Nurse Residency Program

The University of New Mexico Hospitals’ Nurse Residency Program is designed to support you through your first year of professional nursing. Our program teaches you the skills to boost your confidence and comfort level with patients, which, in turn, allows you to provide outstanding patient care.

The Future of Nursing

The UNM Hospitals residency program provides continual opportunities for professional growth, including leadership skills, through personalized, comprehensive and high-quality experiences in an academic medical center.

All new graduate nurses hired into UNMH participate in the Nurse Residency Program, regardless of their start date.

The Nurse Residency department hires new nurses into rotating specialized tracks, which include the Emergency Department, ICUs, L&D and some specialty areas such as Interventional Radiology, the cardiac cath lab and the GI lab. We hire cohorts three times per year, usually in January, June and September.

  • Participate in a formal orientation program and monthly learning seminars.
  • Transition from beginner to competent professional nurse.
  • Become a valued member of the health care team and an effective and ethical patient advocate.
  • Develop effective clinical judgment and build confidence by using critical thinking in your daily practice.
  • Receive guided clinical experiences by a staff of caring and expert preceptors and nurse educators.
  • New hire orientation, specifically geared to new nurses.
  • Required specialty orientation/education.
  • Residency-related events, including monthly seminars and completion of an evidence-based practice project which you will present at your completion ceremony.
  • Program evaluation activities.
  • Residency completion celebration.