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Tampa General Hospital (TGH) is a renowned academic medical center recognized for its high-quality healthcare services, state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled medical professionals who are experts in their respective fields. It also has a solid reputation as being among the top healthcare employers in Tampa, Florida. Whether you’re seeking a new travel contract or a permanent position, TGH offers plenty of top-ranked nursing and allied health specialties to flex your skills and amp your expertise. Take a comprehensive look at what it’s like to work at this award-winning healthcare facility in this employer spotlight.
Overview of Tampa General Hospital
Tampa General Hospital got its start back in 1927 as Tampa Municipal Hospital, opening with just 186 beds on Davis Islands in Downtown Tampa. The hospital has grown dramatically since.
Tampa Municipal Hospital officially changed its name to Tampa General Hospital in 1956 and signed an affiliation agreement in 1970 with the University of South Florida (USF) College of Medicine, making TGH the primary teaching hospital for USF’s medical school and residency programs. It also made it the first and largest teaching hospital in the region. TGH is the area’s only Level I Trauma Center and one of only three burn centers in Florida.
TGH implemented its EPIC Electronic Health Record in 2011, the same year the USF College of Medicine changed its name to USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. Today, over 300 residents from the college are assigned to TGH for specialty training in everything from general internal medicine to neurosurgery.
As one of the largest hospitals in Florida, Tampa General now employs more than 8,000 team members, making it one of the region’s largest employers in any industry. The private, not-for-profit hospital is one of the most comprehensive medical facilities in west central Florida and licensed for 1,040 beds.
Besides the primary hospital, the Tampa General Hospital system includes TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Virtual Health and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Tower outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
Mission, Vision and Principles
Tampa General is the region’s leading safety net hospital. It’s committed to providing compassionate, high-quality healthcare to area residents regardless of their ability to pay. Its Vision is to “be the safest and most innovative health system in America.” The hospital also lists its core values as “integrity, compassion, accountability, excellence and courage.”
TGH’s nursing staff also has a mission, stating that they’re “committed to providing patient-centered, holistic care, which is innovative, excellent, compassionate and individualized through evidence-based practice that respects our patients’ cultural and economic diversity. We will advocate for our patients, families and community using an interdisciplinary approach while promoting a safe, healing environment to achieve the highest outcomes.”
The TGH nursing Vision is to “be the role model for all present and future nursing practice and pioneer innovative ways to provide excellent care. We will be recognized throughout the community and globally as professional nurses, collaborators, educators, leaders, researchers and mentors.”
Awards, Honors and Accreditations
Consistently recognized for providing world-class care, Tampa General Hospital has earned numerous accolades and accreditations over the years since its inception. U.S. News & World Report ranked TGH as the No. 1 hospital in Tampa-St. Petersburg for the seventh consecutive year in 2022-23. The organization also named it the No. 3 hospital in Florida and nationally ranked the healthcare facility in seven adult specialties.
Tampa General Hospital has achieved Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) since 2005. Magnet designation recognizes hospitals that check all the boxes for excellence in nursing practices, leadership, adhering to national standards for improving patient care and sensitivity to ethnic and cultural diversity.
It was also designated by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list as a model of excellence. Other accreditations, certifications and other honors the hospital has earned include:
- Full Accreditation by the American College of Surgeons in 1927
- Hospital Accreditation from The Joint Commission 2022
- The Joint Commission Gold Seal certification in orthopedic trauma, ventricular assist device and hip, knee and shoulder replacement 2022
- Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
- Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- Burn Center verification from the American Burn Association/American College of Surgeons
- Trauma verification from the American College of Surgeons
- “Get with the Guidelines” Stroke Gold Plus Award and “Target: Stroke” Honor Roll-Elite Recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
- Comprehensive stroke center national certification from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program
- Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems
- Accreditation for the Surgical Review Corporation as Center of Excellence in Robot-Assisted Surgery
- Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, Comprehensive Center for Bariatric Surgery
Also noted as a top employer in the nation, Newsweek named Tampa General as one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2023” and Forbes ranked it among the “Best Employers for New Grads 2023.” It also landed on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers for Women” and among the top 10 on its list of “America’s Best Employers By State” for Florida in 2022.
Top Specialties at Tampa General Hospital
Tampa General Hospital boasts many top specialties. However, per U.S. News & World Report, the hospital did so well in seven specialties in 2022-23 that it ranked the hospital among the best in the nation for the following specialties:
- No. 16 Ear, Nose & Throat
- No. 27 Diabetes & Endocrinology
- No. 33 Orthopedics
- No. 34 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
- No. 40 Obstetrics & Gynecology
- No. 40 Rehabilitation
- No. 49 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
The organization also rated TGH high-performing in five additional adult specialties and 11 procedures and conditions related to the hospital’s nationally ranked and high-performing specialties.
