Nurse Residency Program

What We Offer:

• Evidence-based content and resources focused on bridging the gap between academia and professional nursing practice
• Clinical Nurse Educators focused on guiding new nurse graduates' transition from direct observation to independent nursing practice in their assigned units
• Blended learning experiences between clinical practice, classroom discussion and hands-on practice in our high-fidelity simulation center
• Opportunity to connect with peers and learn from one another's experiences in a safe environment
• Team and Coordinators committed to supporting Residents throughout their first year in nursing
• Easy access to NRP online applications and resources
• Career Counseling

To be eligible, you must:

• Have an active RN License
• Have graduated from an accredited nursing program in the previous 12 months.
  • Minimum ASN required. BSN preferred.
• Have less than 6 months of RN working experience in an acute care setting or less than 12 months of RN working experience in a non-acute care setting.

You must also:

• Have an active basic life support certification.
• Sign a 2-year full-time employment agreement with Memorial Healthcare System prior to enrollment into the Nurse Residency Program.
• ASN Applicants must commit to obtaining their BSN or MSN within 5 years of enrollment into the program.

You can:

• Call us at 954-265-7676, Monday to Friday, 8 am–4 pm
• Email RNResidency@mhs.net
  • Kindly note that we do not accept resumes via this email address. Resumes are only accepted through our designated landing page when expressing interest in future cohorts or via a qualified application process.

Once we notify you of your acceptance you:

• Complete an online learner profile
• Review and electronically sign the Nurse Residency Program Training Agreement
• Receive your invitation to the next Nurse Residency Program orientation

The Nurse Residency Program is one year long.

The Nurse Residency Program supplements the traditional orientation process through a series of monthly seminars for (1) year.  These interactive seminars focus on building your critical thinking/clinical reasoning skills as well as supporting your professional growth & development.

The clinical training specific to your assigned department is managed by the unit’s Clinical Nurse Educator(s).

Your support system includes the Nurse Residency Program coordinators, clinical nurse educators and unit preceptors. Each clinical area also provides advanced nursing education and support for new nurse graduates transitioning from direct observation to independent clinical nursing practice.

The Nurse Residency Program runs four cohorts per year. While the cohort schedule reflects our typical operations, it remains subject to modification to accommodate business needs. Click on “ Application Information” button located above to view our cohort timeline.

To be eligible to apply, candidates must possess an active RN license. If you are in the process of obtaining your RN license and wish to indicate your interest in future cohorts, please provide your details through our designated landing page.

The Nurse Residency at Memorial Healthcare System is a centralized program that provides a standardized evidence-based curriculum designed to support all new nurse graduates hired into the following general areas:

• Patient Care:  i.e. Med/Surg/Tele, sub-specialties in Acute Inpatient Rehab, Neuro/Stroke, Cardiac, Surgical/Post-Op, Observation, Progressive Care, etc.
• Specialty:  i.e. Oncology, IMCU, ED, Family Birthplace, Surgical Services, Behavioral Health, Pediatric Specialty Units, NICU, etc.

Please be advised that availability in the areas listed above is contingent upon the staffing requirements of nursing units that accommodate new nurse graduates. Vacant positions will be advertised when the application window opens. 

Yes, all new nurse graduates must enroll in the Nurse Residency Program at Memorial. 

1. You will receive an email confirming that we have received your application.
2. You will receive an email from the Talent Acquisition team advising if you either:
   a. Qualify for next steps in the process
   b. Don’t qualify for next steps.
3. If you meet minimum requirements, you will receive a call from the Talent Acquisition team to confirm or schedule next steps.

All application status updates are available in your candidate space online profile.

Candidates are invited to attend our in-person job fair Selection Day event to discover various opportunities. During the event, candidates will have the chance to meet hiring managers and nursing staff from participating units and indicate your preferred interview location. Interviews are conducted on the same day. Notification of interview results will be provided within 24 hours after your interview.

The number of positions to fill is determined by department leaders and business needs.

We try to place nurse residents in an area that interests them, but that isn’t always possible. We may offer you a position on a unit that has an unfilled need.

Yes, you will receive compensation and be eligible for benefits. During your first year of residency, you will earn the standard RN I rate for all hours worked. Additionally, you will undergo an annual performance evaluation, during which you may become eligible for a salary increase.

Learn more about benefits at Memorial Healthcare System.

All new nurse graduates must sign a two-year full-time commitment prior to enrollment into the Nurse Residency Program. Depending on which nursing unit you are hired into, you will be required to sign either one of the following agreements:

Standard Nurse Residency Program Training Agreement

• Applies to new nurse graduates hired into patient care areas (i.e., Med/Surg/Tele, acute inpatient rehabilitation, etc.) This agreement is applicable to the facility and unit where the Nurse Resident will be hired.
• Upon graduation from the program, you would be eligible to apply for a lateral transfer or the RN Fellowship Program after 1 year of independent practice experience.
• Maximum $5,000 Financial Penalty if agreement is broken prior to completion of the training agreement.

Nurse Residency Program Specialty Area Training Agreement

• Applies to new nurse graduates hired into most specialty units (i.e., all Pediatric Specialty Units, Adult IMCU, Emergency Department, Family Birthplace, Oncology, Surgical Services, etc.) This agreement is applicable to the facility and unit where the Nurse Resident will be hired.
• You must remain in your assigned specialty unit for the entire duration of the two-year full-time commitment.
• Maximum $7,500 Financial Penalty if agreement is broken prior to completion of the training agreement. Higher dollar amount accounts for added investment in training required to work in a specialty area.

Both run concurrently with MHS scholarship agreements, and financial penalties are pro-rated.

No. All new nurse graduates (RN I) must remain in their assigned unit on a full-time basis while enrolled in the one-year program. Upon meeting requirements for graduation from the program, you would then transition to the job title of RN II. Eligibility for transfer post-residency depends on which training agreement you signed:

Standard Nurse Residency Program Training Agreement

• You would be eligible to apply for a lateral transfer or the RN Fellowship Program after one year of independent practice experience.

Nurse Residency Program Specialty Area Training Agreement

• You must remain in your assigned specialty unit for the entire duration of the two-year full-time commitment. Eligibility for lateral transfer or the RN Fellowship Program will apply once this agreement expires.

Please note, if the Resident chooses to apply for a transfer prior to completing either of the above agreements, additional administrative approvals will be required to allow transfer to occur as the Resident may have financial penalties associated with their signed agreement.

Your schedule during the program:

• When you start, you will complete several orientation and classroom requirements. 
• You will work the same hours as your preceptor once you begin unit orientation. 
• After you complete your unit orientation, you will take on regular shifts determined by your department leader. 
• Your schedule will consider time you spend on residency program activities

No. New nurse graduates work full time for two continuous years from the date they enroll in the program.

Your work schedule and shifts depend on individual department needs. Most new nurse graduates get night shift assignments. Each unit has weekend and holiday requirements. New nurse graduates hired into specialties such as surgical services and procedural areas often get placed on an on-call schedule.

Please discuss scheduling concerns with the hiring nurse leader during the interview process.

Yes, nurse residents receive shift and weekend differentials depending on their schedules.

We strongly advise you not to make plans until you receive your onboarding schedule. The Nurse Residency Program requires mandatory attendance at monthly seminars during the one-year program. In addition to the program curriculum, the first four months of employment include a rigorous training and orientation schedule. 

Nurse residents go through a rigorous, unit-based orientation schedule and attend mandatory seminars in addition to regularly scheduled weekly shifts in their assigned unit. We strongly advise you to consider the time commitment required during the residency program before pursuing an advanced degree.