Best new grad residency programs

Bobbkat · Jan 3, 2011

Whichever one you can get hired into!

I'm part of a residency program, and honestly I find it to be completely pointless. It consists of a few hours a month of lectures aimed primarily at new-grad med/surg nurses. I'm in the NICU. The facilitator keeps adding the disclaimer that pretty much nothing that we talk about applies to my unit. I am required to attend though, and I get paid for my time.

In my opinion, the hardcore residency programs that rotate you through different units and include more substantial classtime sound much more interesting/helpful to me than what my hospital gives us.

lrobinson5 · Jan 3, 2011

I just know of ones in my area. Loma Linda University has a new grad residency and they are a reputable hospital. However, I think the longest program is 16 weeks (for the ICU).

ObtundedRN, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2011

I know of a great program for new grads going into ICU. It is 8 months long. Usually 1 week of class each month, and the other 3 weeks of the month are on the floor working with a preceptor. The CNS that teaches the program is incredibily smart. They also use an online program through AACN, that is meant to teach any nurse that is new to the ICU. All of it together taught me much more than I ever learned in nursing school. All of it is new material, no review of what you got in school.

You can PM me if you want the name of the hospital.

I know Vanderbuilt has a new grad program too, which they advertise as a year long. But I know someone that went to it, and its not quite what it is advertised to be. My friend says they do a one day class a month for a full year, but you're out of orientation and taking your own patients only about 8 weeks in... Kinda scary to put a new grad on their own in the ICU that soon.

IMissMyLife · Jan 4, 2011

I know Vanderbuilt has a new grad program too, which they advertise as a year long. But I know someone that went to it, and its not quite what it is advertised to be. My friend says they do a one day class a month for a full year, but you're out of orientation and taking your own patients only about 8 weeks in... Kinda scary to put a new grad on their own in the ICU that soon.

I actually participated in the residency program at Vanderbilt. It's a bit more extensive than that. For the first 6 weeks, you are doing two 8 hour days of classroom and two 12 hour shifts. Each week, you rotate to a different icu and are paired with a preceptor and basically dive right in. This gives you a chance to learn the systems and charting and workflow of the unit as well as getting hands on care experience. At the end of the 6 weeks you are "matched" to a unit. You have a staff counselor who you meet with weekly and give them feedback on how you like each unit. At the end of the rotation you rank your top 3. They take input from your preceptors and classroom instructors and try to match you based on both what you want and where they feel you fit best. Then after you are matched, you do one class every six weeks as an overall"residency" class and also critical care classes sprinkled throughout.

My unit orientation was an additional 12 weeks. You will most likely start on night shift, but you do the majority of orientation on days because you are exposed to a little more and typically your more experienced nurses work days. In addition to the 12 weeks of having a preceptor we also had 8 weeks of 2 8 hour classroom days (this is cvicu). So, I believe you are more than prepared. Now, if you do another track other than critical care your orientation is not as extensive, but the first 6 weeks are the same- just tailored to your track. There is critical care, adult surgical, adult medical, womens health, pediatric and operative.

The application process is a bit daunting and it's very competitive, but definitely worth it. I have worked at Vandy almost 3 years now and we take care of the sickest of the sick. Other hospitals send us their sick patients so we are the end of the line. You see things here you just don't see anywhere else. The medical center is huge and the staff is just as diverse as the patient population. The benefits are hard to beat, especially if you plan on going back to school or putting your children through college.

If you have any questions, just ask!

Good luck!

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

University of Colorado Hospital has a year-long residency program.

Guest463881 · Jan 4, 2011

Hello ObtundedRN!

I actually haven't made enough posts to use PM- I am new to this site. I would like to know the name of the hospital with 8 months in the icu, that would be perfect. You can email me at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it !!

Thank you everyone for your help!! It is greatly appreciated.

AScottRN11 · Jan 25, 2011

I actually participated in the residency program at Vanderbilt. It's a bit more extensive than that. For the first 6 weeks, you are doing two 8 hour days of classroom and two 12 hour shifts. Each week, you rotate to a different icu and are paired with a preceptor and basically dive right in. This gives you a chance to learn the systems and charting and workflow of the unit as well as getting hands on care experience. At the end of the 6 weeks you are "matched" to a unit. You have a staff counselor who you meet with weekly and give them feedback on how you like each unit. At the end of the rotation you rank your top 3. They take input from your preceptors and classroom instructors and try to match you based on both what you want and where they feel you fit best. Then after you are matched, you do one class every six weeks as an overall"residency" class and also critical care classes sprinkled throughout.
My unit orientation was an additional 12 weeks. You will most likely start on night shift, but you do the majority of orientation on days because you are exposed to a little more and typically your more experienced nurses work days. In addition to the 12 weeks of having a preceptor we also had 8 weeks of 2 8 hour classroom days (this is cvicu). So, I believe you are more than prepared. Now, if you do another track other than critical care your orientation is not as extensive, but the first 6 weeks are the same- just tailored to your track. There is critical care, adult surgical, adult medical, womens health, pediatric and operative.
The application process is a bit daunting and it's very competitive, but definitely worth it. I have worked at vandy almost 3 years now and we take care of the sickest of the sick. Other hospitals send us their sick patients so we are the end of the line. You see things here you just don't see anywhere else. The medical center is huge and the staff is just as diverse as the patient population. The benefits are hard to beat, especially if you plan on going back to school or putting your children through college.
If you have any questions, just ask!
Good luck!

Hi! I am currently in the application process for the Vandy NRP. I was born in Nashville and VU's been embedded in my blood since birth, so this is definitely a very stressful process! I love hearing success stories and positive feedback about the program.

I do have a question for you. In the past, the Women's Health track hasn't fully evolved, do you know why that is?

Hoozdo, ADN · Jan 25, 2011

The VA also gives extensive orientation. The orientation lasts for 6 months

no matter what position you accept. Well, that's how it was in 2005. It may

have changed by now.

savyj96 · Feb 15, 2018

What is the name of the hospital?? I would love to apply!!

savyj96 · Feb 15, 2018

What is the name of the hospital?? I would love to apply!