Careers at UW Health

Program expectations

Category: Nurse Residency Program

Program expectations

Requirements after acceptance into Nurse Residency Program

  • Residents must pass a health assessment, drug screen and criminal background check prior to employment.
  • Permanent Wisconsin RN License (preferred) or Wisconsin Nursing Temporary Permit required before starting the Nurse Residency Program.
  • Nurse residents are required to be BLS-certified. If your BLS certification will expire within 30 days of hire, you may register for BLS recertification through the UW Health Emergency Education Center or directly with the American Heart Association.

Requirements during the Nurse Residency Program

  • Full-time (72-80 hours per bi-weekly) employment for the first year is expected.
  • Prior to completion of the year-long Nurse Residency Program in your assigned clinical area you will not be eligible to transfer.
  • Participation in monthly to twice-monthly nurse resident classes.
  • Completion of an evidence-based practice project.
  • Additional specialty courses based upon unit.

Scheduling

  • During the orientation part of the program, nurse residents will work based on their preceptor(s) schedule(s). Length of orientation is dependent on the clinical practice area and nurse resident needs.
  • Many hospital-based nurse residents will be placed on a night shift rotation after unit orientation is complete. During the unit orientation, you could work all shifts for exposure to how your clinical area operates. You may be assigned to work eight-, 10- or 12-hour shifts.
  • Some practice areas may include on-call requirements based on the operational needs of the individual area.
  • Toward the end of your orientation, your manager will work with you to determine an RN position based on the current vacancies and the staffing needs of the clinical area. You may be moved into an RN position in the clinical area you were hired, or you may move into a position within a similar practice area.
  • Ambulatory nurse residents work Monday-Friday clinic hours.  Hours are based on the operational needs of the clinic and typically are between 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Nurse Residency Program?

The nurse residency is a prestigious 12-month program designed to help nurses move confidently into practice. While in the program, Inpatient Nurse Residents will meet once per month and Ambulatory Nurse Residents will meet twice per month.

How often do you offer the Nurse Residency Program?

Ambulatory start dates

  • Sept. 8, 2025

Inpatient start dates

  • June 16, 2025
  • July 14, 2025
  • Aug. 11, 2025
  • Sept. 8, 2025
  • Nov. 3, 2025

When should I apply?

If you are interested in a particular area or specialty, we recommend you apply as close to the application open date as possible. However, the application remains open for up to month prior to the start date or until positions are filled. This means the application for each cohort is open for seven to 11 months. Upcoming application open dates:

  • Summer (June–September): Opens approximately Sept. 15 (Nine months prior to first cohort start)
  • Fall (November): Opens approximately March 1 (Eight months prior to cohort start)
  • Winter (January–February): Opens approximately June 1 (Seven months prior to first cohort start)

Do I need to have graduated before applying?

No, most people apply during their final one or two semesters of nursing school. Some people apply after graduating. While you must have graduated to begin the residency program, you do not need to have graduated to apply to the residency program.

What is the orientation period for the nurse residents?

Twelve to 24 weeks, depending on the acuity of the practice area.

Which units are available for nurse residents?

We hire nurse residents into all inpatient units, the Emergency Department, Operating Rooms and several ambulatory settings. Unit descriptions are available for your review:

How does the clinical area placement work?

As part of our application process, applicants submit a clinical interest inventory to indicate clinical preferences, which are discussed with the recruiter during the interview. For candidates moving forward to a clinical area interview (after recruiter interview), we try to match the clinical area with one of the candidate’s top choices. However, this is not always possible. For example, a clinical area might have completed hiring or have preferred prior experience.

Is there a time commitment after completing the residency program? Am I obligated to stay at UW Health?

There is not a time commitment after completing the program. However, you are not eligible to apply for positions in other clinical areas at UW Health prior to completing the one-year residency program.

If I am hired into the Nurse Residency Program, will I be paid and eligible for benefits?

Yes, nurse residents are paid and are eligible for benefits. View our benefits page for additional information on benefits of working at UW Health.

Do you offer shift and weekend differentials in the Nurse Residency Program?

Inpatient nurse residents receive a shift and/or weekend differential as appropriate. Ambulatory nurse residents work during standard business hours and do not receive a shift differential.

Is the Nurse Residency Program accredited?

Yes, our Nurse Residency Program has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education since 2011. Through this rigorous process, UW Health has demonstrated that it meets national standards for its program to support new nurses during their first year of practice.

What does the program look like?

Nurse residents will attend monthly residency classes with their cohort. You will meet with clinical experts and problem-solve clinical challenges and learn more about resources to support your practice.

I’m not from the Madison area. How can I decide where to live?

Let your recruiter know if you will be relocating to the Madison area. You might be eligible for relocation assistance funds.

In addition, we can connect you with a relocation specialist to be a resource for you as you plan your move.

Eligibility requirements for UW Health Nurse Residency Program

Is there a GPA requirement to apply for the Nurse Residency Program?

No, there is not a minimum GPA to apply to the program. However, submitting your current unofficial transcript is part of the application process because we do take your Nursing GPA into consideration.

How long after graduation may I start the program?

Candidates must start the program within 12 months of graduation.

Do I need to complete an additional application for the Nurse Residency Program?

Yes, there is a supplemental application that you need to complete as part of the online application. Please go to Applying to the Program for additional information.

Is the Nurse Residency Program open to all new graduate nurses?

