Best Hospitals to Work for in Delaware

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Delaware may be the second smallest state in the country, but it is big on reasons to make it home. Conveniently situated with easy access to major cities including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York, it also boasts beautiful, clean beaches and plenty of recreational areas that invite hiking, biking, and exploration.

The state boasts excellent public and private schools, a widely respected state university, and tax advantages including low income tax rates that exempt Social Security benefits, no sales tax, and one of the lowest real estate property taxes in the country. Add to all of those attractions the opportunity to work at one of the three facilities recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as Magnet Hospitals for their nursing excellence, and you can see why so many people want to make “the First State” their state.

Delaware’s Top Hospital

• Bayhealth
• ChristianaCare
• Nemours Children’s Health

Best hospitals in Delaware

Delaware is a tiny state with only 13 hospitals, yet it boasts three facilities that have earned Magnet Hospital status and one that is nationally ranked for its specialty services by U.S. News & World Report.

Our assessment of the best facilities in the state considers those elements as well as safety data from government agencies like Medicare, awards and recognition bestowed by major publishers and organizations, comments from current and previous employees posted on employment sites like Glassdoor, and safety grades from watchdog organizations like The Leapfrog Group.

Bayhealth

Residents of central and southern Delaware have their healthcare needs served by Bayhealth, a level III trauma center that also provides a birthing room, cardiovascular and cancer services, patient and family support services, and numerous specialty services, community outreach, and imaging services.

In addition to being awarded Magnet Hospital status, Bayhealth has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognition from esteemed organizations, including receiving the Gold Seal of Approval and being named a Top Performer on Key Quality Metrics from the Joint Commission, Silver Recognition from Planetree for excellence in patient-centered care, and the PRISM Award for Exemplary Practice from the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses.

The hospital was also named a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and several departments have been awarded a Most Wired recognition from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. 

Notable facts about Bay Health include: 

• Not-for-profit hospital and health system
• Located in Dover, Delaware
• Bayhealth is comprised of two hospitals as well as a freestanding emergency department and several satellite facilities and employed physician practices encompassing a variety of specialties
• Number of employees: 4,000+ across the system 

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ChristianaCare*

ChristianaCare is in Wilmington, Delaware. Once known as Wilmington Hospital, the nonprofit teaching hospital is one of three in the health care organization. It has distinguished itself as a Magnet Hospital and has consistently been ranked #1 Delaware’s Best Hospital and #4 for nearby Philadelphia by U.S. News & World Report, which also noted it as High Performing in one adult specialty as well as in 13 procedures and conditions.

ChristianaCare has won numerous awards, including having been rated by Computerworld as one of the nation’s Best Places to Work in IT. Forbes ranked ChristianaCare #40 on its list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity and #154 on its list of America’s Best Large Employers, and the hospital earned a top score in the Human Rights Campaign’s Healthcare Equality Index eleven years in a row.

ChristianaCare was rated among the World’s Best Hospitals by Newsweek, all while achieving a noteworthy four-star rating for overall performance from Medicare. 

Notable facts about ChristianaCare include: 

• Non-profit hospital and corporate headquarters for Christiana Care health network
• Located in Wilmington, Delaware
• ChristianaCare is comprised of two hospitals in Delaware and one in Maryland as well as a cancer center, a heart and vascular health center, a women and children’s health center, a home health agency, and a preventive medicine and rehabilitation center
• Number of employees: 12,181employees across the system
• Number of nurses and care technicians: 3,922 across the system

Nemours Children’s Health

Nemours Children’s Hospital was called the Alfred I. duPont Institute when it opened its doors in 1940. Over the years it has evolved into one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals.

A Magnet Hospital, it has been ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report for both Orthopedics and Endocrinology and one of the ten best children’s hospitals in the Mid-Atlantic for the treatment of cancer, for neonatology, and for urology. 

Among the awards and recognition it has received, it was verified as a level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program; the Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association for commitment to quality and innovation in emergency care; and its website KidsHealth.org won four 2022 Telly Awards for excellence in video communication. 

Notable facts about Nemours Children’s Health include: 

• Non-profit pediatric hospital providing specialties and subspecialties to infants, children, teens, and young adults up to age 21
• Located in Wilmington, Delaware
• Administered by the Nemours Foundation, Nemours Children’s Health is one of the largest integrated pediatric health systems in the country, with more than 95 locations across four states
• Number of employees: 4,000+ in Delaware

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

What makes a best hospital in Delaware?

Dedication to community, upholding high standards of ethics, and demonstrating respect for employees and patients alike are all part of what qualifies a Delaware hospital to be considered one of the best in the state. Investment in state-of-the-art technology and safety are also essential factors.

Benefits 

In the face of the national nursing shortage, many hospitals have reassessed the compensation they provide to their professional care teams. In order to attract and retain top talent, salaries have increased substantially and facilities are offering benefits that reflect thoughtfulness and creativity, as well as a recognition of the changing needs of today’s workforce. 

