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Registered Nurse - Medical Unit

Essentia Health

Brainerd, Minnesota

$41.22–$61.83/hr

About $86k–$129k/yr

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Essentia Health workplace

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Essentia Health workplace

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Essentia Health workplace
RNNew grads welcomed

New Grads welcome to apply!· from this posting

Posted Aug 11, 2026 · Last seen active Aug 30, 2026

What this means for you

Essentia Health is hiring for its own floors — no agency between you and the manager. The posted pay pencils out to roughly $86k–$129k a year. It's a night shift — quieter halls, a tighter crew, and your daylight hours back.

What the listing says

Shift
Nights · 12-hour
Weekends, holidays, call
Every Third Weekend · No call
EHR & union
Union position

About this role

Show full description
Building Location: St Josephs Medical Center Department: 4003250 NURSING - MEDICAL - SJMC Job Description: Become part of Essentia’s accomplished team as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Brainerd and Baxter, Minnesota, where 465 lakes provide endless options for water sports and recreation. These cities, 125 miles north of Minneapolis, are at the heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area, one of the state’s top vacation destinations. Education Qualifications: BSN or ADN degree from an accredited school or college of nursing. New Grads welcome to apply! What you'll get to do in this role: Lead Patient Care: Organize and deliver comprehensive care by managing all phases of the patient care process, including assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. Guide and Delegate: Act as a team leader by delegating care responsibilities to nursing staff based on their licensure, training, and role specifications. Contribute to a Greater Mission: Play a crucial role in advancing the facility’s and Essentia’s mission and goals, making a meaningful impact on the community we serve. Ensure Compliance: Adhere to the standards set by the Joint Commission and other relevant federal, state, and local regulatory or accrediting agencies. Our Medical Unit provides care for: Neurological Patients: Including those recovering from strokes and those requiring neurological evaluations. Respiratory Patients: Such as individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory conditions. General Medical Conditions: Managing a range of diagnoses including diabetes, infections (e.g., flu and COVID-19), abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Post-Procedural Patients: Care for individuals recovering from procedures like hernia repairs and ENT surgeries. This position will work the following: 48 hours per pay period Every Third Weekend Straight Nights Overnight Shift: 7:00PM - 7:30AM Join our team as a Registered Nurse and be eligible for a hiring incentive! This incentive is designed to welcome you and reward your commitment to joining our dedicated healthcare team. Licensure/Certification Qualifications: Current nursing licensure in state(s) of employment BLS certification within 1 month Employee Benefits at Essentia Health: Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance options to ensure employees' well-being. Retirement Savings Plans: 401(k) with employer contributions to support long-term financial security. Professional Development: Opportunities for career growth through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. Work-Life Balance: Flexible scheduling, paid time off, and personal leave to help employees manage their professional and personal lives. Employee Wellness Programs: Initiatives focused on physical, mental, and emotional health, including fitness memberships, counseling services, and wellness activities FTE: 0.6 Possible Remote/Hybrid Option: Shift Rotation: Permanent Night Rotation (United States of America) Shift Start Time: 7:00PM - 7:30AM Shift End Time: Weekends: Every Third Weekend Holidays: Yes Call Obligation: No Union: St Josephs MNA RNs (STJRN) Compensation Range: $41.22 - $61.83 Employee Benefits at Essentia Health: At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please note that benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at (218) 576-0000.

Skills for this role

Patient assessmentTreatment planningCare plan evaluationCare plan implementationDelegationNeurological careStroke careRespiratory careDiabetes carePost-surgical recovery

Certifications

BLS

Requirements

  • RN
  • Patient treatment planning
  • Managed Registered Nurses (RNs)
  • TJC
  • Care plan evaluation
  • Nursing
  • Management
  • Weekends as needed
  • RN License

About the employer

Essentia Health logo
Essentia Health
Hospital

You would be joining Essentia Health in Duluth, where a new hospital looks out over Lake Superior and the system anchors care across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin with about 15,000 employees, 14 hospitals, and roughly 70 clinic and outpatient…

4.0 Google rating
Essentia Health workplaceEssentia Health workplaceEssentia Health workplace

What reviewers appreciate

  • Yearlong Nurse Residency with monthly class, 1:1 coaching, and NCLEX prep for RNs with under one year of experience
  • Posted new-grad starts at $45.03/hr ADN and $46.03/hr BSN in Duluth/Superior
  • Hiring incentives up to $7,500 ADN and $10,000 BSN for Duluth RN residents

What reviewers flag

  • Union contract negotiations in Duluth have centered on staffing standards, with leadership saying experienced nurses leave over unsafe conditions
  • Clinic nurses and APPs held multi-week ULP strikes in 2025; some contracts remained unresolved after the walkout ended
  • Glassdoor overall near 3.6/5 with senior management rated lowest among categories
unionizedresidency-supportednew-grad focusedlake-front campusmulti-state systemMagnet pathway

Living in Brainerd, MN

Brainerd is a small city in central Minnesota's lake country, surrounded by woods and water. It serves as a regional hub for healthcare and retail in the Brainerd Lakes area, popular with summer vacationers but quiet year-round. A solid fit for outdoorsy nurses who prefer small-town living.

Map showing the location of Brainerd, MN
Brainerd, MN on the map · © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap· Open the live map
State price level · Minnesota
1% below the national average
State index 98.6 (100 = national)
Median gross rent
$827/mo
rent and tenant-paid utilities
Median household income
$56,111/yr
all local households, not nurse pay

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2024 Regional Price Parities · Census ACS 2024

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On your path

Med surg is open from year one. A broad first base while you learn which path pulls harder.

Worth asking

The posting doesn’t answer these. Good ones to ask a recruiter or in the interview.

  • Can you walk me through the base pay range and differentials?
  • What should I expect for holiday and rotation?
  • What orientation, preceptor time, and ongoing unit support are included?
  • How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?
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