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Peri-operative Nursing

At Cook Children's, we believe that preparing our nurses to provide compassionate, innovative, collaborative, and family-centered care for children and their families through preparing, coordinating, recovering and education for procedures in the perioperative areas is of utmost importance.

This is why we have created a Perioperative track in our Accredited Nurse Residency Program to provide dedicated classes and clinical experiences to equip new graduate nurses as they advocate for patients in the perioperative environment.

Residents in this track will provide specialized care throughout rotations in the Pre Anesthesia Area, Preoperative Unit, Operating Room, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Special Procedures Area and Dodson Surgery Center.

Applicant eligibility

Graduated from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program (BSN) or an entry-level master's of nursing program (MSN).
Must be applying to serve in his or her first professional nursing role.
Disqualifications:
- Associate degree only
- Previous work experience as a licensed professional nurse
- Candidates graduating with an Associate Degree-to-BSN who have previous work experience as a licensed professional nurse
- Candidates with an LPN-to-BSN with previous work experience as a licensed professional nurse
- Did not or does not graduate between August 2021 – December 2021 (no exceptions are granted)
Must pass the NCLEX prior to the start of the residency.
Applicants who have previously applied to the nurse residency program are ineligible to reapply.
Applicants may only apply to one of the three tracks.

Pediatric Nurse Residency program

Applicant requirements

Complete Online application: Applications open August 2, 2021 for Nurse Resident. Applications close September 9, 2021 at 5:00 PM Central Daylight Savings Time.

Nurse residency forms

Nurse residency info

Please e-mail the following documents to nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org in one email together.

Unofficial nursing transcript (screen shots are not accepted)
Essay
Resume

Please do not send resumes, essays or unofficial transcripts via US Mail.

✔ Complete the online application for Nurse Resident. For assistance with your online application please contact Human Resources marah.smith@cookchildrens.org

✔ Please submit two Letters of Recommendation using the form that will be available during the application period.

Download the Nurse Residency-Letter-Recommendation
A pediatric clinical instructor recommendation letter who can attest to your clinical skills is strongly recommended, but not required.
The other may be from a faculty member, nurse preceptor, clinical supervisor or other person who can attest to your clinical performance.
Please fill out the top part of the letter and email it to your reference.
Your reference must email the letter directly to nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org
Please confirm that your reference letters have been received by emailing to nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org

✔Submit your unofficial nursing transcript from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program you are attending or attended to nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org

The transcript must reflect nursing classes in progress or degree awarded.

✔ Submit an essay of no more than 1500 words, using the most current APA format, covering topics below. (Please submit your essay via e-mail to nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org)

Topics to cover:

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
Describe why you feel you are the best fit for the track you selected.

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 Nurse Residency representative will call to arrange an appointment.

Timeline:

Interview Notification: Week of September 13-19, 2021
Interview Week: October 4-8, 2021 (no exceptions)
Selection of Residents and Notification: October 18, 2021
Start of Residency: February 14, 2022

*Timeline dates are subject to change.

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 and clinical experience.

Phase I
Phase II

Phase I

Mentoring

At the beginning of the program, a mentor committed to supporting new staff members is paired with nurse residents. That mentor is a personal professional contact, coach, and resource throughout the residency year.

Accredited class curriculum and didactic content

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 four different clinical units, relevant to the selected clinical track.
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 they deliver patient care together.
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.
Medical-Surgical and Subspecialty Nursing track includes opportunities in a variety of medical surgical, rehabilitative, neurological, psychiatric and oncology nursing units.

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 collaborating care with nursing.

Pediatric Nurse Residency program

Phase II

Unit assignment

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 through unit-specific orientation.
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.

Pediatric Nurse Residency program

Testimonials

Friendship "What I love about the Nurse Residency program is the support I received as a new graduate nurse. It also gave me the opportunity to grow at my own pace and allowed me to find what unit was the best fit for me. Lastly, I have developed great friendships with those peers that were in my residency class. We went through the program together and we got to see each other find the units we loved!" — Maria Espino, Regis University, CO
Transition "I learned a great deal about myself and what areas of the hospital I would feel most comfortable. I was placed on a medical surgical floor, a fabulous home for new nurses. I learn something new every single shift and am establishing a strong foundation in nursing assessment skills. On top of the clinical experiences, the residency provided something extra special for me personally. Nursing is a second, rather third career, for me. The residency provided a safe and supportive structure that helped with a huge career transition. For this, I am forever grateful to Cook Children’s." — Katie Luedecke, Texas Woman’s University
Support "Every seasoned nurse tells you to prepare for the difficult first year following graduation of nursing school. However, spending my first year out of nursing school in the Cook Children's Nurse Residency has made that transition so smooth. The residency is all about peer support and strong mentorship. Throughout the residency, I never felt like I was alone because I had deep friendships with fellow residents who were also processing through the first year of real-life nursing. I also had seasoned nurse mentors from all over the hospital who invested in me as a person. They helped to give me a toolbox of knowledge and skills specialized to pediatric patients that one cannot learn in a textbook. It is amazing how many people have shaped me and given to me over the last year. I have learned more, laughed more, and loved what I do more than I ever thought I would." — Lauren Frey, RN, BSN, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor
Shared experience "My favorite thing about the residency was the debriefings. I felt like I was part of a group and I was so glad I was not the only one feeling a certain way during various points in the residency. I felt secure and always looked forward to the debriefings because I felt like I didn’t have to hide anything because we were all in the same boat." — Antonia Perkins, Texas Christian University
"I have had the honor of supporting the Nurse Residency in a variety of roles such as a unit guide, peer, charge nurse, and education coordinator. However, none of those roles can compare to my favorite role: Nurse Residency Manager! I am blessed to work alongside and support the most talented, smart, eager, compassionate, caring, safety conscious, kind, and dedicated nurses. There is no doubt in my mind that Nurse Residents enhance our culture and are the future leaders of our organization! My greatest joy is seeing each new nurse grow throughout the year and find that area of nursing that makes them come alive!" — Abby Morse, MSN, RN, CNOR, Nurse Residency Manager
Perspective "I think the Perioperative track was especially helpful because learning the pre-, intra-, and post-op side of surgery makes the surgical nurse so much more informed and helpful to the perioperative team. When you have rotated through each side of the surgical patient’s hospital experience, you can better help your team, your patients, and your families with understanding the process. Not to mention, it makes you that much more efficient when you know what is needed in each area, so you can be helpful to not just your direct team members, but also your surrounding areas. I believe I am much better at helping my pre-op, PACU and SPA nurses with efficiently and safely caring for patients because I have had experience in these areas." — Meg Woodward, Baylor University, TX
Opportunity "Because of the Nurse Residency I have been able to attend two professional conferences and speak about my Evidence-Based Project focusing on Bedside Report. I went to San Antonio for a regional conference in the fall and just returned from Palm Beach, Florida for a national conference. Thanks to the residency I have been able to take nursing beyond the bedside and further my role in the profession." — Laura Posluszny, Texas Christian University

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for more than one clinical track?
You may apply for only one clinical track.

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 closed-toe shoes.

Questions regarding Nurse Residency Program

Direct inquires to nurse.residency@cookchildrens.org. You can email us or call Nancy Murphy at 682-885-7596 Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm CST.

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