The Best Compensation & Benefits Package Anywhere.
Completing your education and nursing boards is a major accomplishment. At Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), one of the nation’s best small rural hospitals, we want to help jump start your career. That’s why we have developed one of the country’s most competitive compensation and benefits packages.
Newly graduated nurses receive:
- $32 per hour starting salary with additional compensation for evenings, nights, and weekends. That’s more than $62,000 per year!
- $5,000 sign-on/retention bonus. Up to $10,000 if committed to Med/Surg for two years.
- Up to $60,000 in tuition/loan repayment.
- Incentives to keep learning with ongoing tuition assistance up to $5,000 per year.
- A full slate of benefits, including dental, vision, and a great match on your retirement contributions.
About Us
Why Southwestern Vermont Health Care? Because we are recognized as a preeminent, rural integrated health care system that provides exceptional, convenient, safe, and affordable care for our community.
Most recently, Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) was named by Vermont Business Magazine as one of 2021's Best Places to Work for the eighth year in a row! SVHC prides itself on taking care of its employees. We are committed to a safe, empathetic environment that fosters quality care, team-work, and stewardship.
We are a community-based hospital that recently gained recognition as the recipient of the American Hospital Association's Rural Hospital Leadership Award--and only one hospital receives this in the country per year. In 2020, SVMC was ranked fourth out of 3,282 hospitals nationwide in value of care, according to the Lown Institute Hospitals Index. SVHC exists to provide exceptional healthcare and comfort to the people we serve.
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Nursing Excellence
We have a national reputation for nursing excellence and leadership. Our nurses are empowered to learn, innovate, achieve quality outcomes, and exceed patient expectations.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) is a Magnet Designated Organization. SVMC was first designated in 2002, making us the first hospital in Vermont to receive this designation. Since that time we’ve had 5 consecutive designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®! There are only 3 five-time recipients in New England and 28 worldwide.
In 2016, Barbara Richardson, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN, was one of five nurses named an American Nurses Credentialing Center National Magnet Nurse of the Year®. And in 2017, SVMC was awarded the Magnet Prize™ for its Accountable Community for Health Project. The prize is the highest honor that can be granted to a Magnet organization, and only one is given worldwide each year.
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Nurse Residency Program
Whether you are currently on track to graduate or have recently graduated (one year experience or less), SVMC's accredited Nurse Residency program—the first in Vermont—is an ideal place for you to begin and grow your nursing career! Our new graduate program is 12 months long, and designed for nurses with less than one year of relevant experience. Throughout our program, nurses will have a combination of classroom time and shifts with a preceptor on your hired unit. Additionally, there is flexibility for shadow opportunities in other clinical areas.
Upon completion of the residency, new nurses are placed into our nurse mentorship program for an additional twelve months. The mentorship program offers the mentee an opportunity to develop professionally and to continue to receive support during the stressful transition from student to RN.
SVMC values the importance of building a strong nursing foundation while continuing to cultivate personal growth and development.
If our Residency Program is something you are interested in, no need to wait for graduation, apply today.
LISTEN NOW: Vermont Public Radio features SVMC's Nurse Residency Program.
Educational & Professional Development
Southwestern Vermont Health Care has many continuing educational opportunities and benefits for staff for their professional and personal development.
If you are an Associate level RN who is looking to pursue your BSN, you can continue your education through Castleton University with no tuition costs - fully paid by SVMC! This amazing benefit is available to any RN in good standing, regardless of employment status. We also offer up to $5,000 in tuition assistance benefits annually for those pursuing additional education outside of Castleton's BSN program. This is available to all part-time and full-time employees (0.5 or above) who have been employed at least six months in good standing.
Advisory councils:
Nurse participation is highly encouraged and supported at SVMC! We have a strong shared governance model with an active nursing advisory council, night shift council, and unit-based practice council. All staff is welcome and encouraged to be a part of these councils.
Mentorship:
SVMC offers a Nurse Mentorship Program which connects interested and engaged nurse mentees with accomplished nurse mentors who have the knowledge and skills to further shape and cultivate others in their areas of desired growth. The program is open to all LPN & RN nurses within the organization in both clinical and non-clinical roles, who are currently employed in good standing at SVHC.
The program has a 12-month timeline for each mentorship pair, beginning with some initial education and including a commitment to connect at least twice a month, either in person or virtually. This opportunity is ideal for those who are looking to expand their knowledge and grow as a nurse!