- Share Story
-
-
-
Pioneering innovative healthcare across Idaho, Saint (St.) Luke’s Health System is a regional leader in medical services. With services ranging from hospital care to mental health and neurosciences, nurses and allied health professionals have plenty of employment opportunities. Explore what it’s like working for this healthcare organization and the many employee benefits it offers in this comprehensive health system spotlight.
Overview of St. Luke’s Health System
St. Luke’s Boise Hospital, the flagship hospital of St. Luke’s Health System, was founded in 1902. Committed to serving the community’s healthcare needs, St. Luke’s Health System has expanded over the past 100+ years to 16 hospitals and numerous ancillary facilities. It now employs over 15,000 people, including more than 1,800 healthcare providers. Some of the many career opportunities at various St. Luke’s Health System facilities for nurses and allied health professionals across Idaho include the following:
- Boise staff nursing and allied health professional roles
- Ketchum staff opportunities at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center
- Meridian staff jobs at St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center
- Mountain Home staff roles at St. Luke’s Elmore
A Board of Directors with a vested interest in the health and well-being of their communities governs St. Luke’s Health System. This not-for-profit health system has several philanthropic board members bringing their unique perspectives to patient-centered care.
As part of St. Luke’s Health System, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital is Idaho’s only children’s hospital and cares for over 90,000 patients annually. The health system also supports medical research by providing local research studies and clinical trials in cardiology, neurology, cystic fibrosis, concussions and many others.
Mission, Vision and Values
Saint Luke’s Health System focuses on providing population and community health services for an evolving environment of care. This healthcare system further defines its vision as “To be the community’s trusted partner in providing exceptional, patient-centered care.”
St. Luke’s Health System’s mission is “To improve the health of people in the communities we serve.” The organization is committed to prioritizing and tracking the progress of its impact on the communities it serves.
By living its mission, St. Luke’s Health System’s strategic focus areas will evolve, addressing the organization’s needs while realizing its vision of providing patient-centered care. Some specific strategic focus areas include:
- Culture and Workforce Innovation
- Care Management
- Primary Care Access
As noted on its website, St. Luke’s strategy plays a key role in its success. Team members also play a crucial role by embodying the core values outlined by the iCARE acronym, which includes:
- Integrity
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Respect
- Excellence
Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
St. Luke’s Health System is committed to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. The organization fosters a positive work environment and fuels innovation. It’s an equal opportunity employer and promotes a culture of employee and patient safety. Additionally, St. Luke’s announced its partnership with Wassmuth Center in 2021, supporting the construction of a new Center for Human Rights in downtown Boise, Idaho.
Community Initiatives
According to its website, St. Luke’s Health System’s goal is to “create healthier communities by building stronger partnerships, creating positive and measurable outcomes, and maximizing our contribution by inspiring others.” St. Luke’s Health System is dedicated to positively impacting its communities by partnering with local charities and organizations, like Life’s Kitchen and Meals on Wheels.
The healthcare organization gave over $947 million in community benefits in its 2022 fiscal year, including $27 million in charity care and $78 million in community services and programs. St. Luke’s Health System conducts regular community needs assessments to better understand the communities for which it provides healthcare services and their potential health needs. The St. Luke’s Community Health Improvement Fund offers financial support through grants and scholarships for those looking to support community health research and initiatives.
Notable Awards and Honors
Recognized for providing excellent and quality care, St. Luke’s Health System has earned a multitude of awards, honors and accolades throughout the years. It was named one of the Top 15 Health Systems in the U.S. by Merative for its ninth consecutive year in 2022.
St. Luke’s Health System’s Boise and Meridian hospitals earned their initial Magnet designation for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in 2001. This prestigious Magnet Recognition Program recognizes nurses for providing exemplary, collaborative care and advances in nursing practice standards. St. Luke’s achieved its fifth consecutive Magnet recognition in 2020 from the ANCC.
