Graduate Nurse

Alright, let's talk about this job. I've been placing nurses for over a decade, and UCHealth's residency program is one of the better ones out there. This isn't just a first job; it's a structured first year designed to set you up. You're hired as an RN Graduate, and your specific practice specialty; like which unit you'll be on; gets decided during your interview and hire process.

The Work & The Schedule

You'll be working full time, 0.9 FTE. That's 72 hours every two week pay period. The schedule rotates to night shift or follows whatever the specific unit's schedule is. Just so it's clear upfront: this role is onsite at the hospital. There isn't a hybrid or remote option for this position.

The hospitals in this region are Memorial Hospital Central, Memorial Hospital North, Grandview Hospital in Colorado Springs, and Pikes Peak Regional Hospital in Woodland Park. They have openings across a bunch of different units: Acute Care, Oncology, Critical Care (including Progressive and ICU), Women’s and Infants, Behavioral Health Psychiatry, the Perioperative department, the Emergency Department, and Interventional/Procedural Care.

What You'll Be Doing

Your first 12 months are spent enrolled in the UCHealth Nurse Residency Program. You'll practice within your scope and the organization's policies, but with a ton of support built in.

• Provide direct patient care at the top of your nursing license, using the nursing process.
• You’ll be part of a multidisciplinary team; they really value that approach to get the best outcomes.
• The focus is on wellness, seeing things from the patient's perspective, and using evidence based practice.
• Once you're settled, you’ll help model proficiency by precepting folks new to healthcare or to UCHealth.
• The clinical environment is fast paced and innovative. They expect you to welcome new knowledge and adapt.
• A big part of your role is contributing to safety and quality right at the point of care.

If you want all the details on how the residency program works; and you should; please visit their New Graduate Residency Program page online.

What You Need to Bring

• A graduate from an accredited Registered/Professional Nursing program. That’s required.
• State licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer. You need that card in hand before your start date, and it must be valid for at least sixty days after you're hired.

A quick but important note on certifications: All life support cards must come from either the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer course. Just know that if you get the American Red Cross one for hire, any renewals later have to be done through an American Heart Association sanctioned course.

The Pay & The Perks

The pay rate starts between $32.01 and $38.91 an hour for RN Graduates; where you land depends on your designated specialty when hired.

The benefits package is comprehensive. It’s worth reading closely:

• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage from day one.
• Retirement plans with 403(b) matching.
• A generous time off bank: paid time off (PTO), paid family and medical leave (which includes Colorado FAMLI), plus other leaves of absence. You even start with PTO accrued.
• Employer paid life insurance and disability insurance are included; there are options to buy more coverage if you want it.

• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education support are available. Wellness benefits are part of the deal. A full suite of voluntary benefits like identity theft protection or pet insurance. Specific education benefits can cover 100% of tuition, books, and fees for certain degrees. Other programs might qualify for up to $5,250 pre paid or reimbursed each year. They also help with federal student loans; UCHealth is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and provides free assistance navigating it. There’s a Five Year Incentive Bonus that accumulates each October based on contributions to quality goals, patient experience, organizational growth, financial targets, and tenure; it pays out after five years of employment. Questions about the residency program? Email their recruiter directly: [email protected]

A Few Final Details

How To Apply: