As a Portsmouth Regional Hospital nurse, you are part of a respected, collaborative team of clinical professionals dedicated to providing excellent care for the whole patient — mind, body, and spirit. This approach to care brings hope and healing to those we care for.
We can offer you the opportunity to care for patients across all service lines, from cardiology to oncology to neurology and more. As a 234-bed acute-care hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital offers the Seacoast Region’s only:
Comprehensive Stroke Center
Level II trauma center
Neurosurgery center
Comprehensive cardiac program including open-heart surgery, TAVR and electrophysiology (EP) programs.
In addition, we offer inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs for patients who need mental health services. In 2023, we will open a new radiation oncology program, giving our cancer patients the opportunity to stay close to home for their care.
Whatever your specialty area of interest is, our passion for patient-centered care is rooted in the ICARE philosophy that guides all of our encounters with patients, families, and colleagues:
Integrity
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Excellence
Michelle R. Dodd, PHD, RN, CCRN-K
Michelle Dodd was appointed Chief Nursing Officer at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in January 2020. She previously served as Vice President of Nursing Operations for the 18 hospitals in Capital Division. Michelle began her career with HCA in 2003 and has held various clinical positions in emergency medicine and critical care as well as multiple nursing leadership roles. Michelle received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from George Mason University in 2003, and completed her Master of Science in Nursing and Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Research at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her doctorate was supported by a competitive NIH: NRSA F31 grant and focused on Healthcare Acquired Infection Risk in the ICU. Michelle’s experience in infection prevention now plays a significant role in her leadership of the clinical excellence and quality agenda in nursing practice.
Why work here?
Are you looking for a rewarding clinical opportunity where you can receive advanced training and expand your skills? Look no further. As part of the 182-hospital, 280,000-plus-employee HCA Healthcare family, Portsmouth Regional Hospital provides various training and advancement opportunities. If you want to work with supportive colleagues in a growing, fast-paced environment — we want you to build your career with us! Check out our open positions here.
Portsmouth is in New Hampshire’s beautiful Seacoast Region, just an hour from Boston and the White Mountains. Between the vibrant, growing downtown area and its proximity to beaches, lakes, and mountains, there is always something to do.
A Dedication to Meeting Your Career Goals Through Professional Development
We know that fulfilling patient and family needs is your top priority. And helping you reach that goal is ours. That's why we provide educational opportunities through collaborations with area nursing schools at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Great Bay Community College, New Hampshire Technical College, the Galen College of Nursing, and more. Through these partnerships, we offer a variety of training options for both early-career and experienced nurses, including:
StaRN Program: This 12-to-17-week paid program for new graduates combines classroom study, simulation training, clinical preceptorship, and professional development. The program offers advanced instruction in basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, crisis prevention, hospital equipment skills, and much more.
Specialty Programs: Our specialized programs, including neurology and neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery, trauma surgery, ECMO, and much more, help you develop critical thinking skills and expertise with highly complex patient populations. They also provide opportunities to build collaborative relationships with multidisciplinary provider teams.
Additionally, we have an LNA trainee program, nurse residency, certification support, and more.
"Here at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, every day is an opportunity to create a lasting difference in the lives of our patients and within our team. The learning opportunities here are endless, and I am proud to be part of this team and community!"
As a Portsmouth nurse, you can expect to:
Engage in critical thinking and shared decision-making
Master leading-edge equipment, technology, and supplies
Practice evidence-based care
Be part of the Seacoast’s only academic medical center and Level II trauma center with comprehensive cardiac and neurosurgery programs.
A Commitment to Recognizing Excellence
We value the hard work and commitment our more than 400 nurses bring to the hospital and our patients. You’ll find excellence in nursing in every department, around every corner. We maintain several recognition programs to acknowledge the highly skilled, innovative, and compassionate care they deliver. As a Portsmouth nurse, you are eligible for these awards:
Compassionate Care Award
Daisy Award®
Colleague of the Month
ROSE Award
Daisy Leader Award
Nurse of the Year
Preceptor of the Year
"Since joining Portsmouth Regional Hospital in 2018, I have consistently met and worked alongside passionate medical providers, nurses and technicians that provide amazing comprehensive care for our patient population, and this is why I’m proud to say I work at Portsmouth Regional Hospital."
An Enthusiasm for Advancement
Whether you are a new graduate or a seasoned clinician, Portsmouth Regional Hospital is invested in your career advancement. We understand you have many options — that’s why we offer career advantages you might not find elsewhere. Our nurse leaders regularly meet with staff to discuss their growth and interests in professional development, ensuring they achieve their highest potential and career goals. They advocate for their teams’ growth, identifying emerging leaders for HCA Healthcare leadership development programs.
Our Pathways Program supports our newly hired graduates through customized advancement plans as they work toward greater expertise within a desired nursing specialty. Nurses involved with this program take on additional training while fulfilling their current clinical responsibilities. For example, nurses interested in surgical services can participate in a Peri-Op 101 program.
We also routinely assess our nurses through the Clinical Ladder Program. This three-step program, designed after the Benner Model of Nursing — Novice to Expert, focuses on clinical practice and designates a nurse’s level of expertise based on their competence and achievement. When you participate in the Clinical Ladder Program, you’ll have the chance to advance your skills at the bedside, maximizing both clinical abilities and relationships with patients.
We Want You to Join Our Team
If you talk with any of our nurses, you will hear about the benefits of being a Portsmouth Regional Hospital nurse. They may mention their warm, encouraging colleagues, our commitment to work/life balance, our close attention to patient safety, and a culture of collaboration and respect. These are just some of the many reasons we are a well-respected, sought-after workplace.
We hope you are ready to start your new nursing career in the beautiful Seacoast Region with Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Here you can find a wealth of opportunities through our parent company, HCA Healthcare.
