HCA Florida Memorial Hospital
Organizational Structure, Hiring Practices & Nurse Residency
Jacksonville University
KSON ABSN 8/2025 | NUR 442
McKenna Barnett | Alexis Chirco | Janet Chiwetalu | Verania Godina | Brooklin Hart | Jacie Paquette | Arayah Simons | Wendy Webster
Table of Contents
  • Core Beliefs
Core Beliefs
Recognize and affirm the unique & intrinsic worth of each individual
Treat all we serve with compassion and kindness
Trust our colleagues & treat one another with loyalty, respect, and dignity
Act with absolute honesty, integrity, and fairness
(HCA Healthcare, 2024)
Purpose in Action
"Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life."
1
1
October 2024
"Crush the Crisis" - Community event: Safely dispose of unused prescription drugs
2
2
April 2025
"We Show Up for Our Communities Week" - Memorial employees generously contributed 700+ hours to volunteering efforts
3
3
June 2025
Elevated to the status of a Comprehensive Stroke Center
4
4
June 2025
Launched a cutting-edge otolaryngology practice dedicated to the treatment of head and neck cancers
(HCA Florida, 2024)
Leadership Organization
Board of Directors
Oversee HCA Healthcare's national strategy
CEO: Sam Hazen
Division President (North FL): Brian Cook
Facility
CEO: Reed Hammond
CNO: David Threatt
CFO: Drew Hartmann
COO: Chris Kovacs
Department/ Unit
Directors → Front-line clinical teams→ Shared Governance Councils & Service lines
Shared governance councils at the facility level empower bedside staff nurses to influence practice standards and drive quality improvement initiatives (HCA Healthcare, 2024; Sullivan, 2017).
In addition to vertical leadership lines (CEO, CNO, COO), HCA implements horizontal integration across service lines, such as Cardiovascular Services, Women's Services, and Orthopedics (HCA Healthcare, 2024).
Governance & Decision Flow Analysis
Hybrid Model Structure
Facility CEO (Reed Hammond) operates within corporate policies but has autonomy in shaping-specific strategies throught the COO, CFO, and department directors (HCA Healthcare, 2024; Sullivan, 2017).
Strengths
Economies of Scale
Bulk purchasing power, staffing networks, shared technology systems (HCA Healthcare, 2024).
Standardized Protocols
EBP facility implementation and metrics-driven leadership improved consistency in care, patient safety, and compliance with regulatory standards (HCA Healthcare, 2024).
Strong Capital and Operational Resources
Facility upgrade support, recruitment and retention incentives, and cutting edge technology (HCA Healthcare, 2024).
Gaps
Delays in Big Decisions
Multi-level decision making results in longer response times to clinical concerns and executive sign-off, slowing progress (HCA Healthcare, 2024; Sullivan, 2017).
Limited Local Flexibility
Strict corporate rules and procedures complicate local leadership decisiveness (Sullivan, 2017).
Inconsistent Staff Involvement
Shared governance councils are meant to give nurses a voice. Weak support results in nursing staff feeling feedback falls on deaf ears (Sullivan, 2017).

Tie-back: Mintzberg's "Divisionalized Form" with professional bureaucracy traits - Standardization of skills/protocols, autonomy in clinical practice (Sullivan, 2017).
Application Funnel
Online Application
Join the team by applying and uploading your resume at:
careers.hcahealthcare.com
HR Screening
Expect a prompt outreach from your recruiter or hiring manager to collaborate on scheduling your interview.
Interviewing
Prepare for your recruiter or hiring manager interview by researching HCA Healthcare systems and common interview questions.
**Bring a hard copy of resume and dress professionally
Offer
Act fast! Accept the verbal offer, respond to the written confirmation, and complete the onboarding process promptly.
(HCA Healthcare, 2024d)
Compensation
Competitive Wage Rate
$33-$41/hour on average according to Glassdoor salary submissions (Glassdoor, 2025).
Sign-on Bonus
Offered with certain positions, such as up to $15,000 sign on bonus for Open Heart RN (HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, n.d.-c).
Recruitment perks
Benefits package, including comprehensive medical plans, tuition reimbursement, 100% paid family leave for up to 14 days, scholarships, 401k matching, loan repayment assistance (HCA Healthcare, 2024a).
Benefits & Retention Strategies
Financial
401(k)
Dollar-for-dollar match up to 9% of pay (tiered by years of service); one of the richest matches in U.S. healthcare (HCA Healthcare, 2024a).
Educational Incentives
$5,250 per year for approved nursing or graduate coursework (HCA Healthcare, 2024a).
Employee Stock Purchase Plan:
Buy HCA stock at a 10 % discount with four enrollment windows per year (HCA Healthcare, 2024b).
Quality-of-Life
Flexible self-scheduling
(Kronos) in most units (HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, n.d.b.).
Childcare
On-site day-care center at HCA Florida Memorial; discounted Bright Horizons network slots for Orange Park staff (Bright Horizons, n.d.).
HCA Nurse Care
24/7 mental-health hotline & six free EAP visits per issue (HCA Healthcare, 2024b).
Retention
Clinical Ladder (RN I → RN IV)
Quarterly skills labs and pay differentials (HCA Florida Memorial Hospical, n.d.a.).
Annual “Residency Pulse-Check”
Survey of StaRN graduates (HCA Healthcare, 2024c).
Unit of Distinction (UOD) Awards
Memorial’s Endoscopy unit earned 2023 honors (JAX Chamber, 2024).

