General Information
| Benefits | Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
The challenges facing the new graduate pediatric RN are significant. Acutely ill children, in combination with a high technology environment, mandate that the new graduate must have the finest education, extended clinical experiences under the guidance of a preceptor and appropriate support systems to make the successfultransition from nursing student to professional nurse.
Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), a 202-bed, tertiary-level, state-of-the-art regional children's hospital, has earned a strong reputation for leadership in pediatric health care across the county, and the entire Southern California region. Our outstanding staff offers world-class care in a compassionate, reassuring and loving environment. We understand your needs as a new graduate RN. To meet those needs, our RN Residency in Pediatrics provides you with the specific tools and experiences you need to be successful.
Our August program is full at this time. Our next program
will start February 2009. Applications will be available on-line
September 1, 2008.
Our comprehensive
6-month Residency includes:
One-on-one clinical training with expert preceptors for all
clinical experiences - Your preceptors are experienced, unit-based
RNs who work with you to provide challenging patient care experiences.
Your preceptor will teach you technical skills, share clinical knowledge
and help you develop your clinical decision making skills. Our Residents
receive over 500 hours of one-on-one precepted time.
Classroom education - The CHOC Residents receive 200 hours
of classroom and skills lab education, taught by our pediatric nurses
and other healthcare specialists. This training gives you the tools
necessary to successfully make the transition from graduate to professional
RN.
Dedicated mentors - Your mentor isn't a preceptor or your
manager, but a RN on staff at CHOC who will support you and help
you navigate the complexities of nursing. Residents who have a mentor
find that they have enhanced critical thinking, self-evaluation,
communication and conflict resolution skills, confidence and self-esteem,
independent thinking, and emotional maturity.
Support groups - All Residents participate in support groups
led by facilitators. These groups offer you a safe, confidential
environment in which to share your experiences and help you develop
the tools you need to deal with the stresses associated with being
an RN.
Extensive, individualized rotations for all appropriate hospital
areas - These rotations allow you to become familiar with the
other units and areas in the hospital that will help you work in
the area you have chosen for your career.
Additional benefits
of this paid Residency include:
- Promotional opportunities upon completion of the Residency
- Generous shift differentials
- Retirement plan, including tax-deferred savings
- Comprehensive, flexible employee benefits package
- Relocation assistance
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Paid time off
Choose from the following
pediatric specialty areas:
Pediatric Medical/Surgical
Unit
Pediatric Intensive Care
Unit (PICU)
Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU)
Oncology Unit
Oncology Intensive Care
Unit (OICU)
CHOC at Mission
Frequently asked questions about
the RN Residency:
| How many hours per week do the RN Residents work? |
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This is a full time position that requires 72-80 hours per pay period for the full six months, including weekends. (pay period is 2 weeks).
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| Will I be working weekends and holidays? |
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Each Resident follows the schedule of the preceptor.
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The schedule is provided to the Resident by the unit they
work on.
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The Resident works with the preceptors schedule with the
exception of holidays.
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| What time and scheduling commitments are involved with
the Residency Program? |
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Number of days per week: varies from week to week depending
on number of unit classes and Residency classes, but generally
for the first 4 months plan on 4 days per week between classes
and time on the unit. For the last 2 months - 3 days per week,
mostly on the unit.
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Flexibility is very important. The units and RN Residency
staff will assist you as much as possible to meet occasional
scheduling needs. Each unit provides a unique educational experience that involves day and night shifts.
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| What benefits does the Residency program offer? |
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Relocation assistance - $2,500
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| What is the RN Residency hourly pay rate? |
| The beginning hourly rate for the RN Resident is the same as a Clinical I RN. After 1 year you will automatically be promoted to a Clinical Nurse 2. Your Unit Director has the exact figures and will spend time with you discussing your individual pay. |
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| Who can answer any further questions I have regarding the
RN Residency? |
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For application process and status, please contact the
Nurse Recruiter, Donna Nam, at 714-532-8348.
For program content and requirements, please contact the
RN Residency in Pediatrics office, 714-289-4749, Monday-Friday,
7:00am-3:30pm PST.
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