SARASOTA, Fla. (March 30, 2026) — Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has been recognized as one of the nation’s “Best Workplaces for Nurses 2026” by Nursegrid, a leading digital platform serving more than 650,000 nurses nationwide.
The Nursegrid list highlights 204 hospitals and health systems where nurses say they feel supported, valued and empowered to deliver exceptional patient care. Unlike traditional rankings, the recognition is based on direct feedback and survey responses from 50,000-plus frontline nurses, which according to Nursegrid is the largest collection of nurse-to-nurse recommendations in the country.
Sarasota Memorial’s inclusion on the 2026 list reflects its longstanding commitment to nursing excellence, including its nationally recognized nurse residency programs and its achievement of Magnet® designation for nursing excellence—one of the highest honors in the profession, said Jean Lucas, Chief Nursing Officer at Sarasota Memorial.
“We are incredibly proud of our nurses and the culture they have helped create,” Lucas said. “We remain deeply committed to providing an environment where nurses can truly thrive—professionally and personally—and be part of a collaborative team that delivers outstanding care to our community.”
As the region’s largest employer, Sarasota Memorial continues to invest in its workforce through professional development programs, competitive benefits and a culture that prioritizes collaboration, innovation and patient-centered care. The health system serves more than 2 million patient visits annually across its network of hospitals, outpatient centers and physician practices.
This latest recognition adds to a growing list of national honors for Sarasota Memorial, including being named among America’s Best Large Employers in 2026 by Forbes. In 2025, SMH was listed among Forbes’ “Best Employers for Women,” “Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals” and “Best Employers by State.”
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with about 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, 11,000 employees and 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care. Sarasota County’s largest employer, the community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, behavioral health hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH’s flagship Sarasota hospital is the only Florida hospital to earn a perfect 5-Star rating from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — every year — since the federal rating program began in 2016.