leonardson Family Endowment for Nursing Excellence, The Patricia M. Hallett Cancer Endowment, and The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing. The facility is also considered a Top Regional Hospital for the Olympic Peninsula Region and has many high performance areas, mostly in cardiology and heart surgery.

The institution has a two-star rating from the federal government. 

Learn more about Providence St. Peter Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Olympia, Washington
• Hospital network: 11 facilities
• Employees: 4,000+

Seattle Children’s*

Seattle Children’s is ranked No. 1 in Washington and No. 10 across the United States in Children’s Specialities, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The hospital was verified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center in 2019 and, in the previous year, it was listed as one of the 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review. 

According to U.S. News & World Report, the hospital is ranked in 10 specialty areas, including urology, nephrology, diabetes and endocrinology.

Learn more about Seattle Children’s:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Seattle, Washington
• Employees: 8,716

University of Washington Medical Center*

The hospital, also known as UW Medical Center Montlake, is No. 1 in Washington and No. 6 in Adult Specialities across the country. It’s part of a clinical, research and learning health system. 

The facility is considered one of the World’s Best Hospitals 2022 by Newsweek and a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by Surgical Review Corporation, and has received the Baby-Friendly USA designation.

Learn more about University of Washington Medical Center:

• Administration: hybrid (a part of the network is public, and a part is private)
• Location: Seattle, Washington 
• Hospital network: four facilities
• Employees: 5,500+

*Incredible Health helps these hospitals find permanent nurses. Sign up to get matched with nursing jobs!

What makes a best hospital in Washington

What are the factors that make a hospital a high-performing organization? In short, they are features that create a positive experience for patients and employees.

Benefits

After salary, employee benefits are one of the most important aspects of a top hospital. Among the hospitals that we listed here, you can find retirement plans, disability benefits and life insurance, for example.

Growth opportunity

Most of the top hospitals in Washington also offer good career opportunities. If you’re a nurse practitioner, note that Washington ranks No. 4 among the highest-paying states in this specialty, with a mean annual salary of $130,840. Nurse anesthetist is another good career option.

Employee satisfaction

Employee satisfaction can be accomplished in part by providing a positive workplace, which reduces occupational hazards like compassion fatigue and burnout.

High patient satisfaction

Providing high patient satisfaction is more than getting patients well. It’s about creating a memorable experience that encourages patients to return to the same organization in the future. There is also a link between employee and patient satisfaction: Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) ratings increase by 0.33% for each percent increase in employee engagement, according to a survey by the Advisory Board Company.

---

---

Other factors that make a top hospital

An improved safety record, customer service, and ethics also contribute to a hospital’s higher performance. Healthgrades revealed that a culture of excellence is important in classifying hospitals as America’s Best.

Safety record is critical

Hospital infections, medication errors or inaccurate documentation are examples of nursing mistakes that can be prevented with safety records. There is a greater likelihood of using these standards in top hospitals.

Hospital policies focus on customer services 

These days, patients are taking a more active role in their own healthcare decisions. That’s why a customer-centric approach is essential to increase patient satisfaction.

Latest technology and training improve healthcare

Technology, in most cases, improves diagnosis and treatment of patients. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that, in speech-impaired patients, for instance, augmented reality (AR) can help improve communication. 

Ethics lead the way

Values and ethics are the pillars of the best hospitals’. As medical technology advances, it facilitates the management of patients in several situations.

Next steps

If you’re a recent graduate with the right nursing expertise, or even an experienced nurse, a  high-performing hospital may boost your career. To land a job in such organizations, you need a strategy.

Build your resume

The first step is to apply the nursing resume guidelines provided by American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). You will save time writing about your experiences, making an organized document and avoid forgetting important details.

Join a nurses association

You can connect with a mentor through a nursing organization, or, when joining a nursing union, you can contribute to safer working conditions for your profession. American Nurses Association (ANA) is probably the most well-known nurses’ association, with the main goal of protecting the nursing profession.

Attend industry educational conferences and workshops

Attending nursing conferences is the best way to take part in workshops and training — which will also improve your resume. These events generally cost up to $799 to attend.

Keep up with continuing education requirements

In addition to conferences, are you interested in learning online from the comfort of your own home? 

Incredible Health offers free Washington Continuing Education Units (CEU) courses. Become a member and start learning!

Search for job openings

On the one hand, you can submit applications one by one for each position. On the other hand, you can get multiple offers in under a month with us. 

Create your account on Incredible Health to start receiving offers from the top hospitals in Washington!

Transfer your nursing license to Washington

Transferring nursing licenses is a common situation. No worries if you plan to move to a noncompact state from a compact state. Read our comprehensive guide to make this process painless.

Sources

• “About ANA” nursingworld.org. Accessed June 25, 2022.
• “ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®.” nursingworld.org. Accessed June 26, 2022.
• “Health Information Technology for Engaging Patients in Diagnostic Decision Making in Emergency Departments” ahrq.gov. Accessed June 25, 2022.
• Medicare. medicare.gov. Accessed June 26, 2022.
• “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021” bls.gov. Accessed June 25, 2022.
• “The Top Five Recommendations for Improving the Patient Experience” healthcatalyst.com. Accessed June 25, 2022.
• “U.S. News Best Hospitals.” health.usnews.com. Accessed June 26, 2022.
• “What Makes a Hospital One of America’s Best?” healthgrades.com. Accessed June 25, 2022.