Turnover: Florida hospitals report RN turnover down 45 % (2022 → 2024) after statewide retention overhaul led in part by HCA Florida Healthcare (Florida Hospital Association, 2024).
StaRN Residency Overview
Length
12 – 17 weeks, specialty-specific
Components
Blended e-learning & classroom, five days of high-fidelity SIM, then 1:1 precepted immersion (HCA Healthcare, 2024c).
Cohort Model
~25 new grads start quarterly with a dedicated residency educator
Outcome
Memorial & Orange Park hire ~120 StaRN residents/yr; >3,200 graduates system-wide in 2022 (HCA Healthcare, 2024c).
(HCA Healthcare, 2024c)
Residency Outcomes & Support Structures
Clinical Competency
New RNs reach independent assignment ≈25 % faster than non-residency hires (HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, 2024 Quality Improvement Report).
Mentorship
Matched nurse mentor for 12 months with monthly goal reviews (HCA Healthcare, 2024c).
Continuing Ed
Free CEs and CCRN/CEN prep via HCA Learning Hub (HCA Healthcare, 2024b).
Support Services
Resilience workshops, Nurse Wellness app, EAP, and on-site daycare (“Happy Cubs”) (HCA Healthcare Magazine, 2021; Bright Horizons, n.d.).
Strengths / Gaps & Fit for New Grads
Strengths
  • Residency provides greater clinical competency
  • Great resources for mentorship / support services
  • Reasonable benefits packages and opportunities for sign-on bonuses
  • Residency "pulse-check" survey
  • Easy application process
Gaps
  • Glassdoor reports of high patient to nurse ratios (may be difficult for new grads)
  • Structure / support may vary by department
  • Sign-on bonuses may require a commitment to the organization
  • For-profit hospital model may lead to financially driven decisions
  • Lack of Magnet status

Bottom Line: New graduates nurses have opportunities for growth in the residency setting, but may struggle with lack of support in certain specialities and high nurse to patient ratios.
Key Takeaways
Frequent Improvements in Specialty Care
Opportunities for Community Engagement
Shared Governance Councils

Inconsistent involvement
Financial Support
Tuition reimbursement and sign-on bonuses to invest in your growth.
Nurse Residency
12-17 week program with 1 year of mentorship to launch your career.

Potential for high nurse : patient ratios
References
Bright Horizons. (n.d.). Memorial Children’s Center operated by Bright Horizons [Web page]. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/fl/jacksonville/jax
Florida Hospital Association. (2024). Nursing vacancy and turnover rate [Infographic]. https://fha.org/common/Uploaded%20files/FHA/Workforce/2024%20Nursing%20-%20Vacancy%20and%20Turnover%20Infographic.pdf
Glassdoor. (2025). Total salary range for HCA Florida Memorial Hospital registered nurse hourly pay in Jacksonville, FL [Web page]. Retrieved July 5, 2025 from https://www.glassdoor.com/Hourly-Pay/HCA-Florida-Memorial-Hospital%E2%80%8B-Registered-Nurse-Jacksonville-Hourly-Pay-EJI_IE122040.0,30_KO31,47_IL.48,60_IM416.htm
HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. (n.d.-a). For employees at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital [Web page]. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://www.hcafloridahealthcare.com/for-medical-professionals/physician-and-employee-information/memorial-hospital/for-employees
HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. (n.d.-b). HCA Florida Memorial Hospital [Career page]. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://careers.hcahealthcare.com/pages/hca-florida-memorial-hospital
HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. (n.d.-c). Registered nurse open heart [Web page]. Retrieved July 5, 2025, from https://careers.hcahealthcare.com/jobs/16294358-registered-nurse-open-heart
HCA Healthcare. (2024b). Employee benefits and rewards [Web page]. https://careers.hcahealthcare.com/pages/employee-benefits-and-rewards
HCA Healthcare. (2024c). Nurse residency program – East Florida [Web page]. https://careers.hcahealthcare.com/pages/starn-program-east-florida
HCA Healthcare. (2024d). How we hire-Learn more about HCA's hiring process [Web page]. https://careers.hcahealthcare.com/pages/how-we-hire#A_recruiter_will_reach_out_to_you
HCA Healthcare Magazine. (2021, May 18). Caring for colleagues’ mental and emotional health. https://magazine.hcahealthcare.com/care/caring-for-colleagues-mental-and-emotional-health/
JAX Chamber. (2024, February 6). HCA Florida Memorial Hospital’s Endoscopy Unit recognized for nursing excellence [Press release]. https://members.jaxchamber.com/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=796
Sullivan, E. J. (2017). Effective leadership and management in nursing (9th ed.). Pearson. ISBN: 9780134153117