Nurse Residency Programs

[WildcatFanRN]

How prevalent are Nurse Residency programs? I have found a few hospitals that have it or something similar, especially for NICU and other critical care areas. Some are called Nurse Internships. Any other names? They sound like a good way for us New Grads to get off to a good start on the units we want to work on.

[Disneyfan]

Disneyfan, where are you at? You can send me a PM if you like.

Good luck to you for both your return and the new position :-)

Thanks and I sent you a PM.

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

Its amazing how hard the search is for residency programs. I did a websearch and most of the programs came up were for MD's LOL. Maybe they need to change the name or something.

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

I did a search last night for nurse internships and had better luck finding places. When I narrowed it to Nurse internship nicu, it was better than when I tried nurse residency.

[bijou214]

The hospital I first worked at had a mandatory residency program for all hired new grads. We met every friday for... a month? I can't remember how long exactly. Initially there were some skill workshops and a lot of them did not apply to me because I was NICU and the skills were for adult floors. But as time passed, there were lots of workshops about being a new nurse and adjusting from "novice nurse" to "competent, skilled nurse". It was also a time for us to vent and share experiences with our peers. We met again at the 6 month mark and had a "graduation" at the 1 year mark. My unit also sent me to a separate week long NICU Basics class.

The new hospital where I just got hired is also sending me to NICU classes (since their population and acuity is a little different from my previous job and I have less than 2 years experience). They meet once a week for 2 months. I think this hospital also has new grad programs but I don't know what the details are. I know I will be going to the NICU classes with mostly new grads and new to NICU nurses.

[RN4Little1s]

My hospital calls it an RN Residency. When I started a year ago, we had to go through a couple of weeks of classes for PICU, NICU, CICU, and ED. These were "critical care" classes, but then we also had just our own NICU classes which were the most helpful because our population is just so specific. Sometimes I wish I could have majored in neonatology with how much there is to learn about it!

But my point is we didn't have to rotate through any other units. Nobody did, even if they were on the floors they just met for classes with the other floors. Now however the program has changed, especially for floor nurses. New grads are hired into the program and must rotate through about 5 floors before a mutual selection is made. However, critical care grads still get to go straight to the unit they are hired into and the program is about the same for them. The residency is mandatory for new grads to critial care. We do have a project we work on for one year but by no means do we have to do any "homework" for it - we just work on it when we meet and get paid to do it! Then we have a graduation at the one year mark. I think this is all good for the hospital's Magnet status as well, you know how that goes! Good luck!!!

[semi_precious_RN]

I am currently in a NICU nursing residency program. I LOVE IT! I had an adult ICU internship at a smaller hospital and it was nothing like this! We have Neonatologists, NNPs, Nurses and RTs come and talk to us about every topic that affects the neonate, from the embryology to discharge. The classes are about 5 months long but you have support for a year, and it is NICU specific. PM me if you are interested in more! BTW, this is my first time posting. I love allnurses.com, what a great resource for nurses!

Thanks!

Jen

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I am currently in a NICU nursing residency program. I LOVE IT! I had an adult ICU internship at a smaller hospital and it was nothing like this! We have Neonatologists, NNPs, Nurses and RTs come and talk to us about every topic that affects the neonate, from the embryology to discharge. The classes are about 5 months long but you have support for a year, and it is NICU specific. PM me if you are interested in more! BTW, this is my first time posting. I love allnurses.com, what a great resource for nurses!

Thanks!

Jen

Do you happen to be in Houston? I've been putting out some feelers to some of the hospitals in Houston that have a NICU Residency/Internship. I still have 2 full semesters of school to go, though, so it's a little early for me.

[llg, PhD, RN]

As you can see from the above posts ... the term "residency" means different things in different places. Also, some programs have excellent orientation programs for new grads, but don't use the term "residency" or "internship" to describe. Some just say "new grad orientation" or "individualized orientation" or something like that.

Instead of limiting your job search to only use a particular phrase (and then include that phrase on the internet) ... contact any and all hospitals that interest you and ask them to describe the type of orientation you would get as a new grad. Get the specifics about their particular program regardless of what they call it so that you can compare different programs side-by-side.

That's the only way to assure that you are not missing some wonderful opportunities and/or being "sucked in" to a bad situation based on some clever marketing program designed to lure in a naive new grad.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

That is excellent advice. Thanks.

[semi_precious_RN]

No, sorry, I'm not in Houston and I don't really know anything about Houston hospitals

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

interestingly enough, most of the places that have really good orientations for new grads are magnet facilities. I know some feel magnet facilities aren't as good as they seem but IMO its a start. Anyhoo, I just wish someone somewhere would give me a chance at an interview on NICU. I keep applying and can't even get one. I get told to keep applying, but I'm feeling very discouraged. Very, very discouraged.