Nurse Residency Programs

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2015

I have heard great things about both Children's and UC residency programs, but they are extremely competitive. Last spring 1000 applicants for 30 spots at UC and they only took candidates who worked as cnas. HCA has a program, but it's hard to get info.

You need to be about to graduate with a BSN to apply.

Best of luck!

skigirl470 · Apr 27, 2015

Thanks for your insight.

Do you know if they prefer Colorado students?

Any individuals, who have participating in these programs, care to share their experience?

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2015

I don't think that they necessarily prefer Colorado students, although UCH is associated with UCs nursing program so they may be more likely to offer a spot to a nurse who graduated there. They seem to prefer people with history at the facility. Out of my graduating class of about 70, all of us applied to UCH and 2 got in, both had worked as CNAs for a couple of years there. Childrens seems to want to take their own CNAs or people who did their practicum there. I think if you have an outstanding transcript and great references, you stand a chance, but for the most part they fill up with people that they know.

However, 18 of my classmates walked their resumes into Swedish hospital NMs on various floors and got hired. Bypassing HR was the trick! You would need to do that after passing NCLEX, but I would say you have a great shot at it if you did something like that. They don't have a resident program per se, but they do have great orientation periods with caring and knowledgable preceptors.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · May 1, 2015

Denver VA puts all new grads through a residency program. You have to have a BSN.

PHhopeful · May 5, 2015

I had an instructor that was involved in hiring new graduates for one of the residency programs in Denver (I can't remember which hospital). She mentioned several times something along the lines of one out of every two new graduates hired was from outside the Denver metro area...this seems like a high proportion, but at least it sounded as though it was unimportant where you were relocating from. She also mentioned being fond of JHU applicants because she trusted the caliber of their education...so drawing from that, I'd say that coming from out of state, where you went to school might have more weight. Sorry that I can't be more specific!

skigirl470 · May 6, 2015

Thanks! This is very helpful!

dread_pirate_roberts · May 7, 2015

Good Evening, All! I'm looking through here because I am also interested in applying for the new grad residencies in Colorado. As you may be able to tell from my screen name, I'm from North Dakota! I'll graduate in December with my BSN and some intern/extern experience :). I saw somewhere that it's discouraged to contact nurse managers about residency spots outside of the application process - is there any truth to this? My sister's moving to Arvada in September and I was thinking when I help her move, I'd go get a feel for a few of these hospitals that offer programs and possibly introduce myself, but I don't want to overstep. Any advice about this would be welcomed!

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · May 7, 2015

The nurse residency programs are very specific about application guidelines and if you step out of what they require you won't likely be considered.

However, in the Denver Metro area, the best way to get a job as a new grad nurse (not in a residency program-just an RN job) is to go see the NM and walk in your resume. not recommended until after you pass NCLEX though. Every new grad I know that got a job got it by taking their resume in to a NM in person.

BTW, you do know that North Dakota is the best place in the country for a new grad to get a job, right?

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 7, 2015

BTW, you do know that North Dakota is the best place in the country for a new grad to get a job, right?

That is what I was thinking too. Stay there, get some experience then move out.

emkat02 · Dec 31, 2020

Hi, How long after working were you able to transition to days? Were you still working holidays/weekends after two years?