A Post BSN Residency
The best nurse residency programs post-BSN are an essential step between the classroom and clinical work of a BSN and a nursing career. There is no one way to handle a nurse residency program. Many hospitals, especially larger teaching hospitals, choose to develop their own, while other hospitals choose a national program like the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program or the Versant RN Residency Program. Other programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Our List of Post BSN Regional Residencies
This is not a ranking. Programs are listed alphabetically by the hospital or health system offering them and arranged by region (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West). This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and will be updated periodically.
Northeast Region
1. Hospital for Special Surgery
The Hospital for Special Surgery is a world-class medical institution focusing on musculoskeletal conditions, including some of the most advanced cases in the world. This Magnet Recognition Program member offers three nurse graduate residency programs: the Perioperative Program; the Inpatient Residency Program; and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)/Step Down Unit (SDU). Designed for new graduates without hospital experience (except for the Perioperative Program, which accepts both new graduates and experienced nurses), all are one-year residencies. Applicants must have a New York RN license, a BSN from a CCNE-accredited program, and commit to one year. Before making a choice it would be suggestive to learn about residency programs and their requirements.
Location: New York, NY
Length: 1 year or 12 months
More: Visit the program for more info about its nurse residency programs.
2. Johns Hopkins Medicine
One of the world’s most influential healthcare systems, Johns Hopkins Medicine combines the expertise of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Hospital (regularly ranked as the #1 hospital in the US). Johns Hopkins Medicine offers two graduate nursing residencies: the Adult Track, and the PEDS track at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Both combine classroom instruction, hands-on practice, and rounding with a nurse educator to give new nurses (within 6 months of graduation) real experience and guidance in an AACN-approved curriculum.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Length: 1 year or 12 months
More: Visit the program website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
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3. New York-Presbyterian Hospital
New York-Presbyterian Hospital is the largest nonprofit academic health center in the US. It is rated one of the top hospitals in the US, and the best in New York, by U.S. News & World Report. A quarter of all New York City residents are served by New York-Presbyterian. It’s an ideal place for new nurses to learn their profession, with two residencies available. The Weill Cornell Emergency Department (ED) Nurse Residency Program, and the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program. Both are for newly graduated nurses (within 6 months of completing their BSN) and provide full support and guidance in a variety of areas. New graduate nurses work in a clinical setting and learn to improve patient outcomes using clinical judgment and critical thinking skills.
Location: New York, NY
Length: 1 year or 12 months
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
4. NYU Langone Medical Center
The NYU Langone Medical Center is one of the world’s foremost academic health centers and also a Magnet Recognition hospital. It consists of the NYU Medical School, five hospitals, and also thirty care facilities throughout the Five Boroughs. Committed to lifelong education for its employees, NYU Langone offers the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program for New Grads. This one-year, CCNE-accredited program prepares new graduate nurses for professional life with clinical experience and further education within a hospital setting. Applicants must also have a BSN from an NLN or CCNE-accredited institution.
Location: New York, NY
Length: 1 year or 12 months
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
5. Penn Medicine
Part of the renowned University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine is Pennsylvania’s top-ranked academic health center. It is made up of the Perelman School of Medicine, three hospitals, and also numerous regional centers throughout Philadelphia and the Commonwealth. For a new nursse graduate without hospital experience, Penn Medicine offers the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program. The program for newly licensed nurses develops leadership skills, clinical knowledge, and also communication within the hospital setting. Applicants must have their BSN and also a Pennsylvania RN license. In addition, nurses accepted into the program receive full pay and benefits.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Length: 1 year or 12 months
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
South Region
6. Virginia Commonwealth University Health
One of Virginia’s leading academic health systems is Virginia Commonwealth University Health. The system is five schools. These include the top-ranked schools of nursing, pharmacy and allied health, and also three hospitals. Additionally, the Magnet-designated VCU Medical offers a New Graduate Residency Program in collaboration with the Department of Education and Professional Development. It is part of a long-term, multi-site study of the effectiveness of nurse residency. As a transitional program, new nurses work with preceptors in their unit and also a cohort for support and professional growth. Newly licensed nurses transition to practice from school and learn clinical skills for improved patient outcomes and also professional development.
