10 Largest Healthcare Companies That Hire Nurses

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Written by Jeanne Kal Senior Manager, B2C Content, IntelyCare
Two nurses looking at a tablet in an office working at a company that hires nurses.

From hospitals to medical device manufacturing to insurance, the healthcare sector is a major revenue driver for this country. As you know, there all kinds of companies that hire nurses. Where you decide to focus your job search depends on plenty of factors including the kind of work you’d like to do, the type of environment in which you do it, and what you’re looking for in an employer.

Wherever you land, know that your services will be welcomed — an additional 193,100 RN positions will be added to the job market each year for the next decade, and those jobs will be spread across the country.

While many employers will be vying for your talents, some may be more alluring than others. Depending on the kind of nursing work you’re looking for, you may want to consider searching for jobs beyond big hospital systems that provide direct care. There are a few reasons why you might consider working for a healthcare company with offices or facilities in several locations around the country — or even around the world.

5 Benefits of Working for Big Companies

1. Good Benefits

A large company can often afford to provide a more comprehensive set of employee benefits than a smaller facility. In addition to medical, dental, and vision benefits, you may be offered a retirement plan, sign-on bonus, employee stock purchase plan, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, adoption assistance, and more.

2. Cutting-Edge Resources

A bigger company tends to have the necessary money to invest in the latest equipment and technologies. This, in turn, allows you to develop your skills in this increasingly important area. Smaller facilities may be short on resources simply because they don’t have the budget.

3. Name Recognition

When you work for a large, well-known insurer or healthcare system, the company name and reputation alone typically precede it. This can carry certain professional clout. Putting that company’s name on your nursing resume might impress future employers, taking some of the pressure off your shoulders to convince them that you’re a worthy candidate.

4. Opportunities for Advancement

A big organization comprises employees at every experience level, which means there is likely a defined career path you can follow. There are more people for you to learn from and collaborate with. Additionally, a large company may offer in-house training programs or may cover some or all of the cost of any certifications you’d like to pursue.

5. Job Security and Flexibility

A big company is likely better suited to weather the impacts of every economic hiccup that comes along. This means you don’t have to constantly worry about whether or not you’ll have a paycheck and benefits. Plus, if you want to relocate and you work for a large organization with many nationwide facilities, you may be able to do that while staying with your same employer. You may even have the option to pursue remote nurse jobs with these larger organizations.

Think you’d like to put your nursing skills to work at a large company? You’re in the right place. These are the country’s largest healthcare companies by 2022 revenue figures according to the 69th edition of the Fortune 500.

Largest Healthcare Companies That Hire Nurses

1. UnitedHealth Group

Number of employees: 340,000
Headquarters: Minnetonka, MN
Industry: Provides managed healthcare and health insurance
Website: unitedhealthgroup.com

Find UnitedHealth Group jobs.

2. CVS Health

Number of employees: 300,000
Headquarters: Woonsocket, RI
Industry: Retail pharmacy; provides pharmacy benefits and health insurance
Website: cvshealth.com

Find CVS Health jobs.

3. McKesson

Number of employees: 80,000+
Headquarters: Irving, TX
Industry: Distributes pharmaceuticals and provides medical supplies, equipment, and healthcare technology
Website: mckesson.com

Find McKesson jobs.

4. AmerisourceBergen

Number of employees: 44,000+
Headquarters: Conshohocken, PA
Industry: Distributes pharmaceuticals and provides business solutions
Website: amerisourcebergen.com

Find AmerisourceBergen jobs.

5. Cardinal Health

Number of employees: 48,000
Headquarters: Dublin, OH
Industry: Distributes pharmaceuticals, manufactures and distributes medical and lab products, provides business solutions
Website: cardinalhealth.com

Find Cardinal Health jobs.

6. Cigna

Number of employees: 70,000+
Headquarters: Bloomfield, CT
Industry: Provides health plans and services
Website: cigna.com

Find Cigna jobs.

7. Elevance Health

Number of employees: 100,000
Headquarters: Indianapolis
Industry: Provides health plans and services
Website: elevancehealth.com

Find Elevance Health jobs.

8. Centene

Number of employees: 82,400
Headquarters: St. Louis, MO
Industry: Provides managed care services
Website: centene.com

Find Centene jobs.

9. Pfizer

Number of employees: 83,000
Headquarters: New York City
Industry: Biopharmaceutical company
Website: pfizer.com

Find Pfizer jobs.

10. Johnson & Johnson

Number of employees: 83,000
Headquarters: New Brunswick, NJ
Industry: Produces medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods
Website: jnj.com

Find Johnson & Johnson jobs.

Here are some additional large organizations that didn’t make the top 10 list that provide excellent options for nurses:

Find More Companies That Hire Nurses

Maybe you don’t want to work for a large organization — and that’s okay. Need help finding an employer that would be exactly the right fit for you? Check out all the nursing jobs available on IntelyCare and take the next step in your career today.