Introduction
The healthcare industry is always growing and changing, bringing new opportunities for nurses each year. With the aging population and advances in medical technology, the demand for qualified nurses is higher than ever. By 2024, the prospects for nursing jobs at Avera – one of the largest health systems in the Midwest – look bright.
What is Avera?
Before diving into specific nursing jobs, it helps to learn more about Avera as an organization. Avera is a non-profit health system founded in 1898 and based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They have expanded to become one of the largest health systems in the region, operating over 300 locations across South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota.
Avera employs over 25,000 people and provides an extensive array of healthcare services, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, behavioral health services, and more. Their mission is to make a positive impact in the communities they serve through exceptional care, innovation, and compassion. Year after year, they are recognized as one of the top health systems and employers in the Midwest thanks to their dedication to patient- and employee-centered care.
Current Nursing Opportunities at Avera
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most in-demand nursing roles currently available throughout the Avera system:
Registered Nurses (RNs)
As the backbone of patient care, RNs are always in high demand. Avera employs several thousand RNs in a variety of settings, including medical-surgical, critical care, emergency departments, operating rooms, labor & delivery, pediatrics, and more. New RNs can expect to start in medical-surgical units to gain a solid foundation before specializing.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
With their expanded scope of practice, APRNs, like nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, play a vital role in caring for patients. Specialties include family & internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry/mental health, women’s health, emergency care, and more. Several residency programs are available to help new APRN graduates transition smoothly.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
LPNs provide basic bedside care, take vital signs, assist with activities of daily living, collect specimens, and more under the direction of RNs and physicians. They are primarily needed in long-term care but also work in clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and patient homes.
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
CNAs are the frontline caregivers for basic patient needs. Many new CNAs are hired annually to work in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health. Classroom and clinical training is provided.
Nursing Career Paths at Avera
While all nurses play essential roles, their career trajectories may differ depending on interests, skills, and specialty focus. Here are some of the most common paths nurses pursue as they gain experience working for Avera:
Clinical Ladder Programs
All Avera hospitals offer clinical ladders to help RNs advance their skills and leadership potential within their specialty. Higher rungs mean more responsibility, advanced training opportunities, and small increases in pay over time.
Shift Supervisor
After a few years of experience, nurses may pursue shift supervisor roles to oversee patient care on their unit when the charge nurse is off. This hybrid clinical/managerial role provides valuable leadership experience.
Educator
Some nurses transition full-time into educator roles, either as clinical educators on their unit or as part of the education department. Here they help onboard new nurses and provide advanced training for all staff.
Advanced Practice
RNs can further their education to become NPs, CNSs, certified nurse midwives, or other APRN roles with an independent scope of practice. Avera supports various pathways like RN-to-MSN or post-MSN certificate programs.
Informatics
With technical skills, some bedside nurses pivot to informatics specialist roles supporting the implementation of new clinical technologies, computer systems, and electronic health records across Avera sites.
Administration
Advanced degrees open pathways to nurse manager, clinical director, and executive-level administrative positions where clinical expertise intersects with business operations and strategic initiatives.
Specialty Areas in Nursing
While all nurses share the common goal of patient care, their interests may guide them to specialize in certain clinical areas where they can develop deep expertise. Here are some of the specialty paths commonly chosen at Avera:
Critical Care
For those who thrive in high-acuity settings, critical care nursing involves stabilizing and treating critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU) like cardiothoracic ICU, medical ICU, surgical ICU, and neonatal/pediatric ICU. Experience in emergency departments also prepares nurses for critical care certification.
Labor & Delivery
Nurses passionate about maternity and women’s health care for expectant mothers and newborns find purpose in labor and delivery units, newborn nurseries, and OB/GYN clinics. Perinatal and neonatal certifications are pursued.
Emergency Medicine
Fast-paced, unpredictable emergency departments allow nurses to use their critical thinking and assessment skills to triage and initially treat any condition that walks through the doors, from minor illnesses to major traumas. EM certification is encouraged.
Oncology
Oncology nursing means focusing expertise on patients living with cancer, from preparing chemotherapy drugs safely to providing compassionate emotional support through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship or end-of-life care. Certification in oncology broadens career options.
Pediatrics
For those with a special place in their heart for children, pediatrics nursing entails caring for infants, children, and adolescents with acute and chronic conditions in inpatient units, pediatric clinics/offices, schools/daycares, and home health settings. PALS certification is standard.
Nursing Education & Certification
To keep up with advances, pursue specialization, and increase earning potential, ongoing nursing education is emphasized throughout one’s career. Avera supports nurses in expanding their skills and knowledge in many ways:
- Tuition assistance for undergraduate and graduate nursing programs
- Certification reimbursement for dozens of specialty exams
- Extensive internal continuing education opportunities
- Partnerships with local colleges for convenient BSN/MSN completion
- Clinical educator preceptorship and specialty training programs
- Financial support for conferences and specialty seminars
While experience remains a key factor, certification communicates a commitment to excellence and can open doors. Common specialty certifications include CCRN, CEN, CNOR, RNC, NE-BC, FNP, AGACNP, and more.
Compensation & Benefits
As one of the top paying healthcare employers in the region, Avera offers competitive salaries and benefits that increase with experience and education:
- Average RN base salary of $70,000/year but ranges from $55,000 to $95,000+ based on role, specialty, and location
- Significant pay differentials and bonuses for critical need specialties
- Generous paid time off accrual from the start and additional holidays
- Low-cost medical, dental, vision and premium health savings plans
- Retirement plans including pension and 401(k) matching contributions
- Tuition reimbursement, certifications reimbursement, and education stipends
- Flexible scheduling and generous overtime opportunities
- Relocation assistance for new graduate nurses
- Rewarding recognition programs for excellence
Combined with supportive work culture, these excellent compensation packages help Avera recruit and retain top nursing talent.
Nursing Job Outlook at Avera Through 2024
Several key trends are expected to impact nursing demand across the Avera system in coming years:
- With baby boomers aging, chronic disease rates rising, and lifespan extensions, the needs of patients will grow significantly.
- Implementation of new services, facility expansions, and joint ventures in surrounding communities will raise headcount needs.
- Many experienced nurses are approaching retirement age, necessitating the onboarding of replacements.
- Nurse practitioner roles are expanding to meet access to care challenges and add convenience in primary and specialty care clinics.
- Shortages exist currently in emergency departments, critical care units, labor & delivery, and behavioral health – indications more recruitment is required in those areas.
- Greater emphasis on telehealth technologies may necessitate new nursing support roles while allowing existing nurses to care for more patients.
- Orientation programs are expanding to allow Avera to bring on sizable new graduate classes each year.
All signs point to sustained, excellent career prospects for nursing professionals seeking employment in South Dakota and the surrounding Midwest with Avera through at least 2024 and likely far beyond. Continuous growth is forecasted.