Yes, the Nurse Residency Program is open to all new graduate nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor’s in Nursing Degree.

I just graduated with my Associate Degree in Nursing. Do I need to complete a Bachelor’s in Nursing? 

Although you are not required to complete your BSN, UW Health strongly supports a culture of learning for ongoing professional development. There are many resources to support low-cost BSN completion available to you. Evidence supports a higher percentage of BSN-prepared nurses in a complex academic medical center leads to better patient outcomes.

What certifications are required before starting the program?

Nurse residents are required to be BLS-certified and provide a copy of the Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers card prior to starting the program. We only accept certifications from American Red Cross or American Heart Association.

What if I am not able to take NCLEX prior to my start date?

We encourage nurse residents to schedule the NCLEX at least two weeks before their start date. However, when this is not possible, it might be possible to start the program with a Wisconsin temporary permit. The recruitment team can share more details about this option with you.

Contact information

Our 12-month program is designed to help nurses move confidently into practice following graduation from an accredited nursing program.

For more information, contact Senior Recruitment Specialist Adam Eder at aeder2@uwhealth.org or call the UW Health HR Service Center at (608) 263-6500.

Applying to the program

Applications for the Nurse Residency Program that are currently open:

Summer 2025 Inpatient and Ambulatory cohorts: Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Inpatient Nurse Resident – Summer 2025 (September 2024–August 2025 graduates)

Ambulatory Nurse Resident – Summer 2025 (September 2024–August 2025 graduates)

Fall 2025 Inpatient cohort: Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Inpatient Nurse Resident – Fall 2025 (December 2024 – October 2025 graduates)

Eligibility for the Nurse Residency Program

  • Receive an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN or BAN) or Master Degree in Nursing (MSN
  • Hold a permanent Wisconsin RN License (preferred) or Wisconsin Nursing Temporary Permit prior to start date in the Nurse Residency Program (NCLEX exam to be scheduled at least two weeks prior to start date in nurse resident program when possible).
  • Must begin the Nurse Residency Program no more than 12 months after graduation from an accredited nursing school.

How to apply

Please submit the following items:

  • Online application
  • Resume
  • Current unofficial academic transcript
  • Supplemental application (see below)
  • Goal statement

The goal statement is an essay that includes the following components:

  • What led you to nursing?
  • What have you learned in nursing school that you will bring to your nursing practice?
  • Why are you interested in the UW Health Nurse Residency Program?

Please follow these steps to apply:

Step 1: Supplemental application materials

Please complete prior to initiating the online application

Inpatient Nurse Residency Supplemental Application (pdf)

Ambulatory Clinic Nurse Residency Supplemental Application (pdf)

Please refer to the unit descriptions below for additional information on patient care areas:

Step 2: Online application

Attach the supplemental application:

  • Visit the UW Health Careers page and search Nurse Residency
  • Register, if you have not already created an account
  • If possible, combine the supplemental application and unofficial transcripts into one (1) PDF document, and combine the resume and goal statement into one (1) PDF document. It is acceptable to attach the documents separately, if necessary.
  • Current employees must apply internally via Oracle Cloud. Home access is available at https://homeaccess.uwhealth.org/

Step 3: References

If you are selected to moved forward in the recruitment process, the next step is checking professional references. At UW Health, reference checks are completed electronically via the SkillSurvey reference checking service.

  • Human Resources Recruitment will notify you, either via phone or e-mail, that we would like to begin checking your references.
  • An email will be sent to you directly from SkillSurvey that includes a link to its website.
  • You will need to enter the e-mail addresses, contact name, title, phone number and organization of four (4) professional references. Two (2) – three (3) references should be from clinical instructors and one (1) – two (2) references from either a clinical nurse manager, preceptor, or supervisor of past/current employment. If unable to enter this information within 48 hours of receipt of the initial email, please contact your Nurse Recruiter or Recruitment Specialist.
  • Each of your references will receive an e-mail from SkillSurvey directing them to complete a confidential online survey regarding your past clinical/work performance.
  • To help expedite the process, Human Resources recommends that you contact your references in advance and encourage them to complete the online survey in a timely manner.
  • You should monitor the progress being made by your references by accessing the SkillSurvey website. Please contact those individuals who have not yet completed the reference survey.

Completed references are a tool used to evaluate and select the best candidate. Job offers are not extended to any candidate without completed references.

Nurse Residency Program

UW Health in Madison, Wis., participates in the Vizient/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Nurse Residency Program.

The Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program at UW Health — recognized as an exemplary program by the Magnet Commission — is part of a national initiative developed by leaders in the nursing profession across the country.

This prestigious 12-month program is designed to help new graduate nurses move confidently into practice following graduation from an accredited nursing program.

As a nurse resident, you’ll work through a series of learning and work experiences as you transition into your first professional nursing position in a UW Health patient care setting.

Accreditation

The employee-based Nurse Residency Program at UW Health is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Through this rigorous process, UW Health has demonstrated that it meets national standards for its program to support new nurses during their first year of practice.

There are fewer than 50 nurse residency programs accredited through CCNE in the United States.

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Residency Comments

“I have been very happy with the residency program. It has relieved the great anxiety of coming from a theory-based BSN program.”

“I am a better nurse because of the residency program. I love my job and attribute that in part to this program.”

“I feel this position would have been overwhelming had I not had the residency program to help me.”