National Nurse Residency Program

At CommonSpirit Health and within our Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospitals, we believe our nursing care is our brand. We are committed to providing a nationally-standardized, evidence-based best practice for newly licensed and new-to-practice nurses to transition-to-practice safely, effectively, and efficiently.

The CSH National Nurse Residency Program delivers nursing orientation and organizational socialization within the profession, providing individualized and personalized partnerships with each resident throughout the full first year. Through specialty specific education and support, both in-person and virtually-enhanced, the new nurse’s critical thinking skills, evidence-based decision making skills, engagement, stress management, and leadership skills will be developed, nurtured, and optimized. This prepares the nurse resident to practice at a higher level, to confront daily challenges, and to help influence the workplace for the better.

The structure of this program provides a comprehensive, systematic, and standardized approach designed to onboard new graduates into their professional role with multi-layered support that continues throughout their first year of practice. A competency-based curriculum coupled with trained preceptors and active mentorship capitalizes on the ANCC Accreditation design; innovative, contemporary, and evidence-based practices. This process, for expediting the transition from student to competent staff nurse, is supported by the CANVAS platform designed by Dignity Health Global Education.

Nurse residents will be required to complete each of the components of the program during that first year, including:

• Didactic
• Skills enhancement
• Simulation
• An EBP project
• Attend all monthly transition-to-practice program courses to graduate

The CSH NNRP accelerates nursing competency by providing in-depth experiences, education, and support during the nurse resident’s first year. Their success is demonstrated by their competency and confidence at the end of 18 weeks that can equal nurses at 18 months of practice who were on-boarded traditionally without the benefit of a structured residency program. This acceleration of competence has direct and tangible benefits to both organizations and nurses alike.

When you are deciding where to begin your career, it is important to select an organization that has made a commitment to invest in its most valuable resource–its nurses!

**Not all specialties available at all sites

• Medical/Surgical/Tele
  • Orthopedics
  • Oncology
  • Observation Unit
  • Surgical Specialty
  • Medical Specialty
• Float Pool
• Critical Care
• Progressive Care
• Maternal/Child Health
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Postpartum
  • Special Care Nursery
  • NICU
• Emergency Services
• Perioperative Services
• Behavioral Health
• Ambulatory Care
• Care Coordination

We offer four residency start dates throughout the year:

• Feb. 16, 2024
• May 10, 2024
• Aug. 16, 2024
• Oct. 18, 2024

Applicants must have:

• Graduated from an accredited School of Nursing with a minimum of an Associate's Degree in Nursing required; Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) preferred
• 0-12 months of professional nursing (RN) experience
• Candidates must pass the NCLEX prior to the start of the program, but not necessarily prior to interviewing
• At least one (1) week prior to cohort start, must have an active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state they will be practicing or the state of primary residency if the state is a Nurse Licensure Compact State (interim permits cannot be accepted) 
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association
• Additional Certifications may be required based on populations served

• Ability to work 40 hours per week throughout the 12 month program
• Must be available to work varying days/shifts during the precepted time; to include weekends, day shift, night shift, etc.
• Active participation in all learning activities
• Successful candidates will be required to sign a two year commitment letter which commences after independent practice begins

Please complete an online application on our Careers site and include the following items.

• Cover Letter/Statement of Interest including top two specialty areas
• Current resume
• At least one professional letter of recommendation including signature
• Current nursing school transcript

Top candidates will be invited to a virtual or in person interview where they will meet a panel of nurse leaders, hiring managers, and/or peers.

For more information, contact the PNW RN Residency Team at [email protected].