Best Hospitals to Work for in Connecticut

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Connecticut has been ranked among the top 10 healthiest states for several years, according to Connecticut by the Numbers. That’s a reason you should know its best hospitals to work for. 

We’ve listed in this article only Magnet hospitals, which is a designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet hospitals meet high standards in many areas of healthcare service, including leadership, professional practice, and organizational effectiveness.

Best Hospitals in Connecticut

Magnet hospitals have consistently fostered better workplaces for nurses and patient outcomes. Our list is based on this criteria, as well as information from sources such as U.S. News & World Report and Medicare.

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Bristol Hospital

Bristol Hospital is the only Magnet hospital in Hartford County and has a four-star rating from the federal government.

The facility received a “B” grade from The Leapfrog Group for its hospital safety, and the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for its high standards in healthcare quality the same year.

Learn more about Bristol Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Bristol, Connecticut
• Hospital network: 20 facilities (across the entire network)
• Employees: 1,700

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

This hospital is ranked No. 2 in Connecticut and is nationally ranked in neonatology, pediatric gastroenterology, gastrointestinal surgery and pediatric urology by U.S. News & World Report. 

Connecticut Children’s is the only hospital in the state exclusively dedicated to pediatric patients. It was recognized with a Gold Level for its success using the Get With the Guidelines–Resuscitation program for neonatology and infant care from the American Heart Association.

Learn more about Connecticut Children’s:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Hartford, Connecticut 
• Hospital network: two facilities 
• Employees: 2,200

Greenwich Hospital*

Greenwich Hospital, a member of the Yale New Haven Health System, is rated high performing in several procedures or conditions, including colon cancer surgery and heart failure, by U.S. News & World Report. 

The hospital received the Women’s Choice Award for its high quality cancer care and patient experience and was recognized as a LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer from the Healthcare Equality Index.

The federal government gave it a five-star rating. 

Learn more about Greenwich Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit
• Location: Greenwich, Connecticut 
• Hospital network: six facilities 
• Employees: 1,790 

Middlesex Hospital

Middlesex Hospital is rated high performing in kidney failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by U.S. News & World Report.

The facility, a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, has an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group and a four-star rating from the federal government.

Learn more about Middlesex Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Middletown, Connecticut 
• Hospital network: three facilities
• Employees: 3,100

Stamford Hospital

Stamford Hospital has a five-star rating from the federal government and is rated high performing in several procedures or conditions, including heart failure and kidney failure, by U.S. News & World Report. 

In 2021, the facility earned the Great Place to Work Certification. It also has an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group for its hospital safety.

Learn more about Stamford Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Stamford, Connecticut 
• Hospital network: 40 facilities (across the entire network)
• Employees: 3700+

St. Vincent’s Medical Center

St. Vincent’s Medical Center has a three-star rating from the federal government. It’s rated high performing in heart failure, kidney failure and stroke by U.S. News & World Report. 

The hospital, part of Hartford HealthCare System, was recognized with a Gold Plus Level in the Get With the Guidelines program from the American Heart Association for its heart failure and stroke programs.

The Leapfrog Group gave it a “B” grade for its hospital safety. 

Learn more about St. Vincent’s Medical Center:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut 
• Hospital network: two facilities
• Employees: 1,800+

Yale New Haven Hospital*

Yale New Haven Hospital, York Street campus, is ranked No. 1 in Connecticut and is nationally ranked in several adult specialties, such as cancer, geriatrics and gynecology, by U.S. News & World Report. 

The hospital is a Level I Trauma Center for adult and pediatric patients and it was considered one of the World’s Best Hospitals by Newsweek in 2022. 

In 2020, the facility was also designated one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters. The federal government gave it a four-star rating.

Learn more about Yale New Haven Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: New Haven, Connecticut
• Hospital network: six facilities 
• Employees: 12,991

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

What makes a best hospital in Connecticut

Below you’ll find common features that make high-performing hospitals ideal places for nurses.

