Nurse Residency Program: Progressive Care Track Fall 2026
About the role
The ChristianaCare Nurse Residency Program – Progressive Care Track is a rolling‑application opportunity for senior nursing students, recent graduates, and new RNs with less than one year of experience. The program is accredited with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs. Residents receive lecture and simulation education, peer support, and up to 16 weeks of preceptor‑led clinical experience on intermediate or transitional step‑down units at the Newark or Wilmington campuses, followed by residency meetings at months 6, 8, 10, and 12 to develop critical thinking, evidence‑based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, effective communication, quality and safety, and professional development. Upon completion, participants will have a strong foundation for nursing practice in a fast‑paced environment, providing care for medically complex patients outside the ICU.
Responsibilities
- Lecture and simulation education
- Peer support
- Up to 16 weeks of preceptor‑led clinical experiences on intermediate/transitional step‑down units (Newark or Wilmington campuses)
- Continued residency meetings at months 6, 8, 10, and 12 to foster critical thinking, evidence‑based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, effective communication, quality and safety, and professional development
- Provide care for medically complex patients outside the ICU in a fast‑paced, challenging setting
Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited nursing school (BSN preferred)
- Current BLS certification
- Less than 12 months of nursing experience at program start
- Eligibility for Delaware RN license or RN license from a compact state
- Ability to work all shifts (day, evening, overnight), including weekends and holidays, based on unit staffing
- Commitment to work at ChristianaCare for two years, with a minimum of 15 months on the hired unit; failure to meet this commitment results in a $10,000 charge