Welcome to the Nurse Residency program at Cook Children's Medical Center. By participating in this competitive pediatric nurse residency, graduate nurses will accelerate their transition from students to professional pediatric nurses.
Cook Children's is a 421-bed Magnet-designated hospital, ranked in 2012-13 as one of America's Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. We are a tertiary-level, state-of-the art regional medical center with the Promise "to improve the health of every child in our region."
We are now welcoming three cohorts each year: January, June, and September. Applicants for the January cohort must graduate between May and December. Applicants for the June cohort must graduate between December and May. Applications for the September cohort must graduate between May and August. During our 12-month program, nurse residents rotate through various pediatric specialty units in the hospital, gaining valuable knowledge and clinical experiences in pediatric nursing. The experiences during the pediatric nurse residency will culminate in eligibility for national certification as a pediatric nurse.
Post-Baccalaureate Pediatric Nurse Residency program
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Eligibility requirements for the September 2013 Cohort 11
In order to be considered for an interview, all documents must be received by the Education Department by the application deadline.
Applicant eligibility
- Graduated from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program (BSN) or an entry-level master's of nursing program (MSN). Candidates graduating with an Associates degree only or from an Associate Degree-to-BSN who have worked as a licensed registered nurse and graduates from LPN-to-BSN are not eligible to apply.
- Must be applying to serve in his or her first professional nursing role and cannot work as a registered nurse prior to the start of the residency
Application requirements
- Complete the online application for Nurse Resident. The position should be available by April 1.
- Complete the Applicant's Supplemental Information (Word).
- Complete the top portion of two Letters of Recommendation and forward them to your selected clinical evaluators. Have them return the letter directly to Cook Children's Nurse Residency Program. At least one of the letters of recommendation must be from a pediatric faculty member familiar with your clinical performance. The other may be from any person who can attest to your clinical knowledge and skill.
- If you are current Cook Children's employee, in addition you must submit the Leadership Reference from your current supervisor.
- Provide evidence of enrollment in good standing in an accredited baccalaureate nursing program—either a transcript with appropriate courses or a letter from the registrar.
- Submit a transcript from each college and university you attended. A list of transfer credits on a transcript is insufficient.
- Submit an essay of no more than 1200 words, using the most current APA format, covering these topics:
- Describe why you wish to be a Cook Children's nurse resident.
- Describe your goals and expectations at the completion of the nurse residency.
- Explain how you demonstrate two of the Cook Children's values, which include caring, safety, integrity, collaboration, innovation and giving.
Please submit all of your documents together by email to nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org
Transcripts only may be mailed to
Nurse Residency
Department of Education
Cook Children's Medical Center
801 7th Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
Selection Process
A committee of nurse managers, nurse educators and the nurse residency managers will evaluate applications and select candidates for interviews. If you are selected for an interview, a recruiter from Human Resources will call to arrange an appointment.
Timeline
- Application process opens April 1, 2013
- Deadline for all documents June 28, 2013 @ 5:00 pm CDST
- Interviews July 8-11, 2013
- Selection of residents and notification July 19, 2013
- Start of program September 9, 2013
Pediatric Nurse Residency program details
The Pediatric Nurse Residency is a 12-month program divided into two segments, Phase I and Phase II. Key components of our Pediatric Nurse Residency Program include class curriculum,
Phase I
At the beginning of the program, a mentor committed to supporting new staff members is paired with a nurse resident. That mentor is a personal professional contact, coach, and resource throughout the residency year.
Class curriculum
- During Phase I nurse residents attend class for one 8-hour day every two weeks.
- Class curriculum includes facilitated debriefings, interactive case studies, high-fidelity simulation experiences and discussions with a variety of interdisciplinary colleagues with specialty expertise.
- Class curriculum is congruent with the requirements of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which accredits the residency program.
- Throughout the year, nurse residents regularly participate in debriefing, free-form discussions facilitated by the nurse residency manager. In the discussions, they address the stresses and challenges of the nursing profession: professional boundaries, stress management, self-care, conflict resolutions, and coping with grief.
Clinical experience
- During the six months of Phase I, the nurse rotates to at least five different clinical units
All residents rotate to a medical-surgical unit and surgical services (OR, Pre-op, post anesthesia care, and special procedures).
- Each resident chooses two subspecialty and one critical care area
- Critical Care options include neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care and emergency department.
- Subspecialty options include hematology-oncology, cardiology, nephrology, psychiatry, and neurosciences (transitional care, rehabilitation care and epilepsy monitoring unit)
- During Phase I rotations, each nurse resident works with a staff nurse "Unit Guide." Nurse residents benefit from the knowledge and guidance of an experienced nurse in the clinical setting as together they deliver patient care. This individualized training emphasizes critical-thinking skills, leadership, communication skills, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and professional career development. Our residents receive over 1800 hours of individual precepted clinical experience.
Shadow week
- Phase I concludes with Shadow Week during which nurse residents spend ten half days with our "Partners in Caring" such as pharmacy, respiratory therapy, radiology, laboratory and many others.
- The purpose of Shadow Week is to increase the new nurse's understanding of the contributions that these professionals make to patient care, as well as gain insight into their challenges of collaborating care with nursing.
Phase II
Phase II placement
- Phase II begins with each nurse resident receiving a final unit assignment. A matching process, determines final placement of residents in open positions after considering all three of these components:
- Nurse residents have the opportunity to express their preferences for a permanent unit.
- Nurse managers, nurse educators, and staff nurses who worked with the residents provide input into the "fit" of each resident for specific units.
- We consider the organizational needs (where there are openings for new nurses).
Class experience
- During the six months of Phase II, nurse residents continue to attend class as a cohort one 8-hour day per month.
- In addition to the nurse residency classes, unit specific classes are provided for each clinical specialty area.
- Nurse Residents participate in an ECG Workshop, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and after completion of 1800 clinical hours, attend the Pediatric Nursing Certification Review Course.
Clinical experience
Upon placement on a permanent unit, each resident is assigned a unit preceptor and begins unit-specific orientation.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours per week do the nurse residents work?
This is a full-time position that requires 68-80 hours per two-week pay period for the full 52 weeks, including weekends. The number of hours per week change to accommodate both didactic and clinical time.
Will I be working weekends and holidays?
Nurse Residents are full-time professional nurse employees. Thus, the schedule will include some weekends and holidays. Unit nurse managers and nurse educators collaborate to develop a schedule that best meets the resident's learning needs during the rotation. Generally, the nurse resident's schedule will be the same as the staff nurse mentor's schedule to whom the resident is assigned.
Do I get vacation time during my residency?
Residents receive the same vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave allowance as all new nurses.
What benefits does the residency program offer?
All health care and retirement benefits offered any new hire apply to those selected for Cook Children's Pediatric Nurse Residency Program.
What is a nurse resident hourly pay rate?
Human Resources has the exact figures and will discuss pay and benefits with you.
What types of scrubs are allowed?
You may wear any child-friendly, professional-looking scrub with close-toe shoes.
Who can answer any other questions I might have regarding the program?
You can email nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org or call Nancy Murphy at 682-885-7596 Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm CST.
More information
Please continue to check this web site for updates.
Direct inquires to nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org