In addition to the standard offerings of paid time off and sick leave, organizations are offering the ability to use flexible scheduling, generous parental leave, reimbursements for gym memberships, and concierge services that manage tasks ranging from vacation planning and dry-cleaning service to scheduling auto repairs.

Growth opportunity

Providing staff with the ability and means to grow within their career is a sign of a hospital’s belief in their future with the organization. The best facilities not only encourage their registered nursing staff to explore becoming Nurse Practitioners or other APRN titles where they can earn significantly higher salaries, they also offer tuition reimbursement to help make it happen, and provide the time needed to pursue their studies.

Employee satisfaction

In the face of COVID-19 and the stress it placed on healthcare workers, the best hospitals are working overtime to improve employee job satisfaction. Studies have shown that in addition to boosting wages and benefits, this is most effectively done by revising staff scheduling, providing mental health support, ensuring that leadership is effective, and providing high quality equipment and resources.

High patient satisfaction

Illness, accidents, and treatment of various conditions are the reasons that people come to the hospital, but it is the way that care is provided that differentiates the hospitals that are considered the best at what they do. Hospital can encourage patient satisfaction in many ways, and happier patients result in nurses who are happier in their work.

Other factors that make a top hospital

Nursing staff and patient satisfaction are both important elements of a hospital’s environment, but there are other important factors required of top hospitals. An emphasis on patient safety and investment in top-of-the-line technology are essential, and so too is a dedication to high ethical standards and to serving the community.

Safety record is critical

When assessing the quality of care and attention to detail provided by any hospital, safety is inarguably a key factor. Studies have shown a concerning rise in both infections related to hospital stays and to injuries and illnesses suffered by staff. Hospitals need to constantly rededicate themselves to vigilance in both areas.

Hospital policies focus on customer services

Patients have options as to where they want to receive medical care, and that has driven hospitals to focus on policies that emphasize customer service. The result has been patient-centered improvements in scheduling, in the design of the physical plant of hospitals, and in the training that is provided to the hospital staff.

Latest technology and training improve healthcare

Medical breakthroughs are happening every day, and in many cases they are resulting in equipment and devices becoming outdated. Hospitals that prioritize constant re-assessment and reinvestment of everything from electronic records software to diagnostic equipment are the ones that rank highest for quality of care.

Ethics leads the way

Hospitals are more than places where patients go when they are sick. They play an important role in a community’s economic development. The best hospitals recognize their responsibility to the health and wellbeing of those in their geographic environment, and dedicate themselves to ethical delivery of care, as well as outreach to foster social health.

Next steps

If you’ve set the intention of finding a nursing job in Delaware, your next steps need to revolve around showing yourself off in the best possible light. Even in the midst of staff shortages and continuing nursing demand, competition for spots at the best hospitals is fierce.  Make sure that you’ve updated your resume, that your credentials are in order, and that you’re taking full advantage of all of the resources available to you.

Build your resume

Whether you’re finishing up nursing school and looking for your first job or have years of experience, you need to make sure that your resume is top-notch. Hiring managers rely on applicants to assemble their vital information in a way that is well organized, with headings that differentiate education, strengths, and experience so that it is easy to understand and assess. Make sure you don’t leave out the basics: your contact information should be right at the top.

Join a nurses’ association

When it comes to networking in Delaware, few resources that are more effective than the Delaware Nurses Association. Formed to support and advocate for the nursing profession, as well as for patients, the group provides assistance for career benefits and development, as well as valuable volunteering opportunities. Though there are pros and cons to joining a union, it is definitely worth considering.

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Attend industry educational conferences and workshops

Educational conferences have value in every industry, but for nurses these professional conferences can be particularly helpful. Attendance provides access to continuing education units, an opportunity to reconnect and network with colleagues, and exposure to the latest research and skills that elevate patient care.

Keep up with continuing education requirements

Continuous learning has intrinsic value, but for nurses in Delaware it is also a requirement. The state requires 30 contact hours every two years for RNs and APRNs, and 24 for LPNs. To help you keep up with these goals, Incredible Health offers free, accredited CEI classes through its website, and then instantly delivers documentation as soon as the course is completed.

Search for job openings

The last several years have seen remarkable change in the way that nurses find and apply for new positions, but the availability of career pages on hospital websites and national job boards does not eliminate the need to submit information or the anxiety of waiting for a response.

At Incredible Health, we’ve turned the process around, allowing you to post a profile and your goals one time on our site and then sitting back while hospitals compete over you. It’s an innovation that reduces stress and minimizes the time required to connect.

Transfer your nursing license to Delaware

Delaware is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so registered nurses or license practical nurses that hold multistate licenses are able to continue practicing in the state, but if you change your primary residence to Delaware then you need to obtain a Delaware multistate license. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses that want to practice in Delaware must hold a Delaware-issued APRN license.

Top Delaware RN jobs on Incredible Health