Accreditation

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center achieved a five-year accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for the employee-based nurse residency program, effective September 14, 2020. Accreditation through CCNE underscores the quality of the residency program in transitioning new-to-practice nurses into the healthcare environment, providing the foreground for continued professional development. This accomplishment demonstrates exceptional program curriculum and the dedication of nursing leaders, professional development practitioners, academic partners, and organization stakeholders in supporting graduate nurse transition to practice.

The employee-based nurse residency program at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, and (202) 887-6791.

Application Requirements:

To be eligible for the Graduate Nurse Residency, candidates must have graduated with either an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, have no previous experience working as a licensed RN, and must start the program within one year of completing their nursing degree.

Graduate nurses must possess a Registered Nurse license to practice professional nursing in the state of Pennsylvania prior to residency start date.

Please include an updated resume with your application.

For more information, contact Renee Foster at [email protected].

Adult Acute Care

Preferred experience for all units: graduate nurse and/or registered nurse license or professional nursing certification.

3 Acute Care (Ortho/Emergency and General Surgery/Trauma/Internal Medicine)

Inpatient Surgical Specialties

The 47-bed acute care unit provides care for patients from a variety of surgical specialties, including abdominal transplant, gastroenterology, bariatric surgery, gynecological oncology, urology, colon and rectal, minimally invasive trauma, emergency general surgery and surgical oncology.

Medical Oncology

The 38-bed medical oncology unit serves patients with hematological and oncological malignances from internal medicine, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, as well as others. The unit also accommodates patients of size from all medical and surgical specialties. Nurses in this unit receive training in chemotherapy administration and the care of hematological/oncology patients.

Medicine Specialties

The 44-bed acute care unit serves patients with complex medical needs from various specialties, including gastroenterology, pulmonology, infectious diseases, palliative care and nephrology. The unit also specializes in care for adults with cystic fibrosis. Nurses on this unit obtain unit specific competencies to care for this patient population.

Orthopedics and Neurosciences

Nurses in this 48-bed acute care unit care for patients of various medical and surgical specialties, including the neurosciences, orthopedics, otolaryngology and reconstructive surgery. The unit also includes four state-of-the-art epilepsy monitoring beds. Special training and competencies are awarded in trauma, stroke and epilepsy care.

Penn State Cancer Institute (Inpatient)

With 39 beds, this unit serves patients with hematological and oncologic malignancies as well as patients receiving stem cell transplants and CAR T-cell Therapy. Nurses in this unit receive training in chemotherapy administration and the care of hematology/oncology and stem cell transplant patient. Nurses complete Oncology Nursing Society/Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONS/ONCC) Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Certification as part of orientation.

Trauma and Surgical

The 24-bed trauma/surgical unit provides care for trauma and emergency general surgery patients. Nurses on this unit collaborate with a variety of interdisciplinary health care teams to support patient care.

Adult Critical Care

Preferred experience for all units: graduate nurse and/or registered nurse license, professional nursing certification and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Heart and Vascular Critical Care

The 30-bed intensive care unit serves patients with critical care diagnoses of the heart and circulatory system. The unit also cares for patients on mechanical circulatory support devices, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), right ventricular assist devices (RVAD), total artificial hearts and intra-aortic balloon pumps

Heart and Vascular Progressive Care

The 28-bed mixed-acuity unit cares for patients who have been implanted with an LVAD, which is unique to the heart and vascular critical care and heart and vascular progressive care units. Nurses also care for acute cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery and congenital heart patients.

Medical Intensive Care

The 24-bed intensive care unit is designed for patients receiving critical treatment for multi-system organ failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, acute renal/liver failure, acid-base and electrolyte imbalances, diabetes mellitus, and substance use disorder.

Medical Intermediate Care

The 20-bed mixed-acuity unit serves patients who are ventilator dependent through a tracheostomy, have experienced multi-system organ failure, respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, renal/liver failure, acid-base and electrolyte imbalances, diabetes mellitus and substance use disorder.

Neuroscience Critical Care

With 31 beds, the critical care unit serves neurology and neurosurgery patients undergoing treatment for strokes, brain tumors, head traumas, seizures, neuro-oncology, advanced neurological monitoring and other neuromuscular disorders.

Surgical-Anesthesia Intensive Care

The 30-bed intensive care unit serves patients admitted for emergency general surgery, Level 1 trauma, transplant and surgical services. Specialties include orthopedics, urology, surgical oncology, plastic surgery, colorectal surgery, thoracic surgery and obstetrics/gynecology.

Surgical Intermediate Care

Nurses in the 16-bed multidisciplinary, mixed-acuity unit care for patients with complex multisystem health issues. Patients who need general, emergency general, trauma or oncology surgery or surgical specialties such as thoracic, urology, orthopedics and colorectal are admitted to this unit.

Emergency Department

Preferred experience: graduate nurse and/or registered nurse license, professional nursing certification, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Supports (PALS) certifications.

This is a 60-bed unit where nurses care for patients undergoing emergent and urgent care for acute and chronic conditions in a wide variety of acuity levels. The Emergency Department is a Level 1 Regional Trauma Center treating more than 70,000 patients annually

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital is a regional Level 1 pediatric trauma center. Our team cares for patients from infancy through 18 years of age with acute and serious illnesses or injuries and supports their family members as well.
The employee-based nurse residency program at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, and (202) 887-6791.

Application Requirements:

To be eligible for the Graduate Nurse Residency, candidates must have graduated with either an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, have no previous experience working as a licensed RN, and must start the program within one year of completing their nursing degree.

