Finding your first job as a nurse can be exciting and intimidating all at the same time. Therefore, it is important that new graduate nurses find a place where they feel comfortable and receive the support they need to foster their growth from advanced-beginner level of practice to the competent level of nursing practice.

University Health provides a one-year nurse residency program to facilitate new graduate nurses' successful transition from student nurse to professional nurse. Residency sessions and facilitator support are planned and delivered with the primary goal of assisting the new graduate nurse to develop their professional skills to become a successful member of the health care team.

Our outcome data from nurse resident participation in the University Health Nurse Residency Program demonstrates that nurse residents develop improved confidence, competence, communication skills and leadership capabilities.

American Nurses Credentialing Center

University Health Nurse Residency Program is accredited with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 

What the Nurse Residency Program Entails

The University Health Nurse Residency Program supports the graduate nurse professional practice development with a robustly designed curriculum following the American Nurses Association Scope and Standards of Practice. 

This Program Emphasizes:

• Critical thinking skills
• Leadership abilities
• Communication skills
• Evidence-based practice
• Professional career development

This Residency Includes:

• Onboarding as a University Health employee and as a registered nurse
• Monthly nurse residency program seminars that include learning facilitation, peer support and well-being engagement
• Designing and implementing an evidence-based practice project with formal dissemination of the outcomes
• A dedicated program director, who as a nursing professional development specialist and experienced program facilitator, provides support and follow-up throughout the nurse residency program

How to Become a University Health Nurse Resident

All newly hired Registered Nurses with less than 6 months of experience as an RN are automatically entered into the nurse residency program. Graduate nurses or registered nurses can apply for staff nurse positions within University Health. Upon hire, they are assigned to a nurse residency program cohort and provided detailed information about the year-long residency curriculum and process during their onboarding.

For more information, you can email us at NurseResidency.Program@uhtx.com.