Nurse Residency Summer 2027: Critical Care Pathway
About the role
The Critical Care Pathway Nurse Residency Program (Summer 2027 Cohort) at ChristianaCare begins July 19, 2027 and is open to senior nursing students, recent nursing graduates, or new RNs with a passion for critical care. 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. Participation in a structured, accredited nurse residency program is shown to increase clinical competency, reduce medical errors, lower self‑reported stress, and improve job satisfaction. Residents start with 5–6 weeks of intensive preceptor‑led training on a stepdown unit, supported by mentorship from the Critical Care Nurse Residency Coordinator, focusing on clinical excellence, time management, prioritization skills, critical thinking, and professional confidence. After stepdown training, residents transition to an ICU placement and complete up to 18 additional weeks of specialty critical care orientation within their unit of hire, for a total of up to 26 weeks of preceptor‑led clinical training, followed by ongoing residency seminars throughout the first year of practice. Opportunities exist to shadow in critical care units across ChristianaCare’s Newark, Wilmington, and Cecil campuses before the interview process. Potential ICU placements include Surgical ICU (Shock/Trauma), Neuro ICU, Medical ICU, Cardiovascular ICU, and Wilmington Campus ICU (Medical/Surgical Intensive Care), with unit placement determined through the residency selection and interview process.
Responsibilities
- Complete 5–6 weeks of preceptor‑led stepdown unit training
- Participate in up to 18 weeks of ICU specialty orientation
- Engage in classroom instruction, high‑fidelity simulation, and