If you’re picturing your future as a nurse, you’re not alone. Thousands of students start where you are right now, wondering what comes next and how to find a place that feels like home. At WellSpan, we don’t just hire nurses — we grow them. Whether you’re early in school, preparing for graduation or thinking about where you want to take your career long-term, there’s a clear path forward with us.

Start Strong as a Nursing Student

At WellSpan, students aren’t observers; they’re contributors. You can:

• Step into real patient care through nurse externships in the summer or winter.

• Work as a Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant or Physician Office Technician with schedules built to satisfy both work, education and personal needs.

• Explore graduate commitment if you already know you want to build your future here.

From the start, you are part of a team that wants you to learn, practice and discover the kind of nurse you want to become.

Launch Confidently as a New Graduate Nurse

Hear from Gage Wildasin, RN, at Gettysburg Hospital:

Gage Wildasin

Registered Nurse, WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital

Q:What experiences during your externship helped shape the nurse you’ve become at WellSpan?

A:

The continued teamwork at WellSpan has helped and continues to help me become the nurse I am today. Having received a warm welcome to WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital during the externship made me want to pursue my nursing career with this organization. During the externship, I have seen the opportunities for growth here at WellSpan, whether it be continuing my education or obtaining extra qualifications to further my role. Excellent preceptors during my externship helped me begin to build the foundations of a good nurse. This culture and continued support did not change once I became a graduate nurse, as I continued to receive endless support from preceptors and peers. Proper orientation structuring with the TSAM model also set me up for success when orientation was over. 

Q:As you look ahead in your nursing career, what opportunities within WellSpan are you most excited to pursue next, and why?

A:

Looking ahead at my future with WellSpan, I am looking to continue my education with the help of the Tuition Reimbursement program. I am also looking forward to advancing my role with extra qualifications, as well as advancing the level of care I can provide, as I continue to grow as a nurse. As I continue to advance my skills, I am looking forward to supporting the same co-workers that have supported and continue to support me. 

Graduation shouldn’t feel like being tossed into the deep end. That’s why WellSpan created a 12-month, nationally accredited Nurse Residency Program through American Nurses Credentialing Center. It’s designed to support new grads as they move from the classroom to the bedside.

You’ll get:

• Clinical guidance from experienced nurses

• Hands-on practice and simulation

• Focused training on real-world skills

• A supportive cohort of fellow new grads

This structure turns knowledge into confidence, and confidence into excellent patient care. You learn the rhythms of the profession without feeling alone in the transition.

Grow Into the Experienced Nurse You Want to Be

Once your first year is behind you, you’re ready to explore, grow and define your path. At WellSpan, you can:

• Work across multiple care settings like hospitals, outpatient centers, home care or hospice

• Pursue advanced education through degree pathways, with financial support through WellSpan education benefits

• Build a long-term career in a system shaped by collaboration, diversity and lifelong learning

Why WellSpan? Because Your Journey Matters

From the first day as a student to the moment you become a seasoned nurse, you’re surrounded by people who care about your growth. You are part of a mission-driven organization focused on healthy communities and compassionate, collaborative care. You won’t just find a role here; you’ll find belonging. Support. Opportunity. A place to plant roots and build something meaningful.

Ready to Explore Your Path?

If you’re imagining a nursing career that’s supported, flexible and full of growth, we’d love to walk that journey with you. Visit joinwellspan.org to learn more or reach out to nurserecruitment@wellspan.org if you want to talk through your next steps.

You belong here. Your nursing journey matters. Let’s shape it together.