UConn Health Waterbury Hospital provides new graduate nurses the opportunity to participate in a 9-12 month supportive paid Nurse Residency Program designed to facilitate newly licensed nurses’ successful transition into clinical practice by providing support, resources, and mentorship. This program is designed to provide new nurses with the tools to successfully navigate their professional nursing journey help them gain confidence and increase competence during their first year. Nurse Residents will be hired directly to a specialty area where they will receive focused 1:1 training with a nurse preceptor. In addition to clinical immersion on the unit, Nurse Residents meet in a classroom format throughout their first year to share experiences and participate in learning activities. Each resident will develop and implement an evidence-based teaching project over the course of the program.
Who is eligible for/enrolled in the Nurse Residency Program at UConn Health Waterbury Hospital?
• Every newly licensed RN (completion of NCLEX with active CT RN license) with less than one-year
experience
• Program enrollment is based on hire date (summer cohorts are automatically enrolled)
UConn Health Waterbury Hospital benefit options for registered nurses:
• Competitive pay – including generous differentials
• Health, dental and vision
• Paid Time Off (vacation/sick/holiday)
• Educational Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Repayment options
• Defined Benefit Pension
• 401K retirement savings
• Elective benefits, including identity protection
• Free on-site parking
We are currently hiring for Summer 2027 residency cohorts.
Graduates of this program will:
• Gain nursing leadership skills that drive performance and enhance patient care
• Provide safe and effective patient care in alignment with American Nurses Association and Practice Setting’s scope and standards of practice.
• Develop higher levels of competence, critical thinking, and clinical judgment
• Incorporate research-based evidence into their practices to advance safe, high-quality nursing care
• Successfully navigate high acuity environments and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members
• Meet regularly with educator/mentor to reflect on experience and discuss opportunities for growth
• Develop and implement an evidence-based teaching project to address a clinical practice gap
Education: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. Senior nursing students are encouraged to apply prior to graduation.
Experience: New RN Graduate Nurses or newly licensed RNs.
License and Certification:
Active State of CT RN license. New graduates may start employment once they successfully pass the NCLEX. Once active state of CT RN license is confirmed, newly licensed nurse will be placed into Nurse Residency Program cohort.
The UConn Health Community Network is a not-for-profit organization created to extend UConn Health’s mission by partnering with community hospitals and connecting them to its clinical expertise, academic strength, and operational resources.
Today, the network is a thriving community‑based system of care serving more than 280,000 residents across the region. It employs over 2,000 professionals and supports a medical staff of roughly 700 clinicians.
At its core is Waterbury Hospital, a 347‑bed community teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Alongside Connecticut Children’s, the UConn Health Community Network Medical Group, Access Rehab Centers, and its role as a leading partner in the Harold Leever Cancer Center, the network has been shaping the region’s healthcare landscape for more than 130 years.
And Waterbury Hospital is only the beginning — the network is designed for continued growth, deeper partnerships, and broader regional impact.
Job details are sourced from the employer's original posting.
Open job postingAbout the company
Waterbury Hospital is a healthcare provider offering comprehensive medical services and patient care in Connecticut.