Post-Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Residency Program

• Spring AY2024-2025 Cohort
• Fall AY2025-2026 Cohort

We recognize that to be successful, a new graduate registered nurse requires support in many forms. The Post-Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Residency (PB-RNR) Program is a 12-month nurse residency program for recent registered nurse graduates who are transitioning from a student nurse role to their first professional RN role allowing them to work as confident, experienced RNs at the program’s conclusion. This federally funded nurse residency program at Salt Lake City VA Healthcare System is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Experiential rotations and didactic learning activities build upon knowledge gained and competencies developed during residents’ prelicensure educational and precepted clinical experiences. This program is designed to provide the new graduate RN opportunities to effectively transition from novice to competent, professional nurses. These experiences emphasize the development of clinical and leadership skills to be successful as a full partner within the healthcare team. Curriculum and clinical experiences encourage the development of effective decision-making skills, interpreting and incorporating evidence-based research into daily practice, supporting clinical leadership at the point of care, and promoting  life-long learning and resilience in nursing practice.

As a nurse resident, you will practice collaboratively in an interprofessional model while gaining an integrated perspective of nursing leadership. You will gain experience within the VA healthcare system with exposure to multiple inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. The year is like a fellowship – you will earn significant work experience, as well as clinical and professional training and skill development opportunities that are not typically available to someone starting in an entry-level nursing position.

About the PB-RNR Program

• Engage in a 12-month residency/trainee program that fosters a supportive learning and working environment, enabling you to perform as an experienced RN at the program’s conclusion.
• Participate in supervised and precepted clinical experience, with graduated autonomy as competency is demonstrated.
• Enhance clinical and leadership skills in a variety of clinical settings, gaining experience while developing and growing your skills and knowledge alongside expert colleagues.
• Understand the continuum of care across the entire VA health care system.
• Attend weekly/bi-weekly didactic instruction and seminars, experiential learning opportunities, and simulation exercises.
• Work various shifts based on the preceptor’s availability and didactic course schedule
  (variable days). No holidays.
• Rotate through the following departments and units: Acute Medicine (2E), Post-Surgical (3W), Telemetry, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency Department (ED), Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU), and multiple outpatient units and clinics.
• Veteran-centered practice environment to "Care for Those Who Have Served Us" and fulfill the VA’s mission to ensure that Veterans receive the highest quality of care in a safe environment.

Salary & benefits

• Receive a $58,415 stipend (Spring Cohort AY2024-2025) over the year.
• Receive a $59,161 stipend (Fall Cohort AY2025-2026) over the year.
• Accrue annual and sick leave starting from day one.
• Eligible for FICA contributions and options for medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits.

Note: PB-RN residents are considered health professions trainees (HPTs) and there is no commitment required for continued employment after the completion of the year-long program. After successful completion of the residency, we do hope that you will find your calling to care for Veterans within the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System.

Our program is limited to 10 participants per year (5 in Spring and 5 in Fall), is highly competitive, and seeks new graduate registered nurses who are driven, mission-centric, compassionate, resilient, and possess effective interpersonal skills to be effective change agents. This is an intensive 12-month program, using a three-phase curriculum intended to prepare the new graduate RN to transition as a competent nurse into various acute care, ambulatory, and outpatient settings with a robust network of resources, strong organizational knowledge, and leadership skills.

Application deadlines: 
Rolling Admission

Spring AY2024-2025 Program Start Date: March 23, 2025
The cut-off date for Spring AY2024-2025 Cohort: January 31, 2025

Fall AY2025-2026 Program Start Date: July 27, 2025
The cut-off date for Fall AY2025-2026 Cohort: May 31, 2025

To apply

Applicant Criteria

• Be a US citizen.
• Be a graduate of a BSN or MSN (entry-level) program accredited by the CCNE or ACEN.
• Be a licensed RN by the start date of the program.
• Be a licensed RN for less than one year post-graduation from your nursing program and have NO prior work experience as an RN. This must be your first RN role (some exceptions allowed, please discuss with the program director).
• Commit to completing the 12-month nurse residency program.

Application Packet Requirements

• Resume
• Unofficial BSN or MSN transcript
• Please provide three references
  • At least ONE from a College of Nursing faculty member
  • At least ONE from a current or former employer or supervisor
• Additional onboarding requirements** will be requested after the initial review of qualifications, these include:
  • Proof of TB screening
  • Hep B vaccination or waiver
  • Proof of current flu immunization
  • Proof of health exam, health satisfactory to perform duties of the training program
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination series

Submit Completed Application Packets

By Email: VHASLCPBRNRHiring@va.gov

**Note: additional documents may be required by VA Human Resources at the time of appointment.

Questions?

Contact us:

Christine Spatig, MSN, RN
Program Director
Post-Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Residency (PB-RNR) Program
500 Foothill Drive, Building 4 Room 1B08
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
email: Christine.Spatig@va.gov (preferred) | office: 801-582-1565, ext. 2329

Kristy Fox, MSN, RN, CNOR
Program Coordinator
Post-Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Residency (PB-RNR) Program
500 Foothill Drive, Building 4 Room 1B08
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
email: Kristy.Fox@va.gov (preferred) | office: 801-582-1565, ext. 1931

Amber Brennan, MSN, RN, CHCR
Chief Nurse of Education
500 Foothill Drive, Building 4 Room 1B05
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
email: Amber.Brennan@va.gov (preferred) | office: 801-584-1284, ext. 1460