Sitting along the White River, Indianapolis is one of the country’s top 15 largest cities. Known for its racing and sports culture, it also has a number of nationally-recognized medical facilities like Riley Children’s Health and others operating within the Indiana University Health system. When it comes to nursing jobs, Indianapolis has a range of interesting options to choose from.
Quick Facts About Nursing Jobs in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Is Indiana a compact state? Yes.
- What do RNs earn in Indianapolis? The average annual salary for RN jobs in Indianapolis is $80,450, which is compared to the national average RN salary of $89,010.
- Where can I find information about RN license requirements in Indiana? For updated information about RN licensing in Indiana, visit the Indiana Board of Nursing.
What to Know When Pursuing Nursing Jobs in Indianapolis
As the largest city in the state, Indianapolis is home to more than 880,000 people. With its dense network of healthcare facilities, you can choose from a wide range of nursing jobs. Indianapolis healthcare facilities are also looking for a variety of shift types, from full and part time to contract or per diem.
Whether you’re looking for work in acute or post-acute care, you can find jobs for qualified RNs, CNAs, and LPNs in The Hoosier City. To get a better idea of the patients you’d be treating, the city has a median age of 34.1, with residents ages 65 and older making up 12.5% of the city’s population. About 58% of the residents are single and 42% are married. Roughly 25% of single residents have children and about the same percentage of married residents (26%) have children.
You can also expect to see a diverse population of patients in Indianapolis as about 28% of residents are Black, 10% are Hispanic, and 3% are Asian. Ensuring that you have cultural competency skills will help you to stand out from the crowd when you’re looking for jobs.
Working in Indianapolis
The number of licensed nursing professionals in Indiana has been steadily increasing over the past few years, with roughly 188,000 now holding active licenses. The state projects that healthcare practitioner jobs are expected to grow by roughly 10% over a 10-year period, a growth rate that would be felt in the largest city in the state and home to a major state university’s school of medicine.
If you’re looking for nursing jobs in Indianapolis, you’ll find that the city has a stable and growing demand for nurse professionals. When combining jobs for practitioners and healthcare support occupations, the healthcare industry is the third largest sector for employment in Indianapolis producing over 112,000 jobs in the area.
Indianapolis is also home to Riley Children’s Health, a Magnet recognized provider that’s designated as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Indiana University (IU) Health Hospital, is also located in the city and its academic medical center partners with the IU School of Medicine, creating a number of opportunities for nursing jobs. Indianapolis has its share of large hospitals serving the local community, with the largest in the city (by bed size) listed as follows:
- Indiana University Health Hospital
- Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
- Parkview Regional Medical Center
- Deaconess Midtown Hospital
- Community Hospital Munster
The city also has a number of community based care programs offered by the Marion County Public Health Department and a wide network of medical clinics woven throughout the region, which includes the Eseknazi Health Center, the Shalom Health Care Center, and the Oak Street Health Clinics.
With a network of streets modeled after Washington D.C., you’ll see state-named streets crisscrossing through the downtown on your daily commute. The organized layout may be why the average one-way commute is only 23.2 minutes, shorter than the national average. Most commuters prefer to drive their own cars to and from work, with only 9.3% utilizing car pools and 2% taking mass transit.
There are child care assistance programs available in Indianapolis and the state offers a helpful Child Care Finder so parents can easily find providers in their area.
Living in Indianapolis
If you’re planning on working at different nursing jobs in Indianapolis, you’ll benefit from a city that’s full of events and activities for single people and families alike. With the 10-mile long pedestrian and bike-friendly Indianapolis Cultural Trail connecting many of the city’s neighborhoods, you can find one that works for you while still feeling a connection to all that the city has to offer.
From the exciting nightlife and colorful murals of Broad Ripple Village to the cultural cuisines and art galleries of Fountain Square, these neighborhoods offer a full embrace of the city’s cultural life. If you’re looking for something a little more on the charming side, the Irvington or Speedway neighborhoods might be more to your liking.
The sports scene is also quite rich in the home of the Indy 500. As a host for professional teams like the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, and Indy Fuel, Indianapolis also has a well-fanned amateur sports scene. In addition to supporting their local teams, residents also keep active on the healthy network of trails weaving in and around the city, and in the many marathons, minimarathons, and lower K races held throughout the year.
If you’re planning on living in Indianapolis with that special someone, you can plan evening gondola rides along the Central Canal, or regular dinner dates in the Bottleworks District, which used to be home to a Coca-Cola plant. For families with children, you also have your choice of activities, from visiting the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to exploring the engaging exhibits at the Conner Prairie Interactive History Park.
For air travel, Indianapolis residents have several options. Just about seven miles from downtown, Indianapolis International Airport serves as a hub for Allegiant Air with some top destination cities including Charlotte, Dallas, Baltimore, and Atlanta. Residents also have the option of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Dayton International Airport, both of which are within a two-hour drive from downtown.
The weather in Indianapolis gives you the full taste of all seasons, but without getting too far into the extremes. With warm and humid summers, residents can expect temperatures averaging between 75 and 85 degrees from May to September. In the winter months, the city sees cold winds and snow, with temperatures averaging between 22 degrees and 33 degrees from December through March.
With all of the benefits that Indianapolis has to offer, it does come with a better price tag as the cost of living in the city is about 7.5% lower than the national average. Home prices are also 24% below the national average and renters also benefit from an average rental rate that’s 3% below the national average — about $1,325 per month.
Find Great Nursing Jobs in Indianapolis on IntelyCare
If you’re looking for nursing jobs in the Indianapolis area, IntelyCare can help. With positions for RNs, LPNs, CMAs, and CNAs, apply with us today and get the real work-life balance you need to enjoy all that Indianapolis has to offer.