Graduation to working Process "New Grad Program" vs. "RN Residency"

Hands and Heart · Aug 21, 2008

My understanding on the residency programs offered at hospitals in my area is that they are longer because they give the new nurse experience in all the areas the hospital has to offer. This gives the new nurse a chance to solidify their choice on which area within the hospital they s/he would like to work. Throughout the residency, the new nurse has great access to support and continued educational growth.

New grad programs are different in that they are generally shorter and you are only trained in the unit for which you were hired. There is still support and educational growth beyond the generally 3 month program. However, the new nurse has less oversight once orientation is completed while in the residency program the nurse is continually evaluated. Either way, new grad program or residency, both are paid positions.

Those programs that offer NCLEX classes probably accept new graduates on an interim permit (available for 6 months after graduation and prior to taking the NCLEX, depending on your state).

MB37 · Aug 21, 2008

Is your externship a class? Then it's probably similar to the "preceptorship" that many of us do our last semester, in which we choose an area we'd like to focus on (depending on availability) and work 2-3 full 12 hour shifts each week with the same nurse until the required number of hours are completed. New grad programs vary by specialty and hospital. I just accepted a position in a critical care "rotation program" in which I spend the first month, then 8 hrs/week for another 16 weeks learning the basics of critical care. I also spend 2 days/week after the first month working in a unit. After 6 months, I can rotate to a new unit if I choose, allowing me to train in more than one ICU in the hospital. I applied at two other hospitals that do things differently - they each start ALL new grads in an "orientation unit" - one or a few med-surg floors that are dedicated to orienting new grads, so I assume they're staffed with experienced nurses who are willin to teach. After 6 wks on the orientation unit, you move to a specific floor for another 6-8 week preceptorship. In these hospitals, you can only work in med-surg without your license. I would have had to wait 6 months to apply for the critical care program, since I won't have my license in time to get into the fall program. Every hospital does things differently. Mine reimburses you for a NCLEX prep program - I took Kaplan, required by my school, and if I produce the receipt they'll pay me for it.

Your intro period may be called an "internship," "residency," "preceptorship," or anything else. You'll have either a "preceptorship" or "capstone" or "externship" through school, plus many students work as "nurse externs" on school breaks - paid positions, often competitive, where they have a bigger scope of practice than CNAs/PCTs. The terms are confusing and often duplicated. The programs seem pretty similar. Does your school have a job fair this semester? That's an easy, non-threatening way to get a lot of questions answered from all the recruiters in your area in one place. Good luck!

mingez · Aug 21, 2008

The terms are confusing and often duplicated. The programs seem pretty similar.

Thanks! LOL. I needed someone to tell me that so I don't feel like an idiot. It's just that everyone in the program throws those terms around like they know what they're talking about.