Benefits

A competitive salary is not the only perk that makes working in a hospital worth it. It’s recommended to check if the employer invests in employee benefits, such as medical plans, tuition assistance, exclusive discounts and paid time off.

Growth opportunity

Besides compensation, career growth should be another priority in your professional life. You may start as a registered nurse (RN) but you could specialize as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). With an annual mean wage of $276,540, Connecticut ranks second among the states with the highest-paying CRNA salaries, as stated in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Another good option is to follow the nurse practitioner path.

Employee satisfaction

A BioMed Research International study suggests that high job satisfaction leads to better employee performance, which results in retention of professionals and an increase in patient satisfaction. Additionally, nurses who are satisfied are less likely to experience job fatigue and burnout.

High patient satisfaction

A healthy workplace is also very important to provide better service to patients. This allows the hospital to be recognized for its performance and to gain loyal customers as a result.

Other factors that make a top hospital

Several factors make a hospital stand out from the rest, as you just read. They can also go beyond in terms of medical safety, customer service, technology and ethics.

Safety record is critical

The quality of service in healthcare is highly dependent on hospital safety. Most infection problems can be prevented if employers record procedures and create standards that all employees can follow.

Hospital policies focus on customer services 

The customer service policies of a hospital, including regular staff training that keeps employees on the same page for best practices, make Connecticut’s best hospitals stand out.

Latest technology and training improve healthcare

Using technology in healthcare can be helpful for a number of reasons, including making healthcare decisions and analyzing patient data.

Ethics lead the way

In complex cases, such as when a patient refuses treatment because of cultural beliefs, ethics can be a valuable asset that guides decisions and actions taken by healthcare professionals.

Next steps

Whether you’re an experienced nurse or a recent graduate with the right nursing skills, working at one of the above-listed Connecticut hospitals can enhance your skills and advance your career goals. 

Job hunting without the right strategy can be a frustrating task. Here are tips on how to find your dream job as a nurse at one of Connecticut’s best hospitals.

Build your resume

There is an ideal method to present your job experience, skills and career goals to employers. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has established guidelines and we compiled them in our nursing resume guide.

Join a nurses association

Joining a nursing organization may be very helpful for your career in general. You can find suggestions of nursing organizations on our blog, if you’re interested in networking and mentoring, and an analysis of participating in nursing unions.

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Attend industry educational conferences and workshops

Attending nursing conferences is a great way to improve your professional development, have fun with colleagues and enrich your resume.

If you need some tips about conferences, or any nursing-related topic, check out our advice about working in Connecticut.

Keep up with continuing education requirements

Another way to keep learning is by studying on your own with online courses. Also, if you are an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), you may need to take Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to meet Connecticut’s education requirements.

Incredible health has free Connecticut CEU courses. Sign up and start learning!

Search for job openings

You should create an account on Incredible Health if you’re looking to get hired by one of the best hospitals in the country. 

Our nursing jobs marketplace uses exclusive technology to match the right candidate with the right position at the right hospital.

Transfer your nursing license to Connecticut

Connecticut is a noncompact state. This means that, if you come from a compact state, your multistate license will change to a single-state license. But transferring a nursing license is not as difficult as it seems. 

We’ve prepared a guide to assist you.

Sources

• “ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®.” nursingworld.org. Accessed July 9, 2022.
• “CT is Nation’s 4th Healthiest State, Analysis Shows” ctbythenumbers.news Accessed July 9, 2022.
• “Job Satisfaction and Associated Factors among Health Professionals Working at Public and Private Hospitals in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed July 9, 2022.
• Medicare. medicare.gov. Accessed July 9, 2022.
• “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics” bls.gov. Accessed July 9, 2022.
• “U.S. News Best Hospitals.” health.usnews.com. Accessed July 9, 2022.
• “World’s Best Hospitals 2022.” newsweek.com. Accessed July 9, 2022.