Location: Richmond, VA
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
7. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is one of only a handful of pediatric-specialized hospitals with over a century of experience. Children’s offers new graduate BSN nurses a year-long Pediatric Nurse Resident program that includes cohort networking, orientations, and also top-of-the-line simulations. Applicants must have a Georgia RN license and also BLS-CPR certification. Additionally, graduates are hired in many areas, including Critical Care, ER, and also Cardiac. Applications are accepted for May and also December graduates.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website. for more info about its nurse residency programs.
8. Cook Children’s Medical Center
Regularly recognized among the best children’s hospitals in the nation, including U.S. News & World Report ranking, Cook Children’s Health Care System serves the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Cook Children’s nurses have frequently been named among the DFW Great 100 Nurses, and claim numerous DAISY Award winners. Additionally, the Magnet-designated Cook Children’s Medical offers a new grad nursing residency program. It is a CCNE-accredited program and offers three tracks in Medical-Surgical, Critical Care, and also Perioperative. In addition, nurses rotate through several specialty units for a full experience.
Location: Forth Worth, TX
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
9. Emory Healthcare
Emory Healthcare is Georgia’s largest healthcare network, and also one of the nation’s most prestigious academic health centers. It encompasses six hospitals, including Emory University Hospital. They offer the Vizient/AACN Residency Program for new nurses in all six of its hospitals. Furthermore, residents can pick from nine specializations like Critical Care, Emergency, and Women’s Services. The program accepts three cohorts every year in spring, summer, and also fall. In addition, accepted nurses must agree to a 2-year employment commitment beyond the 1-year residency. Applicants must have a BSN or MSN as well as a Georgia RN license.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
10. Houston Methodist
Houston Methodist is a nationally-ranked academic medical system. It is made up of the flagship Houston Methodist Hospital, and also six community hospitals throughout the greater Houston metropolitan region. For new BSN graduates just entering the nursing field without hospital experience, Houston Methodist offers a CCNE-accredited Nurse Residency Program in connection with the UHC/AACN. A six to sixteen-week clinical orientation follows a clinical preceptor for the remainder of the year-long residency. Applicants should have a BSN and be eligible for a Texas RN license, although they need not have a license in hand.
Location: Houston, TX
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
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11. Mayo Clinic (Florida Program)
Based in Rochester, MN, the Mayo Clinic has long been ranked as one of the top, and often the #1, hospitals in America, with more than a century and a half of excellence. Mayo has major campuses in Arizona and Florida, as well as regional locations in several other states. The Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, FL, offers a twice-yearly Nurse Residency Program focused on patient safety, leadership, and professionalism. Accepted applicants must have their Florida RN license before beginning the program.
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website.
12. Memorial Hermann
The oldest hospital in the Texas Medical Center – founded in 1925 – Memorial Hermann is Houston’s largest nonprofit health system, with more than 200 locations throughout the Houston metropolitan area. Memorial Hermann focuses on the most cutting-edge care in every field of medicine. It offers new BSN graduates access to some of the most advanced knowledge and practice in modern healthcare. The Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program combines with the Memorial Hermann Clinical Development program for a complete orientation and experience for new nurses. Applicants should have an ADN or BSN in hand, as well as a Texas RN license.
Location: Houston, TX
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
13. UNC Medical Center
The UNC Medical includes the NC Memorial Hospital, the NC Children’s Hospital, the NC Neurosciences Hospital, and the NC Women’s Hospital. The system is North Carolina’s foremost academic health center and connected with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Additionally, it is one of the top-ranked medical schools in the nation. The UNC Medical Nurse Residency Program combines orientation with clinical mentorship to prepare newly graduated nurses for professional practice. The 1-year program is open to new nurses within six months of graduation.
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
14. Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The Vanderbilt University Medical is an academic healthcare complex. It consists of the Vanderbilt Schools of Medicine and Nursing, as well as a dozen hospitals, clinics, and also research centers. Vanderbilt offers graduate nurses a Nurse Residency Program with eight specializations. Focus areas include women’s health, pediatrics, and also oncology. Applicants must have recently completed either a BSN or an MSN. In addition, accepted nurses must commit to a one-year residency and one additional year of employment.