Some additional awards, certifications and honors the healthcare system has earned include:
- Named on PINC AI’s Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals for 2023
- Five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2022 for St. Luke’s Boise, Meridian and Nampa hospitals
- Accreditation by the Joint Commission for St. Luke’s Boise, Meridian, Magic Valley, Wood River and Elmore hospitals
- Primary Stroke Certification by the Joint Commission for St. Luke’s Boise, Meridian and Magic Valley hospitals
- Recognition as a Pioneer in Quality awarded by the Joint Commission in 2018
- Accreditation by the American College of Radiology for St. Luke’s Medical Imaging Departments
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program accreditation for St. Luke’s Cancer Institute by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy
St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital is a verified Level 2 Pediatric Trauma Care Facility by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, the American College of Surgeons recognizes multiple St. Luke’s facilities as Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency Centers for Trauma, Stroke and/or STEMI Care.
Working at St. Luke’s Health System
St. Luke’s is a regional healthcare employer boasting many competitive and comprehensive benefits. It also provides numerous career advancement opportunities for nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Benefits and Other Perks
St. Luke’s Health System values its employees, offering an array of outstanding benefits, including the following:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- Health savings account option with employer match of up to $1,000 depending on medical coverage option
- Generous paid time off, with a one-year full-time accrual of 184 hours
- Option of 403(b) or 401(a) retirement savings plans with immediate eligibility and up to 3% match
- Performance incentive plan, which is a retirement plan funded 100% by St. Luke’s and awarded based on discretion and meeting the health system’s annual goals
- Extended sick leave with a 64-hour annual accrual for full-time employees
- Long-term disability that provides 60% of base earnings after a 90-day waiting period
- Life insurance paid at 100% of annual base salary with double indemnity for accidental death
- Supplemental life insurance options, with coverage up to $500,000 for self and $100,000 for spouse
- No-cost health assessments, counseling and education opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement, scholarships and a certification prepayment plan
- Onsite childcare services at some locations
- Adoption reimbursement of up to $1,500 for expenses incurred
- Premium pay and differentials for people working nights, weekends, on-call and overtime
Additionally, employees who don’t elect certain benefits and health insurance for themselves and dependents can exchange this for an increase in their hourly base rate depending on their employment status.
Nursing Programs
St. Luke’s Health System engages its nurses at every level of their careers. As noted on St. Luke’s website, this healthcare system has some of the best nurse-to-patient ratios in the country. It also participates in the Daisy Award program, which recognizes nurses for their extraordinary clinical skills and compassionate care. Some nursing programs St. Luke’s Health System offers include the following.
SNAP Nurse Apprenticeship Program
Senior-year nursing students have the opportunity to expand their nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills through the St. Luke’s Nurse Apprenticeship Program (SNAP). SNAP participants must work full-time for 10 weeks from May to July, then one 12-hour shift a month from August to May. Once participants graduate, they transition to the Supporting Transitions and Relationships (STAR) Nurse Residency Program.
STAR Nurse Residency Program
New graduate nurses can participate in this residency program for a smooth transition to practice and learn to function as independent, competent nurses. The STAR Nurse Residency is a one-year program where students engage in classroom and online sessions and simulation experiences to develop their knowledge and skills.
Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship
This nurse professional advancement program focuses on professional development through research practices. Nurses commit to a one-year program designed to identify research studies, write protocols, appraise evidence and report findings.
Professional Advancement Through High-Performance and Skills
Participants of this program identify and complete a patient activation project designed around improving clinical practice and resource management. Nurses implement evidence-based practice and measure outcomes related to their interventions. Participants develop leadership skills while earning a financial incentive.
Writing Workshops
Many workshops are available for nurses interested in writing research or published papers. These workshops help nurses stay accountable to their writing goals and offer support through instruction and mentorship.
Contact Information
Saint Luke’s Health System
190 East Bannock Street
Boise, Idaho 83712
(208) 381-2222
Explore the numerous staff and travel opportunities for nurses and allied health professionals at St. Luke’s and other health system facilities on Vivian Health’s job board today.
