RN Residency Program

The Lurie Children’s RN Residency Program is an innovative transition-to-practice program to prepare nurses for a rewarding career in the care of children and families.

Built on the belief that a supportive learning environment facilitates a sense of belonging, competency, and confidence, the RN Residency Program provides an individualized precepted orientation, guided classroom learning, peer support sessions, clinical exchange opportunities, and a mentorship in evidence-based practice to support nursing excellence. 

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago RN Residency Program is accredited with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs.

Five Components of the RN Residency Program

1. Precepted Orientation: The Preceptor supports the RN Resident in learning clinical skills and developing team relationships. The Preceptor guides the RN Resident in learning nursing responsibilities and becoming a member of the healthcare team. The precepted orientation varies in length and is dependent upon department of hire.
   
   • ED: 18 weeks
   • OR: 36 weeks
   • Inpatient Psychiatry Unit: 12 weeks
   • Critical Care: 20 weeks Acute Care: 14 weeks
   • Resource Team: 18 weeks
   • Almost Home Kids: 12 weeks
2. Pediatric Nursing Classes: RN Residents attend integrated clinical classes throughout the first 18 months of employment. Initial classes during the precepted orientation period focus on specialty pediatric nursing assessment, skills, and knowledge. Emergency management skills are developed through resuscitation courses.  Further along in the program, RN Residents will attend sessions on behavioral health, equity, diversity, and inclusion, wellbeing, clinical communication, ethics, evidence-based practice, and nursing professional development. Classes will provide the foundational knowledge needed for the achievement of clinical competency and pediatric nursing excellence. Diverse learning methods include lecture, discussion, skills practice, and patient simulation scenarios.
3. Transition Sessions: Transition Sessions offer the RN Resident a safe place to share experiences. By connecting with peers, the RN Resident will learn skills to navigate role transition. In addition, the RN Resident will learn skills for work-life integration.
4. Clinical Exchange Opportunities: The Clinical Exchange opportunities support the RN Resident's development of a patient and family centered approach to pediatric nursing care. This will be accomplished by rotating to additional patient care areas specific to their patient population, enabling the RN resident to learn the patient experience first-hand and build working relationships throughout Lurie Children's.
5. Evidence-Based Practice Mentorship: Through the curriculum thread of evidence-based practice, the RN Resident will have the opportunity to explore nursing practice at Lurie Children’s under the guidance of evidence-based practice experts.

Applying & Timeline

Timeline:

Testimonials