Besides the specialties called out by U.S. News & World Report, Tampa General Hospital is also one of the nation’s busiest adult solid organ transplant centers. It’s performed over 6,000 transplants, including Florida’s first successful heart transplant in 1985.
TGH is noted for its trauma care, with six medical helicopters to transport critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive advanced care at this top-rated facility. Tampa General’s 32-bed neuroscience intensive care unit is one of the largest on Florida’s west coast. It’s also a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit and the Children’s Medical Center. The Children’s Medical Center features a nine-bed pediatric intensive care unit and one of only three outpatient pediatric dialysis units statewide.
Working at Tampa General Hospital
As part of the hospital’s commitment to develop and sustain a world-class healthcare team, TGH continually evaluates its compensation and benefits to ensure it provides competitive rates and benefits for its team members. The healthcare facility strives to support its employees’ holistic well-being, offering a comprehensive benefits package, wellness programs, professional development and work-life balance. Hospital executives believe that when team members feel their personal and professional needs are being met, it translates to better patient outcomes.
Benefits and Other Perks
Tampa General’s comprehensive benefits and other incentives, known as Team Member Total Rewards, include everything from traditional benefits to family-friendly and educational incentives. The healthcare employer’s progressive package of perks reflects its commitment to supporting employees and their families while nurturing their professional development and promoting a work-life balance that keeps its staff engaged and rewarded.
Some of TGH’s traditional benefits available to all qualifying team members include:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- TGH outpatient pharmacy discounts
- Life insurance and dependent life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Supplemental insurances
- 403(b) retirement savings plan
- Accrued time off
- Generous differentials
- Health and wellness programs
- Employee assistance programs
- Cell phone discounts
Educational Benefits: tuition assistance program, skills enhancement funding, scholarship programs, university discounts and college savings plan.
Continuing Education Support: free CE Broker account for licensed team members to easily manage and track their CE credits.
Professional Growth Programs: career and clinical ladders, development and enrichment services, onsite medical library, leadership opportunities and committee participation.
Family-Friendly Benefits: onsite daycare, community events/involvement and lactation rooms.
Organizational Support Benefits: World-Class Security Team, including onsite bomb and drug-sniffing dogs.
Benefits specifically for nurses:
- Notably higher base pay than standard employment models within nursing float pool
- Part-time and full-time employment opportunities
- Short-term contracts of 12 weeks
- Nursing support initiatives such as injury prevention teams, pet therapy and emotional support programs
- Annual National Nurses Week celebrations
- Beautifully appointed team member lounge with massage chairs
Nursing Programs
Close to 3,000 nurses work at TGH, comprising a significant portion of its workforce. It’s committed to providing its large, dedicated nursing staff with the robust tools, resources and opportunities they need to thrive and grow in their healthcare careers. To help nurses hone their skills and identify their ideal career paths, Tampa General Hospital offers a nationally validated nurse residency program and four strategically designed rotation and transition programs.
Nurse Residency Program
Tampa General’s nationally validated Vizient/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Nurse Residency Program (NRP) supports nurses’ professional growth and transition into practice. The NRP includes hospital, divisional, unit and specialty training utilizing top nurse residency curriculum. It’s accredited as a Practice Transition Program by the ANCC’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs.
TGH nurse residents are assigned mentors and small groups for ample opportunities to observe renowned experts, learn professional skills and ask questions. All graduate nurses and registered nurses (RNs) with less than a year of acute care hospital experience hired into clinical nursing positions must participate in the NRP.
Acute Care Rotation Program
TGH’s Acute Care Rotation Program (ACRP) provides a yearlong view of various career paths for RNs, allowing them to get firsthand experience. Program benefits include an extensive orientation period, a 36-hour workweek and the opportunity to gain well-rounded clinical experience by working in a diverse range of units. Participating units include:
- Acute cardiac care
- Cardiac surgery
- Cardiac medicine
- Complex medicine
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
- Observation
- Oncology
- Orthopedic trauma
- Primary care
- Progressive burn
- Short stay
- Surgical trauma
- Joint Center
- Transplant units
- Vascular surgical acute care
Previous acute care experience isn’t required to participate in the program.
Critical Care Rotation Program
RNs interested in entering the critical care field can participate in TGH’s Critical Care Rotation Program (CCRP) to discover their ideal career path. Over the 54-week program period, participants gain skills-based experience in various critical care units (CCU) or intensive care units (ICU), including:
- Burn ICU
- Cardiac ICU
- Cardiothoracic ICU
- Medical ICU
- Medical Surgical ICU
- Neuroscience ICU
- Pediatric ICU
- Surgical trauma ICU
- Vascular ICU
- Global Emerging Diseases Institute
- Step-down units
The CCRP offers a broad range of benefits, including:
- Extensive orientation period
- Participation in the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program
- Reasonable scheduling (usually 36 to 40 hours weekly)
- Eligibility to apply for a regular position during any rotation
All participants complete the AACN’s Essentials of Critical Care Orientation e-learning modules during the program and must agree to a two-year contract commitment to TGH.