Location: Nashville, TN
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
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Midwest Region
15. Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best pediatric hospitals, including recognition from U.S. News and Parent Magazine, the Children’s Hospital of Michigan has been caring for the families of the Detroit metropolitan area since 1886. Children’s Hospital offers a Post-Baccalaureate Pediatric Nurse Residency Program for newly graduated BSN prepared nurses who have less than a year of experience or no experience at all. Specializations include PICU and NICU, Pediatric Emergency, Hematology/Oncology, and also many more. Accepted applicants start as full-time RNs and must commit to 2 years of employment.
Location: Detroit, MI
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
16. University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
University Hospitals is one of the nation’s best academic medical centers, as reported by Reuters and U.S. News. The hospital is the primary facility associated with Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine, also one of the nation’s top med schools. The University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center offers new nurses a unique, 15-month Nurse Residency Program designed especially for UHCMC’s particular strengths and requirements, preparing new nurses for UH’s patient-centered caregiving.
Location: Cleveland, OH
Length: 15 months
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
17. UW Health
UW Health is a regional academic health system with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. It is the only combined medicine and public health school in the nation. This Magnet Recognition system, made up of six hospitals and also 80 regional sites, offers new nurse graduates access to the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program. This 12-month program is also one of just 25 in the nation with accreditation from the CCNE. It prepares new nurses for their professional lives with both mentoring and experience.
Location: Madison, WI
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
18. University of Kentucky HealthCare
UK HealthCare is the foremost academic health system in Kentucky. The system is composed of the University of Kentucky’s six health professional schools (including Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health), four hospitals, 80 clinics, and also many local health centers. As a Magnet Recognized institution, UK HealthCare offers the best care for patients and also education for new nurses. The CCNE-accredited Nurse Residency Program was developed alongside the UK College of Nursing. UK HealthCare uses the Vizient/AACN curriculum for their Nurse Residency and also provides nationally-acclaimed 12-month training for new nursing graduates.
Location: Lexington, KY
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
19. University of Iowa Health Care
The only comprehensive academic medical center in Iowa is the University of Iowa Health Care. It is one of the best employers in the nation, as rated by Forbes. Composed of the UI Hospitals and Clinics, the Stead Family Children’s Hospital, and the Carver College of Medicine, UI Health Care is also a U.S. News best hospital. New nurses within 1 year from graduation, or within 4 months of completion, can enroll in UIHC’s CCNE-accredited, Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program, including simulations, mentoring, and resiliency training (including self-care).
Location: Iowa City, IA
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website for more info about its nurse residency programs.
20. University of Kansas Health System
Kansas’ premier academic healthcare system, the University of Kansas Health System grew out of the University of Kansas Hospital, making major strides in the 21st century to attain Magnet Recognition, adding numerous centers and clinics, and earning recognition from U.S. News at Kansas’ best hospital. For new nursing graduates, the KU Health System offers a CCNE-accredited Nurse Residency Program that offers large group, small group, and one-on-one support, with a 95% retention rate proving KU’s success.
Location: Kansas City, KS
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website.
West Region
21. Children’s Hospital Colorado
Colorado’s top pediatric hospital is also one of the largest in the Rocky Mountain region. The Children’s Hospital Colorado partners with the top-ranked Anschutz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado Denver. The CCNE-accredited New Graduate Nurse Residency Program prepares new RNs for the unique interdisciplinary nature of Children’s Hospital, with simulation, precepted clinical experience, and also mentorship. Applicants must have a BSN from a CCNE or ACEN-accredited school but do not need prior work experience.
Location: Aurora, CO
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website.
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22. University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
New Mexico’s only academic medical facility is the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. It is crucial to New Mexico’s health care system and also to community health practice and research. UNM’s clinical wing, the UNM Health System, includes the UNM Hospitals, two children’s hospitals, and also numerous clinics and centers. New hires in the UNM Hospitals enter the UNM Nurse Residency Program. The program provides a year of further education, preceptor-guided experience, and mentorship that helps new graduates become professionals.
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website.
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23. University of Colorado Health
The University of Colorado Health is Colorado’s premier academic healthcare system. It includes CU Denver’s Anschutz Medical Campus (one of the highest-ranked teaching and research hospitals in the nation), and also hospital locations in Colorado Springs and Northern Colorado. UC Health offers newly graduated RNs excellent Graduate Nurse Residency at the Magnet Designated University of Colorado Hospital, as well as hospitals in Loveland, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. Applicants must have a BSN from a CCNE or ACEN-accredited program within the last 12 months.
