RN New Graduate Nurse- 5 West- Acute Care Neuroscience

First Roles; Five Points (NC); On-site; USD 37,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition loan forgiveness

Relocation assistance

Employee referral program

Job summary

UNC Health Rex in Raleigh, NC, offers a 12‑month Nurse Residency program for new grads to transition to professional practice. The program includes structured clinical growth, classroom sessions, and an evidence‑based project with regular check‑ins from leadership and educators.

The role qualifies for the UNC Rex Incentive Program, with tuition loan forgiveness up to $25,000 or a $10,000 commitment incentive (in select departments), plus relocation assistance and an employee referral program.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a school of professional nursing.
• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina by start date.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent clinical nursing care in a hospital setting.
• Coordinate and deliver patient care using the nursing process.
• Engage in classroom sessions, continuing education, and evidence‑based practice projects.
• Participate in unit goals, performance improvement activities, and collaboration with the care team.

Skills

BLS certification

Education

Nursing degree

Job description

Description

Spring/Summer New Grads*** Next program start date: May 2026 - August 2026, the New Graduate Nurse Program will offer varied start dates based on graduation and NCLEX dates.

General Program Overview: The twelve‑month UNC Health Rex Nurse Residency program supports the transition from academia to practice for new graduate nurses. The wrap‑around support from all levels of nursing is designed to assist new nurses in developing competence and confidence in the professional role. In addition to clinical orientation on the unit, the Residency program provides structured clinical and professional growth. The first component of the Residency involves engaging classroom sessions highly focused on clinical skills and issues relevant to the unit and service line of the participants. The next component is comprised of continuing education professional development sessions, as well as completion of a group evidence‑based practice project. Additionally, within the 12‑month program, participants will complete milestones as defined by their unit and attend regular check ins with their unit leadership and educator.

Additional purposes and goals of the program are: Increase proficiency - from novice to competent nurse Promote evidence-based practice at the bedside to ensure best patient outcomes Develop clinical leadership skills at the point of care Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 diverse employees, whose mission is to improve the health and well‑being of the unique communities we serve.

Why start your career at UNC Health Rex? Named one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity by Newsweek and Plant‑A Insights Named Best Hospital in WRAL Voters' Choice Awards Top 100 Hospital for Stroke Care by Healthgrades Named one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women by Newsweek and Plant‑A Insights Named one of the 'World's Best Hospitals 2023' by Newsweek

How do I qualify? New Graduate Nurse: Graduation from school of professional nursing. Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina by the day of clinical care. Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification.

What is defined as a new graduate nurse? Nursing student in their final semester of nursing program or; Nursing graduate within 12 months of graduation; and RN who has worked less than 6 months as a registered nurse.

This position qualifies for our UNC Rex Incentive Program, up to $25,000 tuition loan forgiveness or $10,000 Commitment Incentive (for select departments only). In addition, this position is also eligible for up to $5,000 in relocation assistance (based on location) and our employee referral program. Learn more about our UNC Rex Incentive Program here: jobs.unchealthcare.org/pages/rex-new-grad-rn-incentive-program

5 West - Acute Care Neuroscience

5 West is a 30 bed neuroscience unit including a 4 bed step‑down unit. Our patient population is neurological disorders and medical‑surgical patients. 5 West demonstrates great teamwork by using a Buddy System and self‑scheduling with a holiday tract. 5 West encourages professional growth by assisting with certifications and educational courses. Our team played an essential role in UNC REX becoming a Comprehensive Stroke Center, offering lifesaving endovascular treatment for stroke patients 24/7. Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well‑being of the unique communities we serve.

Summary

Provides competent clinical nursing care consistent with professional standards. Reporting and accountable to the Nurse Manager/Director, the Clinical Nurse is responsible for coordinating and delivering patient care utilizing the nursing process in a hospital setting.

Responsibilities

1. Education - Participates in identifying and meeting learning needs of self. Attends education programs based on identified learning needs. With assistance, uses patient education materials relevant to patient population. Assesses readiness to learn of the patient/family/caregivers. Assesses developmental level of patient and factors affecting ability to learn.
2. Evaluation of Care - Identifies expected patient outcomes. Seeks guidance as needed in revision of plan of care. Participates in discussion with members of the interdisciplinary team in evaluation of patient care. Communicates relevant information to promote continuity of care.
3. Implementation - Demonstrates competence in care of patients with complex problems, including population‑appropriate physical, psychosocial, educational and safety aspects of care. Performs bedside point of care testing as required for patient care plan. Utilizes healthcare organization and nursing standards, policies and procedures in delivery of care. Organizes and prioritizes care according to patient/family needs. Consults with appropriate resources in a timely fashion regarding patients with complex care issues, unusual teaching needs and/or those at high risk for discharge planning.
4. Leadership - With assistance, develops goals to promote professional growth or minimize limitations. Achieves goals and objectives within identified time frame or renegotiates with supervisor. Is knowledgeable about activities which facilitate intra/interdepartmental collaboration. Participates in development and achievement of unit goals and performance improvement activities. Effectively uses communication systems. Participates in promoting cost‑effective care. Gives feedback to co‑workers. Is aware of public policy and regulatory guidelines affecting the health care environment. Promotes a safe, clean and secure hospital environment for all.
5. Patient Assessment - Recognizes data from complex situations to determine priorities for care. Includes appropriate physical, psychosocial, education and safety needs. Synthesizes assessment data into meaningful whole prior to communication to others. Assesses and anticipates discharge needs of individual patients and families. Develops relationships with families that promote their ability to advocate for the patient and their own needs.
6. Planning - Collaborates with patient/family to prepare or update the plan of care. Makes use of available multidisciplinary resources in planning care. Begins to use full range of communication as a means to convey planning. Identifies and addresses cultural and ethnic issues in planning patient care. Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks for patients with complex problems.
7. Research - Reads journals that contain studies or articles that may be applicable to practice. Brings ideas and questions to the staff at large for assessment of applicability.

Other Information

Education Requirements

• Graduation from a school of professional nursing.
• If hired after January 6, 2014, must be enrolled within four years of employment, and obtain a Bachelor's degree with a major in Nursing or a Master's degree with a major in Nursing within seven years of employment date.

Licensure/Certification Requirements

• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina by the day of clinical care.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification

Professional Experience Requirements

• No prior experience required.

Job Details

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH Entity: UNC REX Healthcare Organization Unit: Rex 5 West Work Type: Full Time Standard Hours Per Week: 36.00 Salary Range: $32.55 (Minimum) Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity Work Assignment Type: Onsite Work Schedule: Variable Location of Job: US:NC:Raleigh Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully‑owned subsidiary of UNC Heath Care System. This is not a State employed position. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. Please email [e-mail] if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.