Nurse Residency Program


What are the Saint Joseph Health System (SJHS) Nurse Residency and Nurse Fellowship Programs ?

The SJHS Nurse Residency Program is a 10-month curriculum, outside of department orientation, for newly licensed registered nurses (RN) hired into positions within the organization. The program is designed to provide a supportive environment to facilitate the transition from an academic setting to the clinical work environment and nursing professional practice. The SJHS Nurse Fellowship program is at minimum a two-year program, Fellows advance in their career and increase nursing knowledge via a guided transition into a new specialty through structured curriculum, prepared preceptors and hands on learning. Nurse Fellows pursue certification relevant to their identified area nursing track.

Why should a new graduate choose the SJHS Nurse Residency or Nurse Fellowship Program?

The Nurse Residency Programs supports new RNs as you transition into the clinical setting. The program encourages professional development and lifelong learning while creating a positive work environment which produces quality patient outcomes.

Backed by our faith, SJHS is committed to providing our community with exceptional care for body, mind and spirit. We believe in continually investing in our people, technology and the future of healthcare. We do this while stewarding the precious resources entrusted to us. This is our calling.

We need individuals who not only excel in the core clinical competencies of nursing, but also feel in their hearts that this is their calling too!

Who is eligible for the program?

Newly licensed registered nurses from an accredited RN program with less than one year of experience. Nurse Fellowship- Newly licensed RN from an accredited BSN RN Program. Completion of SJHS basic nurse orientation within SJHS is required.

Key features

  • An evidence-based curriculum framework will provide participants a way of conceptualizing and organizing knowledge, skills, values and beliefs. The framework facilitates successful transition into professional practice. The curriculum framework consists of professional socialization, leadership, clinical reasoning and practice-based learning.
  • Teaching modalities include: structure presentations, case studies, hands-on clinical learning, High Fidelity Simulation Lab and classroom discussion.
  • Core content is presented by multidisciplinary experts both within SJHS and through partnerships with local nursing schools. Nurse residents also have the opportunity to facilitate and be part of the curriculum.
  • Completion of a clinical question/evidence-based practice project at the end of the program.
  • Curriculum follows the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Transition Accreditation Program Standards.