Nurse Residency Summer 2027: Critical Care Pathway

Christiana Care Health Services, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 52,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement

Employee assistance program

Job summary

ChristianaCare invites new graduate nurses to apply for the Critical Care Pathway Nurse Residency Track, starting July 19, 2027. The accredited program bridges school to practice with structured preceptorship on a stepdown unit and mentorship.

Residents advance to ICU placement with up to 18 weeks of critical care orientation, plus seminars in the first year; must have Delaware RN license or compact, and be able to work all shifts.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited nursing program before June 2027 (BSN preferred).
• Hold or obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Delaware RN license or Compact State RN license before start date.
• Willing and able to work all shifts (Days/Evenings/Nights/Weekends/Holidays).

Responsibilities

• Participate in 5–6 weeks of preceptor-led training on a stepdown unit.
• Transition to ICU placement with up to 18 weeks of specialty orientation.
• Engage in classroom instruction, high-fidelity simulation, mentoring, and care coordination.
• Complete up to 26 weeks of preceptor-led clinical training and ongoing seminars in year one.

Skills

BLS certification

Delaware RN license

Compact State RN license

Shift flexibility

Education

Nursing degree (BSN preferred)

Graduated before June 2027

Job description

Job Details: Critical Care Pathway Nurse Residency Program Summer 2027 Cohort

Application Deadline: December 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Are you a senior nursing student, recent nursing graduate, or new RN with a passion for critical care? ChristianaCare is now accepting applications for the Critical Care Pathway Nurse Residency Track, beginning July 19, 2027. The ChristianaCare Nurse Residency Program is accredited with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs, providing a structured and supportive transition from nursing school to professional practice.

Why Choose a Nurse Residency Program?

Research demonstrates that participation in a structured, accredited nurse residency program leads to:

• Increased clinical competency
• Reduced medical errors
• Lower self-reported stress
• Greater job satisfaction

Program Overview

The Critical Care Pathway Nurse Residency Track is designed to prepare new graduate nurses for successful careers in intensive care nursing through a structured, progressive learning experience. Residents begin with 5 to 6 weeks of intensive preceptor-led training on a stepdown unit, supported by mentorship from the Critical Care Nurse Residency Coordinator. This foundational experience focuses on developing:

• Clinical excellence
• Time management
• Prioritization skills
• Critical thinking
• Professional confidence

Following stepdown training, residents transition into their ICU placement and complete up to 18 additional weeks of specialty critical care orientation within their unit of hire. For external candidates and internal caregivers seeking placement in a different unit, a secondary interview with ICU leadership will occur during the final week of stepdown training. Candidates will have opportunities to participate in shadow experiences within critical care units across ChristianaCare's Newark, Wilmington, and Cecil campuses before the interview process.

The residency includes up to 26 weeks of preceptor-led clinical training, followed by ongoing residency seminars throughout the first year of practice.

Participating Critical Care Units

Potential ICU placements include:

• Surgical ICU (Shock/Trauma)
• Neuro ICU
• Medical ICU
• Cardiovascular ICU
• Wilmington Campus ICU (Medical/Surgical Intensive Care)

Residency Curriculum

• Classroom instruction
• High-fidelity simulation training
• Peer support and mentoring
• Preceptor-guided clinical experiences
• Evidence-based practice
• Critical thinking development
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Communication and leadership training
• Quality and patient safety education
• Professional development opportunities

Employment Commitment

Prior to the program start date, participants must: Successfully pass the NCLEX, Obtain Delaware RN licensure or Compact State RN licensure. Upon hire, residents will sign a commitment agreement requiring: Two years of employment with ChristianaCare A minimum of 15 months on the original unit of hire. Individuals who do not fulfill this commitment may be subject up to a $10,000 repayment obligation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited nursing program before June 2027 (BSN preferred)
• Hold or obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Have less than 12 months of RN experience by the program start date
• Hold a Delaware RN license or Compact State RN license before the start date
• Be willing and able to work all shifts, including: Days Evenings Nights Weekends Holidays

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous work experience in a healthcare setting
• Critical care clinical rotations
• Shadowing or observational experience in critical care environments

Important Delaware Licensure Information

The Delaware RN licensure process may take 6 to 8 weeks to complete. Delays in obtaining licensure may affect your ability to begin employment as scheduled if an offer is extended. Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin fingerprinting and background check requirements immediately after submitting their application and to review licensure requirements through the Delaware Board of Nursing or their Compact State licensing board.

Salary

This is a flat rate position, any individual hired into this position will be paid $39.38/hr plus any applicable differentials. This pay rate/range represents ChristianaCare’s good faith and reasonable estimate of compensation at the time of posting. The actual salary within this range offered to a successful candidate will depend on individual factors including without limitation skills, relevant experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) Statement

Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement
• An employee assistance program

Location

Christiana Hospital, Newark, Delaware. This 1,007-bed, 1.3-million-square-foot modern facility provides a level of care only available in large-scale teaching hospitals. Christiana Hospital includes Delaware's only Level-I Trauma center (as verified by the American College of Surgeons), which is prepared to handle the most extreme medical emergencies. In fact, it is the only Level-I Trauma center on the East Coast corridor between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Christiana Hospital has also been nationally recognized in U.S. News & World Report's Best Regional Hospitals rankings as #1 in Delaware and #3 in the Philadelphia metro area, plus High Performing in 9 Adult Procedures/Conditions.

Benefits Link

To learn more about our benefits for eligible positions visit https://careers.christianacare.org/benefits-compensation/