Children's Hospital Colorado Nurse Residency Program August 2013

bel15ver · Aug 22, 2013

Thanks for the reply!

SamtheSRNA · Oct 18, 2013

@roborn @Sassy29RN @3veggiesRN @Emzie7

Hey all! Congrats on getting accepted to the Residency program! I am extremely interested in working at Colorado Children's and was curious about how yall are liking the program?! I will also be applying at the beginning of next week and was hoping on any tips to stand out or if yall did something in particular that you felt gave you an advantage over other applicants? Any and all tips are appreciated! Thanks guys!

Sassy29RN · Nov 13, 2013

Hi Decgrad2013,

Congrats on almost being finished with nursing school! What 3veggiesRN said above is true: Experience with kids is a MUST. I did not have a specialty preceptorship or capstone in Peds, BUT, I did have quite a bit of volunteer experience and work with kids to make up for it. I got hired for the ED and had ED experience already (including getting to do my Peds rotation in nursing school at a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center), so I think that helped as well. For people who only had a Peds rotation, and don't have any other volunteer work specific to kids (or other experience with children) you prob wont get an interview. Sorry to say.

Tips would be:

1) Be flexible and make it known that you are flexible. ED was my 1st choice and I was blessed enough to get it, but for me, it was more about being at Children's CO and wanting to learn in THIS Residency program (which I still believe is the best around!) So in my resume and cover, I made that known and even wrote, "Preference for ED but flexible regarding unit placement."

2) Don't turn in a "same-old, same-old" cover letter. I dont know what anyone else in my cohort did, but I wrote from my heart. I told the story about what inspired my to become a Peds nurse, and told them exactly why I wanted to be at CHCO.

3) I took a boatload of extra Peds classes that were specific to Peds/ED nursings (ie PALs, NRP, etc). I also took a lot of Peds specific on-line classes that were available to me through my EMS agency. So check on-line and get as much Peds specific education that you can.

4) If you dont already do volunteer work with Peds, it's an absolute MUST, so start.

If you can, I would also set up an All Nurses thread for the Spring 2014 cohort. This site was so helpful to me when I was applying-- and it took a lot of stress out of it for me just getting the updates. I am sure there others out there who have questions as well, and it helps when you can keep each other posted with updates. Good luck and congrats again! :)

UMnurse310 · Jan 20, 2014

Hey everyone -

Thanks so much for replying and leaving tips for those of us just applying. I'll be graduating in May and will be applying for the program in March when it opens.

Sassy29RN - thanks for all of the tips about applying!

**Any other tips for the cover letter or resume?

**How long were your cover letters? I feel like mine could be 2-3 pages with all of the info they ask for!

Just wondering how you are all liking the program now that you've been in for about 6 months. Is it as great as you thought it would be? :)

Thanks!

pedsnursesoon · Aug 6, 2014

I too would love to hear updates! I am going to apply for the August 2015 cohort.

Can you also tell me about starting salaries and shift differentials?

Satori77, ADN · Aug 7, 2014

Hi Decgrad2013,
Congrats on almost being finished with nursing school! What 3veggiesRN said above is true: Experience with kids is a MUST. I did not have a specialty preceptorship or capstone in Peds, BUT, I did have quite a bit of volunteer experience and work with kids to make up for it. I got hired for the ED and had ED experience already (including getting to do my Peds rotation in nursing school at a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center), so I think that helped as well. For people who only had a Peds rotation, and don't have any other volunteer work specific to kids (or other experience with children) you prob wont get an interview. Sorry to say.
Tips would be:
1) Be flexible and make it known that you are flexible. ED was my 1st choice and I was blessed enough to get it, but for me, it was more about being at Children's CO and wanting to learn in THIS Residency program (which I still believe is the best around!) So in my resume and cover, I made that known and even wrote, "Preference for ED but flexible regarding unit placement."
2) Don't turn in a "same-old, same-old" cover letter. I dont know what anyone else in my cohort did, but I wrote from my heart. I told the story about what inspired my to become a Peds nurse, and told them exactly why I wanted to be at CHCO.
3) I took a boatload of extra Peds classes that were specific to Peds/ED nursings (ie PALs, NRP, etc). I also took a lot of Peds specific on-line classes that were available to me through my EMS agency. So check on-line and get as much Peds specific education that you can.
4) If you dont already do volunteer work with Peds, it's an absolute MUST, so start.
If you can, I would also set up an All Nurses thread for the Spring 2014 cohort. This site was so helpful to me when I was applying-- and it took a lot of stress out of it for me just getting the updates. I am sure there others out there who have questions as well, and it helps when you can keep each other posted with updates. Good luck and congrats again! :)

I'm curious, you say to volunteer with kids. What type of volunteer experience are you talking about? Can it be anything with kids, like tutoring or Boys and Girls Club. Or do you mean volunteering at a hospital on the Peds floor?

Anyone with volunteer experience can chime in here. :)

ColleenT · May 26, 2016

Any tips on interviewing with CHC? I have an interview with them in a month.