Graduate nurses must possess a Registered Nurse license to practice professional nursing in the state of Pennsylvania prior to residency start date.

Please include an updated resume with your application.

For more information, contact Renee Foster at [email protected].

Required for all inpatient Pediatric Units: Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification

Preferred experience for all units: A strong desire to care for children and their families.

Neonatal Intensive Care

The only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit in central Pennsylvania, the unit, which incorporates 56 hybrid beds, offers critical care for high-risk deliveries and premature infants. Nurses care for patients requiring different modes of ventilation support including the use of high-frequency ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), bubble CPAP, noninvasive support and nitric oxide therapy.

* Additional preferred experience: Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certifications

Pediatric Emergency Department

The 12-bed unit provides emergent and urgent care for acute and chronic conditions at varying acuity levels. The pediatric emergency department is a regional Level 1 pediatric trauma center treating more than 20,000 patients annually.

Pediatric Progressive Care

The 18-bed acute care unit serves patients receiving treatment in general pediatrics, endocrinology, infectious diseases, rheumatology, pulmonology, nephrology and neurology.

Pediatric Intensive Care

The 18-bed intensive care unit serves patients receiving treatment for trauma, neurosurgery, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and other conditions.

* Additional preferred experience: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification

Pediatric Intermediate Care

Nurses in the 18-26 bed mixed-acuity unit care for patients undergoing treatment in general pediatrics with a specialty focus on diabetes management, seasonal respiratory disease processes, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric cardiology, neurology and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery.

* Additional preferred experience: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification

Pediatric Surgical Care

The 18-bed unit serves patients receiving acute or intermediate care from pediatric surgery, trauma surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, urology, and plastic surgery specialties and gastroenterology.

* Additional preferred experience: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification

Women and Babies Center

Nurses provide care for patients admitted to the obstetric/gynecology services for the following care: antepartum, labor and delivery, postpartum specialties including mother/baby couplets and transitional newborns, as well as post-partum readmissions. With 9 labor beds, 4 triage rooms, 2 operating rooms and 28-36 postpartum/antepartum rooms our staff gain tremendous experience within our high risk, high volume center.

* Additional preferred experience: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification

As members of Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program™, Hampden Medical Center’s Graduate Nurse Residency program offers both classroom and hands-on learning designed to bolster graduate nurses’ competencies, while also ensuring their comfort with the Medical Center’s practice standards. Graduate nurse residents enter the program during their general nursing orientation, and program participation continues through their unit specific orientation and first year of practice. During the residency, graduate nurses participate in 13 topical seminars, through which graduate nurses experience an atmosphere of collaboration and camaraderie as they share insight on their personal and professional growth. As part of their professional development, participants are expected to attend all 13 seminars, complete a professional development plan, and present an evidence-based practice project upon program completion. Program seminars also provide networking opportunities for graduate nurses with other program participants, expert facilitators, and mentors.

Nursing orientation is offered monthly – new graduates can start as soon as Temporary Practice Permit or Permanent RN licensure is obtained.

For more information, please contact Katy Rush, Recruiter at [email protected].

New graduates are hired on the following units:

• Clinical Decision/Observation
• Critical Care
• Emergency Department
• Intermediate Care
• Medical / Surgical
• Women’s Health

As members of Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program™, Holy Spirit Medical Center’s Graduate Nurse Residency offers both classroom and hands-on learning designed to bolster graduate nurses’ competencies, while also ensuring their comfort with the Medical Center’s practice standards. Graduate nurse residents enter the program during their general nursing orientation, and program participation continues through their unit specific orientation and first year of practice. During the residency, graduate nurses participate in 13 topical seminars, through which graduate nurses experience an atmosphere of collaboration and camaraderie as they share insight on their personal and professional growth. As part of their professional development, participants are expected to attend all 13 seminars, complete a professional development plan, and present an evidence-based practice project upon program completion. Program seminars also provide networking opportunities for graduate nurses with other program participants, expert facilitators, and mentors.

Nursing orientation is offered monthly – new graduates can start as soon as Temporary Practice Permit or Permanent RN licensure is obtained.

For more information, please contact Katy Rush, Recruiter at [email protected].

New graduates are hired on the following units:

• Adult Intensive Care
• Cardiac Specialty Care
• Cardiovascular Intensive Care
• Emergency Department
• Float Pool
• Medical/Surgical
• Neuro/Trauma/Stroke
• Operating Room
• Post Anesthesia Care (PAC)
• Telemetry
• Trauma Orthopedics

St. Joseph Medical Center has partnered with the Pennsylvania Action Coalition and Vizient/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (ANCC) to develop a robust Nurse Residency to support our nurses as they transition into the professional nurse role. The program focuses on leadership, quality outcomes, and the professional nurse role. 

Graduate nurses attend monthly educational seminars that assist in development of critical thinking skills related to clinical judgement and performance as well as strengthen the nurse resident’s clinical nursing leadership at point of care.

Please include a cover letter, resume, transcripts, and clinical narrative with your application.

For more information, contact Erin McCaw at [email protected].

New graduates are hired on the following units:

• Critical Care
• Emergency Department
• Family Birthing Center
• Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) and Pediatrics
• 1 North Medical, Surgical, Oncology)
• 2 North (Medical/Surgical, Cardiac, Intermediate Care)
• 1 South (Medical, Surgical)

For more information specific to St. Joseph's Nurse Residency, click here.