Application Deadline: December 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM
Are you a senior nursing student, recent nursing graduate, or new RN looking to begin your career in neonatal critical care? ChristianaCare is now accepting applications for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse Residency Program, starting July 19, 2027.
The ChristianaCare Nurse Residency Program is accredited with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs, demonstrating our commitment to excellence in nursing education and professional development.
Why Choose a Nurse Residency Program?Research shows that nurses who complete a structured, accredited residency program experience:
- Increased clinical competency
- Reduced medical errors
- Lower self-reported stress
- Higher job satisfaction
At ChristianaCare, we are dedicated to supporting nurses with less than one year of experience through a specialty-focused residency pathway that promotes professional growth, confidence, and clinical excellence.
Program OverviewThe NICU Nurse Residency Program is a comprehensive 26-week program that combines classroom learning, simulation-based training, and preceptor-led clinical experiences within our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Located in ChristianaCare's state-of-the-art Women & Children's Building, the NICU features:
- Private patient rooms with rooming-in capabilities for families
- Innovative Couplet Care rooms that allow mothers to remain close to their babies
- An expanded nursing model that includes care for postpartum mothers through ChristianaCare's pioneering Couplet Care Program
Following the initial residency experience, participants continue their professional development through residency sessions during months 8, 10, and 12.
This program is designed for graduate nurses who are passionate about neonatal critical care and possess strong critical thinking abilities, curiosity, and a commitment to learning.
Residency CurriculumParticipants will benefit from:
- Classroom and simulation-based education
- Peer support and mentorship
- Preceptor-guided clinical experiences
- Evidence-based practice training
- Critical thinking development
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Professional Development
- Quality and patient safety education
Prior to the program start date, participants must:
- Successfully pass the NCLEX
- Obtain Delaware RN licensure or Compact State RN licensure
Upon hire, nurse residents will sign a commitment agreement requiring:
- Two years of employment with ChristianaCare
- A minimum of 15 months on the original unit of hire
Individuals who do not fulfill this commitment may be subject up to a $10,000 repayment obligation.
Minimum QualificationsApplicants must:
- Graduate from an accredited nursing program before June 2027 (BSN preferred)
- Hold or obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Have less than 12 months of RN experience by the program start date
- Hold a Delaware RN license or Compact State RN license before the start date
- Be willing and able to work all shifts, including:
- Days
- Evenings
- Nights
- Weekends
- Holidays
Please submit the following documents with your application:
Required Documents
- Cover letter expressing your interest in the Neonatal ICU Nurse Residency Program
- Please address your letter to Madison Valerio
- Current resume
- Unofficial nursing school transcript
If it's determined that you meet the minimum qualifications will receive separate emails from third-party vendors and additional instruction on how to complete the following:
SkillSurvey Clinical References
- Two clinical instructors are required to be entered
- References are not needed at the time of application submission but must be entered in enough time for your instructors to respond prior to application deadline
- Qualified candidates will receive instructions to submit contact information for clinical instructors
HeyMilo Audio Interview Questions
- Completion of audio interview question is required
- Instructions will be provided via email after qualification review
Both the SkillSurvey and HeyMilo assessments must be completed before a candidate can be considered for interviews.
What to Expect After Applying and TimelineQualified candidates will receive communication from the Talent Acquisition Team regarding required next steps, including:
- Hey Milo Audio Questions
- SkillSurvey clinical reference submission
December 17, 2026 - Application deadline
January 2027 - Eligible candidates (Candidates who have provided all required documents and completed all additional assessments) will be forwarded to the residency coordinators for review
February 2027 - Digital live interviews begin
Late February 2027 - Offers extended to selected candidates
July 19. 2027 - Neonatal ICU Nurse Residency Program start date
Important Delaware Licensure InformationThe Delaware RN licensure process may take 6 to 8 weeks to complete. Delays in obtaining licensure may affect your ability to begin employment as scheduled if an offer is extended.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin fingerprinting and background check requirements immediately after submitting their application and to review licensure requirements through the Delaware Board of Nursing or their Compact State licensing board.
Questions?
For application assistance or program-related questions, please contact:
Begin your Mother/Baby nursing career with one of the region's most comprehensive nurse residency programs and gain the experience, mentorship, and clinical expertise needed to thrive in the NICU environment at ChristianaCare
This is a flat rate position, any individual hired into this position will be paid $39.38/hr plus any applicable differentials.This pay rate/range represents ChristianaCare’s good faith and reasonable estimate of compensation at the time of posting. The actual salary within this range offered to a successful candidate will depend on individual factors including without limitation skills, relevant experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Post End Date
Dec 17, 2026EEO Posting Statement
ChristianaCare offers a competitive suite of employee benefits to maximize the wellness of you and your family, including health insurance, paid time off, retirement, an employee assistance program. To learn more about our benefits for eligible positions visit https://careers.christianacare.org/benefits-compensation/
Skills Required
- Graduate from an accredited nursing program before June 2027
- BSN degree
- Hold or obtain Basic Life Support certification
- Have less than 12 months of RN experience by the program start date
- Hold a Delaware RN license or Compact State RN license before the start date
- Successfully pass the NCLEX before the residency start date
- Obtain RN licensure in Delaware or an eligible Compact State before the residency start date
- Be willing and able to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays
- Submit a cover letter addressed to Madison Valerio
- Submit a current resume
- Submit an unofficial nursing school transcript
- Submit at least two clinical instructor references through SkillSurvey
- Complete the HeyMilo audio interview assessment
What We Do
Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, ChristianaCare is one of the country’s most dynamic health care organizations, centered on improving health outcomes, making high-quality care more accessible and lowering health care costs. ChristianaCare includes an extensive network of primary care and outpatient services, home health care, urgent care centers, three hospitals (1,336 beds), a freestanding emergency department, a Level I trauma center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health. It also includes the pioneering Gene Editing Institute. ChristianaCare is nationally recognized as a great place to work, rated by Forbes as the 2nd best health system for diversity and inclusion, and the 29th best health system to work for in the United States, and by IDG Computerworld as one of the nation’s Best Places to Work in IT. ChristianaCare is rated by Healthgrades as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals and continually ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and other national quality ratings. ChristianaCare is a nonprofit teaching health system with more than 260 residents and fellows. With its groundbreaking Center for Virtual Health and a focus on population health and value-based care, ChristianaCare is shaping the future of health care
