The NorthBay Health Nurse Residency Program is a comprehensive, yearlong initiative tailored for newly graduated nurses. This program is designed to equip participants with the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s dynamic healthcare environment, ensuring a smooth transition from classroom learning to clinical practice. Through a structured series of educational and hands-on experiences, participants will engage in:
- Advanced clinical training in specialized areas
- Monthly educational sessions
- Preceptorship with experienced facility preceptors
- Hands-on skill evaluations through simulations
- Mentorship from seasoned nurse leaders
- Collaborative work on evidence-based practice projects
Rooted in our core values — Nurture Care, Own It, Respect Relationships, Build Trust, and Hardwire Excellence — the program fosters compassionate care, accountability, teamwork, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. These values guide our mission to provide the highest quality, patient-centered care and help each nurse resident achieve their "True North" as a healthcare professional.
Cohort Start Dates and Application Periods
- Spring Cohort: Applications accepted between November and December
- Fall Cohort: Applications accepted between May and June
- (Note: Dates may change based on organizational needs.)
About the Nurse Residency Program
The residency year includes several key components and resources to ensure that new graduate RNs are set up for success:
- Orientation to NorthBay Health, the nursing department, standards of care, and the clinical skills lab
- Monthly educational sessions focused on leadership, patient outcomes, and professionalism
- Unit-based orientation and educational programs
- Guidance from unit-based preceptors and mentors
- Support from clinical nurse specialists and clinical educators
Application Process, Prerequisites and Required Documentation
To apply, you will need to complete the online application and upload the following documents; late and incomplete applications will not be considered. Each document must be uploaded individually as a Word or PDF file:
- Online application
- Complete resume, including details on clinical rotations (Facility, Unit, Hours)
- Transcript showing graduation or completion date (official or unofficial)
- Minimum 2 letters of recommendation from faculty or preceptors
Eligibility Requirements
- Must have graduated with either an ADN, BSN or MSN
- Must possess a current and active California RN license before the start of the cohort
- Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association
- Less than 6 months of acute care experience in a clinical setting
We look forward to supporting your journey as a new graduate nurse!
Nurse Residency Program FAQ
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Be sure to include your clinical rotations. We want to know the hospital you were at, specialty, number of hours you spent on each rotation and which semester you completed each rotation.
- 2 Letters or Recommendation
- Certifications
- Transcript including graduation or completion date (official or unofficial)
- A completed ADN, BSN or MSN degree by date listed in posting
- Before the program starts, you will need to have less than 6 months experience in an inpatient setting or no experience as a licensed RN
- Current, valid California RN license by the time of hire
- Current Certifications (BLS, ACLS, Etc.) from the American Heart Association
Yes, the only requirement is that you have a California RN license by the time the program begins. We receive many out of state applications and will consider the out of state license endorsement timeline when determining graduation date requirement/start dates.
The number of new grads in each cohort varies as it is dependent on the needs of the organization and how many new grads units feel they can support.
At NorthBay Health, we prioritize internal applicants for our Nurse Residency Program as part of our commitment to fostering professional growth and retaining talented staff within our organization. This approach ensures continuity of care, supports employee development, and strengthens our culture by providing opportunities for internal advancement.
Departments and Specialty Units accept new grads based on needs and the number of new grads the department feels that they can support. It is different every cohort. The list of units accepting will be posted at the end of the application.
- Professors
- Clinical Faculty
- Clinical Liaisons
- One from a current clinical manager if working in a healthcare environment
All of these are acceptable for letters of recommendation and none are necessarily better than others. You ultimately want to pick the people who will be able to best speak on who you will be as a future nurse.
Thank you for applying to the Nurse Residency Program at NorthBay Health. We receive a significant number of applications for this prestigious and highly sought-after program, and while we would like to support everyone in their journey to becoming an RN, we are unable to select all applicants. Please know that we are committed to a fair and equitable selection process.
As part of our commitment to nurturing and developing talent, we review each application carefully and thoroughly. We embrace our core values — Nurture Care, Own It, Respect Relationships, Build Trust, and Hardwire Excellence — to guide us in selecting candidates who align with our mission of providing compassionate, high-quality, and patient-centered care. We encourage all applicants to continue striving toward excellence and trust that every step of your journey contributes to discovering your "True North."
We appreciate your patience and dedication throughout this process.