The St. Jude Nurse Residency Program is a 10-month accredited with distinction transition to practice program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Practice Transition Accredited Program (ANCC PTAP). Receiving the ANCC PTAP Accreditation with Distinction designation is the highest recognition a transition to practice program can be awarded by the ANCC. The program’s roots are in evidence-based practice, aiming toward improving patient care and outcomes.
Nurse residents are hired twice a year and join a cohort based on their hire date. The program’s unique model allows new grads to join the residency program before they are licensed. To ensure licensure success, the program provides extensive NCLEX support, including study materials, test preparation and a designated week with independent study time, simulation and gaming.
During the first several weeks of the program, nurse residents rotate through each of the patient areas to expose them to the continuum of care at St. Jude, build relationships across the organization and learn about the potential nursing opportunities. The program culminates with Match Day, when residents are matched to a unit in the hospital where they will begin nursing orientation with their new team.
After graduating from the Nurse Residency Program, residents are paired with a nursing mentor to promote the personal and professional growth of St. Jude nurses through the provision of supportive and nurturing mentor–mentee relationships.
Eligibility
Applicants must have:
- Graduated from an accredited school of nursing with a minimum of a Baccalaureate degree in Nursing (BS or BSN)
- GPA of 3.2 or higher (3.5 is strongly preferred)
- Less than one year of nursing experience before starting the program
- Passed the NCLEX within 120 days of hire and must obtain a Tennessee license, or the state of primary residency if the state is a Nurse Licensure Compact state
New grad nurses must be able to:
- Commit to full-time employment for a minimum of the one-year of the Nurse Residency Program per the residency agreement
- Adhere to St. Jude and Nurse Residency Program policies per the residency agreement
- Uphold the St. Jude Values
Nurse Residency Program timelines
To maintain the integrity of the program, all residents must be on campus for the entirety of their residency rotations.
How to apply
A complete application includes:
- Updated resume
- Unofficial transcripts
- Reference letter (addressed in attention to the St. Jude Nursing Residency Program)
- Personal statement/cover letter (300 words max)
Remember to upload all required documents before submitting the application as it is not accessible after submission. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Curriculum
The program offers residents a supportive, clinical skills–based curriculum to kickstart their professional development.
Core rotations
- Inpatient
- Outpatient
- Surgical Services
- Intensive Care Unit
Match Day
After the clinical rotation, nurse residents are matched to one of the following units at the Nurse Resident Match Day ceremony:
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Infusion Center and Acute Care Clinic
- Intensive Care Unit
- Intermediate Care Unit
- Leukemia/Lymphoma/Hematology
- Outpatient Clinics
- Solid Tumor/Neuro-Oncology
- Surgical Services
After Match Day, residents begin their individualized clinical orientation on their matched units, working alongside a preceptor to learn skills necessary to care for St. Jude patients. Residents will attend monthly Nurse Residency Program sessions, which involve didactic lessons, simulation and other activities to assist in transitioning from novice to competent nurse. Nurse residents also participate in events to help them enculturate into St. Jude and the Memphis Community.
At the culmination of the program, residents graduate and will be transitioned into the mentor program, where they obtain support from a senior nurse to help guide them through their second year of professional practice.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Nurse Residency Program at St. Jude, complete this form and we will get back to you.