Location: CU System Campuses in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins, CO
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website.
24. University of California Health
The University of California System is the nation’s foremost public higher education system. It includes many of the top-ranked public universities in the US. So, UC Health brings together the medical education and clinical wings of the system. UC Davis Health, UCLA Health, UC San Diego Health, and also UC San Francisco Health all offer Graduate Nurse Residency programs connected with their world-renowned hospitals and medical schools. While specifics differ according to the school, in general, the programs are 1-year residencies for new graduates who have not held professional nursing positions before. UC Health is uniformly excellent, upheld by the most current research and also award-winning faculty and staff.
Location: UC System Locations in Davis, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, CA
Length: varies
More: Visit the website.
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25. Seattle Children’s Hospital
Founded more than a century ago by a group of women philanthropists, the Seattle Children’s Hospital combines cutting-edge research and more than 50 specializations. Additionally, it ranks as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by US News. Seattle Children’s offers a 1 year Nurse Residency Program for newly graduated BSN nurses. Unlike other programs that do not require pediatric experience, Seattle Children’s prefers educational or employment experience. In addition, numerous clinical areas, including Acute Care, Emergency Department, and also Operating Room are available.
Location: Seattle, WA
Length: 1 year
More: Visit the website.
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What are BSN Regional Residencies For Nurses?
Many nurses acquire work experience before they enter a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Traditionally, nurses have begun working as an RN with just an associate degree or a hospital diploma and only later decided to earn their BSN. However, since the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) have recommended the BSN as a minimum requirement, many new nurses are choosing to go straight through their bachelor’s degree, graduating and taking the NCLEX exam without actually having professional work experience. Residency programs give nurses work experience and also serve as a transition from school to a nursing job.
Other Programs
Not all residency programs made our list. So if you are still looking for a program, try one of the below hospital systems.
- Transition to Practice Program (TPP) at Massachusetts General Hospital
- Maryland Medical System
How Do Nurse Residency Programs Work?
Nurse residency programs are designed to help the new nursing graduate transition from nursing students to professional nurses. But not all hospitals have residency programs. During the one year residency, the newly licensed nurses engage in both classroom and clinical practice training. The program offers structured educational activities to increase knowledge of evidence based practice, advanced clinical skills, leadership skills, and ethical and professional issues, and to prepare the nurse for a successful transition to a clinician role. There are three key areas of focus:
- Professional Development
- Patient Outcomes
- Nursing Leadership
A residency program focuses on hands-on practice in a variety of healthcare settings to provide experiential learning and transition support to the new nurse. The nurse also works closely with a mentor to receive feedback and further develop their skills. And most programs culminate in the development and demonstration of a practice excellence project.
Nursing students can apply to residency programs six months from when they complete nursing school. But, these programs require participants to have an RN license. So a new nursing graduate must take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam and pass it before they start their residency.
Do Nurse Residency Programs Have Accreditation?
Nurse residency programs can have accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC). Additionally, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) partnered with Vizient and develop a standardized curriculum and accreditation process for New Graduate Residency programs. Acceptance to most nurse residency programs is contingent on graduating from an accredited nursing program and then passing the NCLEX.
How are Nurse Residency Programs Different From Orientation Programs?
Nurse residency programs typically provide more comprehensive and in-depth support than orientation programs. Nurse residencies are often tailored to the individual needs of the nurse and can last anywhere from several months to a year. Most nurse residency programs focus on developing the nurse’s clinical, professional, and educational skills. In comparison, orientations are more focused on teaching the nurse about the hospital’s policies and procedures. Nurse residencies also often include mentoring, peer support, and evidence-based practice, while orientation programs are more focused on providing an introduction to the role.
Are Nurse BSN Regional Residencies Worth It?
Remember, residencies are real jobs, usually full-time with solid benefits. In general, though, most nurse residency programs provide a bridge between school and career. These programs give new BSN graduate RNs the opportunity to learn the ropes with further schooling, workshops, simulations, preceptor rounds, and also mentorship. Many programs are employer-based, so hospitals hire applicants directly. In addition, many hospitals require a 1 to 2 year commitment.
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