Emergency Department Transition Program
TGH’s Emergency Department Nurse Transition Program (EDNTP) teaches the fundamentals of excelling as an emergency department (ED) nurse while showcasing various career paths. During the three-month program, participants build a solid foundation to launch a successful, lasting career in the ED. The EDNTP provides several benefits, including multidimensional education incorporating lectures from subject matter experts, clinicals and Elsevier online modules. Plus, shadowing opportunities in ED operations, trauma/resuscitation areas and triage, providing a comprehensive overview of ED patient care, from pre-hospital setting to discharge.
Perioperative Transition Program
The Perioperative Transition Program (PTP) at TGH lasts 36 weeks. It offers blended learning that provides RNs with the specialized skills and clinical experience needed for a successful operating room (OR) career. TGH’s primary campus features 52 ORs, offering inpatient and outpatient procedures in various specialties, including:
- Bariatrics
- Cardiac
- ENT/thyroid/parathyroid
- General/colorectal
- Gynecological/IVF
- Neurological/spine
- Orthopedic/total joint
- Pediatrics
- Plastic/burn/reconstructive
- Robotics
- Transplant
- Trauma
- Urology
- Vascular
Participating in the PTP requires a two-year commitment to TGH’s surgical services division following program completion. Upon successful completion, participants will be able to fill a circulating nurse role in TGH operating rooms.
Professional Growth Programs
Being a TGH nurse also opens doors to many career opportunities in inpatient and outpatient settings because nurses can work in a wide range of specialties. Plus, TGH provides numerous programs to ensure nurses can grow professionally and achieve their career goals, with the flexibility to change focus and gain new skills along the way. Some of Tampa General Hospital’s professional growth opportunities include:
- Career mapping with TGH Organization Development and Human Resources members
- Learning opportunities at TGH’s onsite medical library
- Participation in TGH Office of Clinical Research initiatives
- Nursing practice and interdisciplinary councils
- Charge nurse/shift lead courses for experienced nurses
- Preceptor workshops to mentor nursing students
- Adjunct faculty opportunities via partnerships with local universities
Travel Nursing at Tampa General Hospital
Healthcare professionals looking for a change of scenery may enjoy Tampa’s pleasant weather and abundance of greenspaces, cultural amenities, fusion food, theme parks, professional sports and many other attractions that make it one of the best cities in the Sunshine State. As Florida’s third-largest city, Tampa offers all the benefits of a major metro area but with a more laid-back coastal lifestyle.
Tampa’s job market is growing, with healthcare at the forefront. At the close of May 2023, travel nursing salaries in Tampa averaged $2,285 per week, 16% higher than the state average. Tampa’s staff nursing salaries ran $41,60 per hour during this same period, 11% more than the state average.
Allied health professionals working in Tampa also fared well, with travel allied health salaries at $2,206 weekly, 6% higher than the state average, and staff allied health salaries at $26.17 per hour, 14% higher than the state average. Even better, the city’s overall cost of living is less than 4% higher than the national average, per Sperling’s Best Places, but it’s nearly 19% less than living in Miami.
Getting to Work
Tampa General Hospital is located on Davis Islands in downtown Tampa, making it convenient to catch a ride on public transportation. Plus, TGH actively works with the TBARTA Commute Tampa Bay team to offer programs that encourage and support commute alternatives. It’s a Platinum Level employer, offering a comprehensive commute program for its employees. Program benefits include offsetting the cost of alternative commuting, such as providing bus passes or subsidizing vanpools.
Employees who prefer to drive must pay to park in the onsite parking garage, but there’s also offsite parking available. A free courtesy shuttle runs every 15 minutes from the parking garage and offsite parking areas to destinations throughout the TGH campus. Shuttle buses only operate Monday through Friday until midnight, so night shift employees must park in the onsite garage, with parking fees deducted from their biweekly paychecks.
Tampa International Airport, located just west of downtown, serves travel healthcare professionals needing to catch a flight in or out of Tampa, FL while completing temporary contracts. The Tampa airport is a major hub for domestic and international flights, offering a broad range of destinations from various airlines.
On-Campus Amenities
The Tampa General campus offers an array of amenities, including places to grab a bite to eat or a good cup of coffee. The Tampa General Hospital Café, located on the first floor of the West Pavilion, features a full cafeteria-style food court with vending machines and microwaves. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Other options include McDonald’s and Starbucks, located on the first floor of the East Pavilion. ATMs are located in the cafeteria/food court and inside McDonald’s for those needing a convenient place to make deposits or withdrawals, depending on their bank.
Contact Information
Tampa General Hospital
1 Tampa General Circle
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 844-7000
