Nursing Residency Program

The RN I New Graduate Residency gives new nurses the option to explore areas of interest, with different patient populations, and team dynamics in order for you and us to find the best place for you to start your RN career.

• You are hired to Arkansas Children’s Residency Program (not to a specific department)
• Prior to starting, you will complete a Rotation Ranking Survey – Based on your preference ranking we will try our best to get your rotations in your top 4 areas. However, we must also ensure that each department has an adequate volume of new hires rotating through them, meaning you may not get all 4 of your top choices, so ranking all departments helps us understand your alternates
• You are being given the opportunity to rotate through 4 departments over the course of 12 weeks, with rotations through day and night shifts as well
• Once rotations are complete you will be matched to a home unit considering your preferences, your strengths displayed during rotations and hospital need
• Shifts are shared at the time of matching to a home unit – please note that most RN I New Grad Shifts are Nights and other off shifts such as weekend option
• Once matched to a Home Unit you have an additional 8-12 weeks of orientation

Phase 1 – Rotation Phase “Learn and Explore”

• Rotate through multiple areas and shifts with Unit Guides - Learn the basics of nursing at Arkansas Children's
• Attend PEARS training and other classes
• Loop to other specialties
• Mentoring and Debriefing Classes

Phase 2 – Unit Orientation “Specialized Training”

• Match to Home Unit considering your preferences, strengths and hospital need
• 8-12 weeks Home Unit Orientation based on Department
• Validation of nursing skills begin
• Mentoring and Debriefing Sessions

Phase 3 – Independent Staffing

• Continued Support via Monthly Sessions Mentoring/Debriefing/Professional Development

3D/3E Surgical

Common patient assignments are patients from newborn to young adult with the following illnesses: fractures, osteomyelitis, spinal fusion, Ilizarov bone lengthening procedures, congenital anomaly repair, Blount's disease, Perthes disease, developmental dysplasia of the hip, orthopedic trauma, ENT procedures, and various medical diagnoses.

3K Infant Toddler Unit (ITU)

Common patient assignments are patients from newborn to three years of age with the following illnesses: failure to thrive, viral respiratory illness, rule out sepsis, child maltreatment syndrome, long term ventilator patients, and multiple other general pediatric medical conditions

4C Medical

Common patient assignments are patients from birth to school age with the following illnesses: cystic fibrosis (both the newly diagnosed patients and those patients experiencing an exacerbation of their disease), nephrology conditions (such as nephrotic syndrome, end-stage renal disease, pre and post-renal transplant, patients who are requiring peritoneal dialysis), respiratory conditions (such as asthma, RSV and pneumonia), gastroenterology conditions (such as reflux and failure to thrive), and infectious diseases (such as Pertussis and influenza).Endocrine(such as Diabetes, New Onset and Diabetic Ketoacidosis) Eating Disorders (such as Anorexia and Bulimia)

4D Neurology

Common patient assignments are patients from newborn to 21 years of age with the following illnesses: epilepsy with 24-hour continuous VEEG monitoring, head injury, brain tumors, spina bifida, and spinal injuries.

5D Progressive Care

Common patient assignments are patients from newborn to 21 years of age with the following illnesses: head injuries, spinal cord injuries, multiple trauma, and pulmonary diseases.

4K Hematology Oncology

Common patient assignments are patients from birth to early adulthood with the following illnesses: blood disorders such as anemia, sickle cell anemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, leukemia, childhood cancers, and other malignant diseases.

2D Burn Unit

Common patient assignments are patients from 18 months to 90 years of age with burn injuries.

3C Intermediate Care (IMU)

Common patient assignments are patients from birth to twenty-one years of age with the following illnesses: Respiratory Distress, Trauma and Head Injury, Sepsis, and Post-Operative Observation. Serves as Step Down and “Watcher” Unit.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Common patient assignments are patients from birth to twenty-one years of age with the following illnesses: Critically ill Children with Respiratory Distress, Trauma and Head Injury, Sepsis, and Post-Operative States.

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)

Common patient assignments are patients from birth to Adult with the following illnesses: congenital cardiac anomalies and rhythm disorders. Step Down and Intensive Care Unit.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Common patient assignments are patients from birth to two years of age with the following illnesses: respiratory distress, surgical anomalies, genetic defects, and prematurity.

Emergency Department (ED)

Common patient assignments are patients from birth to 21 years of age with life-threatening or emergent injuries and illnesses.

Operating Room

Common patient assignments are patients from newborn to adult with conditions requiring surgical intervention in services of: orthopedic, genitourinary, burn, ENT, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, plastic reconstructive, general, laser treatment, and/or dental.

Special Staffing Team/RN Float Pool ICU and Med.Surg

Floats to PICU, CVICU, NICU, ED, Burn, IMU, and all Med-Surgical units

• Graduate from an accredited nursing program *ASN graduates who are selected will be expected to enroll in a BSN program within 6 months of completing the immersion period and will have 3 years to complete their BSN*
• GPA 3.0 Preferred.
• Selected candidates must pass the NCLEX and possess a permanent Arkansas or compact state RN license prior to the start of the residency