Gundersen Health System logo
Gundersen Health System
Sparta, Wisconsin

Professional Development Nurse, PDN (Nurse Educator) | Ambulatory Clinics

Registered NurseFull-Time

Listed compensation

$81,244.80

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Love + medicine is who we are, it's what we do, it's why people want to work here. If you’re looking for a job to love, apply today.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

We’re not just filling positions, we’re building careers. At Emplify Health, we care for our teams, while they care for their communities. Whether you are just starting out or looking for a change, Emplify Health supports you now and into the future. Join us and find out how a little empathy changes everything.

Emplify Health by Gundersen is seeking a full-time RN, Professional Development Nurse (Nurse Educator) to work with Ambulatory Care Departments. This is your opportunity to work in a highly adaptable and mission-driven organization while doing the work you love in the beautiful Coulee region.

What You Will Do

Fulfill a 1.0 FTE, salaried role

Support Orientation and Onboarding of New Staff

Evaluate nursing practice, assess practice gaps, identify learning needs, participate in process improvement projects and initiatives both within area of responsibility and at the system level

Serves the Tomah and Sparta primary care clinics, along with select specialty clinics. This position also provides monthly on-site support at two affiliate locations: Moundview in Friendship, WI, and St. Joe’s in Hillsboro, WI.

  • There is occasional travel to Onalaska and La Crosse for meeting or classes.
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members including other professional development nurses, clinical managers, clinicians, quality nurses & informatics nurses
  • Travel to other Gundersen locations as required

What You Need

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing required
  • Master’s degree in Nursing required within 5 years
  • 3-4 years of RN experience or equivalent required; ambulatory care RN experience preferred
  • RN licensure to practice in the state of Wisconsin upon hire

What You Will Get

  • $81,244.80/year, plus more based on years of experience
  • Gundersen's generous compensation and benefit package, including our top-rated retirement plan
  • Growth opportunities and access to Gundersen's Career Development Center to help you navigate your career

Emplify Health, a partnership of Bellin Health and Gundersen Health System, is a leading not-for-profit, patient-centered healthcare network based in Green Bay and La Crosse, Wisconsin. With 11 hospitals and over 100 clinics, we serve 67 cities across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and communities.

If you need assistance with any portion of the application or have questions about the position, please contact HR-Recruitment@gundersenhealth.org or call 608-775-0267.

We inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning and innovating. This is our purpose. Together with our values — belonging, respect, excellence, accountability, teamwork and humility — our pillars set our foundation and our future.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Key Responsibilities

The Professional Development Nurse will support the orientation and onboarding of new staff while evaluating nursing practice and identifying learning needs. They will also lead process improvement initiatives and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across multiple clinic locations.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and an active RN license in Wisconsin. A minimum of 3-4 years of RN experience is required, with a preference for ambulatory care experience.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Nursing educationStaff orientationNursing practice evaluationClinical leadershipInterdisciplinary collaborationQuality improvement

Ambulatory Care Nursing — Registered Nurse Career Context

Of the 50 active Ambulatory Care Nursing listings this role was benchmarked against, 28% are remote, 54% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Wisconsin is 94.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$81k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $86k in an average-cost state. 60.7% of Wisconsin clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Registered Nurse Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution23 jobs · 20 employers

10
<$100k
4
$100k-115k
7
$115k-130k
1
$131k
1
$151k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks19 jobs

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
26%
Sign-on bonus
16%
Loan repayment
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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Inova Health System · Falls Church, Virginia

$93k-$151k
#2

Director of Nursing

Devereux · Pennsylvania

up to $131,000
#3

Case Manager Registered Nurse

$61k-$130k
#4

Case Manager Registered Nurse (LTSS) - Field MI (Wayne and Macomb County)

$61k-$130k
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Ambulatory Care Nursing (RN) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 331 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Sparta

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$284k≈ 3.5× annual pay
Median resident rent
$861/mo≈ 13% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
State income tax
Up to 7.7%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Gundersen Health System logo

About Gundersen Health System

Hospitals and Health Care
La Crosse, WI
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Retirement Plan
Paid Time Off
Career Development