RN Residency in Critical & Acute Care
About the program
The UPMC Presbyterian RN Residency is a twelve-month, ANCC-accredited transition-to-practice program that rotates new-graduate nurses through three of the medical center's intensive-care units: medical, surgical, and cardiothoracic. Cohorts of 64 begin twice yearly — in June and September — with paired preceptorship from week one and protected didactic days throughout.
Residents complete a 16-week onboarding period before assuming independent assignments. Throughout the residency, residents present an evidence-based-practice project to senior nursing leadership, with the strongest projects published in the UPMC Journal of Nursing each spring.
Program structure
- Weeks 1–4: Foundations — classroom didactics, ECG interpretation, hemodynamic monitoring, and ICU skills lab.
- Weeks 5–16: Preceptorship — 1:1 with an assigned preceptor across rotating ICU placements.
- Months 5–9: Specialty immersion — residents select a primary specialty (CTICU, SICU, or MICU).
- Months 10–12: Independent practice with monthly cohort meetings and EBP project completion.
Who this is for
This residency is designed for new-graduate registered nurses (BSN) within twelve months of NCLEX-RN. Applicants must hold a current RN license (or be eligible for licensure) in Pennsylvania prior to the cohort start date.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the UPMC careers portal. Each applicant submits a one-page personal statement, two professional references, and an unofficial transcript. Selected applicants are invited to a virtual panel interview, with a cohort decision typically issued within four weeks of interview.
About this listing: Information was sourced from the program's public website and verified by the program coordinator on March 14, 2026. Are you the coordinator? Update this listing →