RN Residency in Pediatrics
About the Program
At Children's Hospital Los Angeles, it is our goal to take care of acutely ill and injured children in today’s increasingly complex technological environment. New graduate nurses need extended clinical experiences with appropriate support systems for a successful transition from nursing student to professional nurse.
At CHLA, we understand the needs of new graduate nurses as they integrate into the profession. To meet those needs, we offer the RN Residency in Pediatrics program, which provides the specific tools and experiences needed by new graduates to become successful pediatric nurses. With our new and updated RN Residency curriculum, we are proud to incorporate an added focus on experimental learning in the new 6-bed Las Madrinas Simulation Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. This shift from traditional content delivery to complex experiences will ensure our nurses’ success in the modern health care system.
CHLA is the founding hospital of the RN Residency and has over 20 years of experience in providing a structured, supportive residency program to new graduate nurses. Our one-year program provides new nursing school graduates with a comprehensive clinical and learning experience to prepare them for work in an acute care environment. It has become the model for the new graduate.
Program Recognition
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is recognized throughout the United States and around the world for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent medicine, as well as research. As a Magnet-designated hospital, CHLA is one of America’s premier teaching hospitals, affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of USC for more than 73 years. The RN Residency in Pediatrics Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is accredited with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs.
The current workplace settings included in this accreditation with distinction designation are:
- Medical-Surgical
- Oncology
- Critical Care
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
- Operating Room
- Centralized Function: Radiology
- Emergency Department
Program Evaluation
At Children's Hospital Los Angeles, we are constantly looking for evidence-based methods for growing and improving the RN Residency program. Feedback from our previous RN Residents is precious to us. We approach previous RN Residents annually for five years after they complete the program for feedback on how to improve our program.
Results of Previous Evaluations
Feedback received from program graduates has resulted in significant changes to the way the program is delivered. A few examples of these changes include:
- Making classes more interactive
- Increasing direct applicability to nursing practice
- Focusing mentor meetings on career and professional development
- Reordering skill labs so the most important skills are taught earlier in the program
Evaluations have also helped us show the value of this great program, as over the last 10 years we have decreased turnover among new graduate nurses.
- One-year turnover rate: reduced from 36% to less than 6%
- Two-year turnover rate: reduced from 56% to less than 13%
Nursing Units and Specialties
Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) offers nurses the opportunity to specialize in several critical care areas, including cardiovascular care, critical care, hematology-oncology, medical services, rehabilitation and surgical.
Download list of Nursing Units and Specialties (.docx)
Information Sessions
Interested in learning about our RN New Graduate Residency in Pediatrics program? Join us for a virtual information session about the hiring process.
March 2025 cohort info sessions
September 2025 cohort info sessions
- Dates to be determined
Important Dates
Online Applications
The March cohort will begin on March 3, 2025. Applications will open on Friday, October 11 at 9 a.m. (PST) and close on Friday, October 25 at 12 p.m.
Interview Process
If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified via e-mail. Please allow Talent Acquisition and the Unit Managers sufficient time to review the packets and make their selections. We appreciate your patience.
Upcoming Program Dates
March 2025
September 2025
You are eligible for the RN Residency program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles if:
- You are a new graduate or an RN with less than one year of nursing experience in any area by the start of the program
- You have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Master of Science in Nursing **
**The following units will accept new graduates with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) for the March 2025 cohort: 5 East, 5 West, 6 East, 6 West, Duque, Emergency Department. RN residents accepted to the program with an ADN will be required to enroll in a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program within 2 years of hire.
Once an offer is made you will have 48 hours to accept.
Resident Curriculum
One-to-One Preceptor Training
At Children's Hospital Los Angeles, our RN residents spend 75% of the program time receiving one-to-one precepted training in the clinical setting. Our preceptors are experienced bedside pediatric nurses who are specially trained to provide expert clinical guidance to the resident.
Skills and Practice
RN residents spend the remaining 25% of the program time in simulation, skills labs and the classroom, being taught by our expert pediatric nurses and subject-matter experts. These sessions give the residents the tools necessary to make the transition from new graduate RN to specialty pediatric RN.
Dedicated Mentors, Coaches and Resources
Mentors are provided to help guide the residents in their career development and provide them with the tools needed to grow professionally.
Supportive Debriefing
Our RN residents participate in debriefing and self-care groups throughout the program. Our debriefing sessions are mediated by various members of our multidisciplinary team. In these forums, residents gain skills to help manage stress and share experiences in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
How to Apply
You are eligible for the RN Residency program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles if:
- You are a new graduate or an RN with less than one year of nursing experience in any area by the start of the program
- You have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Master of Science in Nursing **
- ** The following units will accept new graduates with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) for the March 2025 cohort: 4 East, 4 West, 5 East, 5 West, 6 East, 6 West, Duque, Cardiovascular Acute Emergency Department and Float Team. RN residents accepted to the program with an ADN will be required to enroll in a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) program within 2 years of hire.
Application
New Process
While we are accepting applications, search for “RN Residency Program” positions at:
When you are ready to apply for the program you will complete and/or upload the following:
- A resume
- Cover letter
- Complete Essay Questions within the application
Interview Process
If you are selected for interviews, a Talent Advisor will contact you. The first round of interviews is with our RN Residency Hiring Committee. Those who are successful in advancing to the second round will interview with the unit representative.
Note: You must have your active California RN license, an active American Heart Association BLS (CPR) and PALS card to start the program.
