New Graduate Nurse Residency Program (May 2025/Dec 2025 Graduates)

VHC Health Nurse Residency Program is the only accredited Nurse Residency program in the Northern VA area!  The program is based on the Vizient and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Vizient/AACN) Nurse Residency Program™. The Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program (NRP) is designed to effectively support new nurse graduates as they transition into their first professional roles. Built on an evidence-based curriculum developed by experts from academic medical centers and nursing schools across the country, the program focuses on three critical areas: leadership, patient outcomes, and professional role.

VHC Health is a 453-bed nationally recognized Hospital and teaching facility that has been delivering high quality care to the Washington, DC metropolitan area for over 75 years. VHC is a proud member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network (a national network of independent healthcare organizations), a designated Level II Trauma Center and a recognized Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. We are proud to announce that the Leapfrog Group has awarded the hospital with an 'A' grade in Hospital Safety, achieved an Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ for the 10th year in a row and VHC has ranked Number 2 in “Best Hospitals” in the Washington, DC metropolitan area by U.S. News and World Report's 2021-2022 rankings. At VHC we are always striving to provide continued excellence and growth for our employees as well as top notch care for our patients.

Program Requirements:

• Active VA RN License or Authorization to Practice will be needed prior to start
• Graduation from an accredited nursing program with Associate’s Degree or higher
• You must have a current and active Virginia or Multi-State Compact Registered Nurse license before the licensing due date for each cohort.
• Current and active Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for healthcare provider from the American Heart Association
• Less than 6 months of acute care hospital-based experience as a licensed RN prior to the start of the program.
• Commit to the 1-year Residency Program and to Full-time Employment

*In order to be considered, the electronic talent assessment must be completed. Applications with incomplete assessments will not be considered.*

Goals:

• One of the primary goals of the program is to improve the residents’ critical thinking/clinical reasoning skills and ability to understand and use outcomes data to promote patient safety
• Further develop effective decision-making skills related to clinical judgment and performance
• Provide clinical nursing leadership at the point of care
• Strengthen your commitment to the profession of nursing
• Evolve in the formation of an individual professional development plan
• Incorporate research-based evidence linked to practice outcomes into the care he or she provides

 Structure of the residency program:

• Full-time Employment; schedules vary by department
• At least 6-8 weeks of unit-specific orientation and preceptorship will be integrated into program (new graduate RN will work the same schedule as preceptor)
• Program lasts about 1 year and Residents will meet regularly as a cohort once a month for four hours with access to preceptors and expert resident facilitators
• Completion of an evidence-based project
• Mentoring on a professional development plan
• Nurse and program evaluation, including completion of the required Vizient/AACN and institutional surveys

Benefits:

Team members are eligible to receive benefits on the first day of the month following the date of hire, with 30 days to apply for benefits of choice.

• Paid Major Holidays
• Generous Paid Time Off / Vacation / Sick Time
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Student Loan Repayment
• Overtime Pay, Call Pay, Preceptor, Charge and Call Back Pay Eligible
• Career Counseling, Leadership Development and Training
• Clinical and Research Pathways Eligible
• Annual Merit Review and Merit Increases
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Health Fitness & Education Class Discounts
• Employee Wellness Benefits
• Hospital Discount for Employees and Family
• VHC Health Outpatient Pharmacy
• VHC Retirement Program
• Workforce Enhancement Program
• Work/Life Discounts Program
• Free onsite parking
• Commuter Benefits
• Family Leave
• 401(k) + Match
• and much more!