Career Resources / Why Columbus, Ohio for Registered Nurses
There are so many reasons why you chose to become a nurse. While the main attraction is almost always the profession’s caring aspects, there is no denying the practical aspects of job security, generous salary and benefits, flexible scheduling, and the ability to continue to advance and grow your professional career. Being a nurse can make as much of a difference in your quality of life as you make for your patients and offers you the opportunity to carry the skills that you’ve learned to careers beyond hands-on care.
Whether your preference is to work in the high-energy setting of a major metropolitan hospital, to apply your skills in a private practice, or even to teach future nurses at one of the nation’s top-ranked nursing programs, nurses in Columbus, Ohio have wide-ranging job options combined with an unbeatable place to live. Described as the “Biggest Small Town in America,” Columbus has so much to offer. It is affordable and friendly, has a robust economy, and is home to some of the nation’s best healthcare companies.
From nationally recognized hospitals and health systems like OhioHealth, Wexner Medical Center, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to global health giant McKesson and innovative companies like NetSmart and Olive, Columbus is a healthcare hub. It’s also home to Ohio State University and dozens of other nursing programs, offering nurses the opportunity to mentor and teach the next generation. Columbus is a wonderful place to be a registered nurse.
- Columbus Hospitals and Health Care Facilities are Nationally Recognized
From their position in Ohio’s largest and most populous city, Columbus’s hospitals and healthcare facilities provide top-level medical care to its citizens, and that excellence has won recognition from all corners. The not-for-profit and charitable healthcare system, OhioHealth, has been named one of the top five largest health systems in America by IBM Watson Health six times, and its individual hospitals have received various awards for outstanding patient experience, most wired hospital, and being among the top 100 hospitals in the country. Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center has received the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience seven years in a row in recognition of its sustained excellence, and Forbes has repeatedly named Nationwide Children’s Hospital one of “America’s Best Large Employers.”
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- Columbus is Where Medical Breakthroughs and Health Technology Come to Life
Columbus is home to multiple hospitals, universities, research centers and life science companies that are engaged in groundbreaking research and development that will make a real change in the future of healthcare. From gene therapy research to innovations making information sharing between healthcare providers easier, Columbus has attracted a highly motivated and intelligent talent pool that engages with, employs, and depends upon nurses as essential voices and team members.
- Columbus Nurse Employers Offer Creative, Comprehensive Compensation
Nurses are in short supply throughout the United States, and Columbus’ nurse employers have responded to the national crisis by offering competitive compensation and benefits packages that ensure that they’re attracting top talent. Employers like OhioHealth are going well beyond the norm, extending their offerings to include wellness resources and cash rewards for engaging in healthy lifestyles, partnering with local educational institutions to offer no- and low-cost degrees and certificates, time-away benefits and flexible schedules to ensure positive work/life balance. Many healthcare employers in Columbus have demonstrated their respect for their nursing professionals and the critical role that they play by creating councils and leadership opportunities to ensure that nurses are directly involved in facility governance.
- Economic Advantages of Living in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus has a strong economy and a relatively low cost of living. Home prices are affordable and rent and essentials like groceries and utilities cost less in Columbus than in other major cities in the United States – in fact, the cost of living is 12% lower than the national average. Though overall salaries in the city are lower than the national average, Columbus nurses are the exception to that rule, and the low cost of goods and services makes their high level of compensation go even further. Family members will also find plenty of opportunity, as the city has a thriving job market highlighted by the presence of several Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and colleges and universities. Columbus workers have several tax advantages, as Social security benefits, pension income, welfare payments, state unemployment, workers’ compensation, interest, and dividends are not subject to city tax.
- Quality of Life for Nurses in Columbus, Ohio
Beyond all of the professional benefits of working as a nurse in Columbus, the city itself has so many wonderful features and attributes. The city has a friendly feel that imbues every aspect of life, from its vibrant arts and cultural scene to its enthusiasm for the university whose presence gives it extra energy and color. Columbus lives for Buckeye sports, and the town is flooded with fans from far and wide when there’s a home football game. Outdoor enthusiasts will revel in the city’s 400 beautiful parks, as well as the extensive trail network that offers over 92 miles for pedestrians and cyclists both. There are also paddling opportunities on the city’s beautiful water trails, which flow through the Ohio State University campus and Columbus’ historic neighborhoods.
Columbus hosts multiple cultural events and festivals that attract world-class talent, and you’ll find stimulating art installations throughout the city, as well as at multiple museums. Foodies will enjoy the breadth of the city’s gourmet offerings from popular food trucks to artisanal donut shops and neighborhood gems.
Being a nurse is a vocation rather than an occupation, but it’s even better when you can practice your calling in a place that you love. Columbus, Ohio’s nurse employers have so much to offer, and they’re looking for top talent. To learn about amazing job opportunities, check out Incredible Health’s job search platform, where top Columbus employers are waiting for you to log on so that they can reach out to you.
