The RN Residency Program requires:

• BSN and minimum 3.0 GPA
• Texas RN license
• Active American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support certification 

Application deadline is September 12, 2025.

The UT Southwestern February 2026 (Cohort 19) RN Residency Program is open to BSN graduates from the May 2025, August 2025, and December 2025 graduating classes, as well as experienced BSN RNs who will have less than 12 months RN experience at start of program (February 2026). Application instructions and requirements include:

• A completed online application
• Resume showing all work experience, involvement in professional organizations, and history of volunteerism
• Transcript (most recent–unofficial is acceptable) with 3.0 GPA or higher required
• *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:

• Acute Medical Units
• Acute Surgical Units

The residency program begins February 9, 2026. Graduate Nurses are required to have their license posted on the board of nursing before close of business on February 1, 2026.

Job Description

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

• Perform and accurately document physical, psychosocial, and emotional assessments. All assessments take into consideration age specific criteria (children, adolescents, adults and older adults).
• Actively anticipate 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. Maintain and utilize competencies per unit expectation.
• Identifies and implements appropriate nursing interventions based on the completed assessment.  Complete accurate and timely documentation of these interventions. Active coordinator of the interdisciplinary plan of care. Confer 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.
• Appropriately prioritizes nursing interventions based upon completed assessment. Promptly identifies changes in condition as evidenced by nursing assessment, labs, x-rays, etc. Report changes, takes follow-up action as appropriate.
• Evaluate implemented interventions and modifies care according to the evaluation.  Documents interventions and modifications to the plan of care in an accurate and timely manner.
• Adhere 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. Suggest practices to enhance Nursing care based on current literature and research.
• Provide appropriate and timely answers and/or education to patient’s and/or patient’s families. Complete accurate and timely documentation of all education provided. Obtain feedback/evaluation of understanding from patient/family, i.e., have we helped you? Patient/family verbalizes comfort with after discharge care. Demonstrate effective communication with children, adolescents, adults and older adults.
• Welcome and orients patient/family to the unit. Encourage patient/family participation in care. Review plan of care with patient/family every shift. Explain special diets, tests, procedures and medications in easily understood and appropriate language. Make frequent rounds on patients, communicates when will return; patient infrequently needs to use call light.
• Assume accountability for all actions in the workplace. Report errors promptly and takes appropriate follow-up action to rectify the error.
• Respond to patients and/or patients family’s complaints in an appropriate and effective manner. Report complaints to the Clinical Nurse Manager or their designee in a timely manner. Utilize the chain of command appropriately to resolve patient, operational, or personal work related problems.
• Participate in performance improvement activities as directed. Attends at least 80% of scheduled staff meetings and 100% of mandatory educational sessions. Provide supervision of and direction to unlicensed support personnel and nurses new to the environment. Delegate duties appropriately and within legal parameters. 

Minimum Qualifications

Education and 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 enhanced licensure compact (eNLC) 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.

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.