Nurse Residency Program

UC Davis Health’s New Graduate Nurse Residency Program (NGNRP) is a formal, structured post-baccalaureate new graduate program and is a part of the Vizient/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Nurse Residency Program™.

The NGNRP is nationally recognized through the American Nursing Credentialing Center as a Practice Transition Accreditation Program with Distinction. Meeting ANCC evidence-based criteria, the NGNRP prepares new graduate nurses in the successful transition from student to confident nursing professional through a series of learning and working experiences. UC Davis Health values its nursing staff and invests in their opportunities for growth.

Cohort Start Dates and Application Acceptance Periods

Cohort Application Acceptance Period Cohort Start Dates
Cohort 48 November 1st, 2023 – November 8th, 2023 March 18th, 2024
Cohort 49 November 1st, 2023 – November 8th, 2023 May 13th, 2024
Cohort 50 April 3rd, 2024 – April 10th, 2024

August 5th, 2024

Cohort 51 April 3rd, 2024 – April 10th, 2024 October 14th, 2024

We want to provide an update on the application process. To give you an idea of the timeline, applications will start to be sent to hiring managers for further consideration in early December up until the month before the program starts. The department will reach out to schedule interviews via phone (please ensure your voicemail is setup) or email.

The New Graduate Nurse Resident job posting is only live during the Application Acceptance Period date listed above. It can be found by clicking the Apply Today button (posted above when the application is live) or on the UC Davis Health HR Website by searching for “New Grad Nurse Residency.”


About the Nurse Residency Program

Program Overview

  • For new graduate nurses with no RN work experience.
  • Opportunity to be hired into medical-surgical, critical care, pediatric, perioperative, emergency, and ambulatory units.
  • Extensive one-year program with monthly didactic classes.
  • Preceptorship by a trained Transition-to-Practice Preceptor who will provide support throughout unit orientation.
  • Formal one-year mentorship program that begins after completion of unit-specific orientation.
  • Opportunity to start early on the unit as a Nurse Extern, based on operational needs.
  • Full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, comprehensive time off, paid holidays, professional development and more. 

To see a list of departments who have hired new graduates in the past, click here. This is simply an overview and not reflective of hiring departments for each cohort.  

Program Objectives

  • Enhance knowledge for nursing practice to provide care for patients with various levels of medical acuity served by UC Davis Health.
  • Facilitate understanding and significance of person-centered nursing care.
  • Promote leadership and participation in systems-based practice. 
  • Strengthen commitment to the nursing profession through professional development. 
  • Encourage scholarship for nursing practice. 
  • Support the foundations of Quality and Safety in nursing practice. 

Eligibility 

  • Graduate from a nursing program accredited by National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or other nationally recognized accrediting body.
  • BSN or MSN is strongly preferred. If enrolled in a BSN Bridge program, please include this information with application. 
  • Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association.
  • California RN licensure by program start date.
  • Be first paid position as a RN, including any work in subacute, long-term care, other medical centers or any position that requires a RN license (i.e. no work experience as a RN).
  • Commit to the one-year New Graduate Nurse Residency Program. 

Application Information 

Available positions in hiring departments are determined by operational needs. Unfortunately, department preferences are unable to be accommodated for due to the volume of applications and the internal review process. For consideration in a specific specialty, applicants are strongly recommended to have completed their senior preceptorship and/or internship in that area. 

The entire process from submitting an application to job offer may take three to five months, depending on the program start date.  

  1. Submit application during the one-week application period with all required documentation.

    a. Note: Applications cannot be updated after the job posting window has closed.

  2. Once the final filing date for the position closes, all applications are reviewed and screened for completeness and eligibility. This review takes approximately two weeks. 

  3. After pre-screening is completed, qualified candidate applications are sent to hiring managers for review. 

  4. Hiring departments will contact candidates to schedule an interview with the hiring manager and additional stakeholders. 

  5. After interviewing, top candidates will complete a reference check. 

  6. Contingent offers of employment are typically made five weeks prior to the program start date.  

  7. Upon offer acceptance, individuals will be required to successfully complete a background check, pre-employment physical examination, and drug screen prior to the program start date. They will also be required to submit proof of California RN licensure.

Application Process 

How to complete the online application: 

  1. Click on the following link UC Davis Health HR Website to create a profile in the UC Davis Health HR system. This can be done prior to the application dates.  

  2. Select the New User option and complete the required fields.

  3. Search for the “New Grad Nurse Residency” job posting, select and click the Apply icon.

  4. Sign in (if needed) and complete the online application.

  5. In the Resume Upload section of Step 2, attach required documents as one single file

Applications submitted without all required and optional documents in the requested format will be disqualified.  

Documents will not be accepted outside of the application portal or after the application period has ended. 

  • Required documents: Cover letter, Resume, Unofficial Transcripts 
  • Optional documents: Letters of Recommendation, Certifications 

For more information, please visit Application Instructions.

FAQs 

For more information, please visit the FAQs. 

Contact Information 

For questions not answered on this, the FAQs, or the Application Instructions pages, please contact Jennifer Mazzucca at jmmazzucca@ucdavis.edu.