RN Residency Program – July 2021 Cohort

Please read and follow instructions carefully. 

The RN Residency program requires

1. BSN and minimum 2.7 GPA 
2. Texas RN license
3. Active American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification 

Application deadline is March 5, 2021.

The UT Southwestern July 2021 RN Residency Program is open to BSN graduates from the December 2020 and May 2021 graduating classes, as well as experienced BSN RNs who will have less than 12 months RN experience at start of program (7/19/21).  Application instructions and requirements include: 

• A completed online application
• Cover letter stating primary track of interest (select from a track listed below)
• Resume showing all work experience, involvement in professional organizations, and history of volunteerism
• Transcript (most recent–unofficial is acceptable) 2.7 GPA required 
• Two letters of recommendation from clinical instructors*

*Internal candidates must apply as an internal candidate and are asked to upload a letter of recommendation from current manager 

DO NOT submit your application until you have ALL the required documents.
Upload one master file which will include all required documents.  Applications received without the items listed above cannot be processed.

Specialties accepting Residents:

• Adult Acute Medical Specialty
• Adult Acute Surgical Specialty
• Adult Critical Care
• Adult Emergency
• Adult Oncology
• Adult Rehab
• Operating Room
• PACU
• Adult Progressive Care
• Women's Services – L&D, Post Partum, NICU

The residency program begins July 19, 2021. Graduate Nurses are required to have their license posted on the board of nursing before close of business on July 15, 2021. Experience and Education Candidates are new nurse graduates with a minimum of a Bachelor's degree who have graduated from an ACEN or CCNE accredited/state-approved program. Current Texas (or BNE Compact State) license; current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA). Specialty areas may have increased certification/license requirements as dictated by unit or standard of care.

JOB SUMMARY

RN Resident is classified as a Registered Nurse with less than 12 months of experience and new nurse graduates with a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree who have graduated from an ACEN or CCNE accredited/state approved program. RN Resident is also classified as a Registered Nurse with an Associate's Degree (ADN) with current UTSW experience. RN Resident’s will gain an extensive orientation in any care setting while they are transitioning into professional practice within the UT Southwestern Medical Center Nurse Residency Program.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Performs and accurately documents physical, psychosocial, and emotional assessments. All assessments take into consideration age specific criteria (children, adolescents, adults and older adults).
2. Actively anticipates patients and/or patient’s family needs and expectations and utilizes these in conjunction with the assessment to develop an appropriate plan of care for the patient. Utilizes critical thinking skills in planning and prioritizing nursing care. Maintains and utilizes competencies per unit expectation.
3. Identifies and implements appropriate nursing interventions based on the completed assessment.  Completes accurate and timely documentation of these interventions. Active coordinator of the interdisciplinary plan of care. Confers with all members of the health care team in a collaborative fashion, sharing information and observations of the patient and/or patient’s family in a manner that contributes to optimal patient care.
4. Appropriately prioritizes nursing interventions based upon completed assessment. Promptly identifies changes in condition as evidenced by nursing assessment, labs, x-rays, etc. Reports changes, takes follow-up action as appropriate.
5. Evaluates implemented interventions and modifies care according to the evaluation.  Documents interventions and modifications to the plan of care in an accurate and timely manner.
6. Adheres to appropriate hospital and/or Department of Nursing policies, procedures, clinical pathways and nationally accepted standards of nursing practice while delivering nursing care to patients. Suggests practices to enhance Nursing care based on current literature and research.  
7. Provides appropriate and timely answers and/or education to patient’s and/or patient’s families. Completes accurate and timely documentation of all education provided. Obtains feedback/evaluation of understanding from patient/family, i.e., have we helped you? Patient/family verbalizes comfort with after discharge care. Demonstrates effective communication with children, adolescents, adults and older adults.
8. Welcomes and orients patient/family to the unit. Encourages patient/family participation in care. Reviews plan of care with patient/family every shift. Explains special diets, tests, procedures and medications in easily understood and appropriate language. Makes frequent rounds on patients, communicates when will return; patient infrequently needs to use call light.
9. Assumes accountability for all actions in the workplace. Reports errors promptly and takes appropriate follow-up action to rectify the error.
10. Effective patient/family advocate. Responds to patients and/or patients family’s complaints in an appropriate and effective manner. Reports complaints to the Clinical Nurse Manager or their designee in a timely manner. Utilizes the chain of command appropriately to resolve patient, operational, or personal work related problems.
11. Participates in performance improvement activities as directed. Attends at least 80% of scheduled staff meetings and 100% of mandatory educational sessions.
12. Provides supervision of and direction to unlicensed support personnel and nurses new to the environment. Delegates duties appropriately and within legal parameters.
13. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Candidates are new nurse graduates with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree who have graduated from an ACEN or CCNE accredited/state approved program or Associate's degree (ADN) with current UTSW experience.
• Current Texas (or BNE Compact State) license; current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA).  Specialty areas may have increased certification/license requirements as dictated by unit or standard of care.

The following is the acronym, "PACT", and is fundamental to all non-clinical positions at UT Southwestern Medical Center:

• P-Problem Solving: Employees take ownership in solving problems effectively, efficiently, and to the satisfaction of customers, or managers. They show initiative in addressing areas of concern before they become problems.
• A-Ability, Attitude and Accountability: Employees exhibit ability to perform their job and conduct themselves in a professional and positive manner reflecting a professional environment readily assuming obligations in a dependable and reliable manner. 
• C-Communication, Contribution, and Collaboration: Who are our Customers?  Anyone who requests our help, needs our work product, or receives our services.  Employees focus on customer service with creative solutions while improving the customer experience through clear, courteous, and timely delivery and communication.  Sharing ideas with others helps expand our contribution to department goals.
• T-Teamwork: Employees work to contribute to the department’s success by supporting co-workers, promoting excellence in work product and customer service, and in maintaining a satisfying, caring environment for each other.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed primarily in a hospital/clinical setting.

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimums require prior approval of the Vice President for Human Resources Administration, or his/her designee.

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code §51.215.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community.  As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.