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RN New Graduate Transition to Practice Program

Join Our Team as a New Graduate Nurse!

Begin your nursing career at Rady Children’s Hospital in our RN New Graduate Transition to Practice Program! We offer two cohorts annually, in early Spring and late Summer, each providing a full year of comprehensive education and training tailored to transform you from a newly graduated nurse into a skilled, confident, and professional pediatric healthcare practitioner. From day one, you'll benefit from immersive case-based learning, hands-on simulation, dedicated mentoring and debriefing groups, guided clinical experiences with expert preceptors, and comprehensive wellness support. Join us and thrive in a nurturing environment that fosters your growth and success in pediatric nursing!

Annual Cohorts

Spring 2025

  • Cohort start: 3/17/2025
  • Applications accepted: 10/07/2024 – 10/19/2024

Summer 2025

  • Cohort start: 8/04/2025
  • Applications accepted: 2/24/2025 – 3/08/2025

You can also sign up for “Job Alerts” at the bottom of this page to be notified via email when the application is live.



RN New Graduate Transition to Practice Program FAQs

What are the requirements of the RN New Graduate Transition to Practice Program?

  • Graduate of an accredited ADN, BSN, or MSN program within 18 months of the cohort start date.
  • If graduating with an ADN, applicants must be enrolled in a BSN or MSN program Current California RN license by program start date
  • Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association
  • Less than 12 months RN work experience by the program start date

Which units typically hire new grads?

We’re proud to offer opportunities in our inpatient acute care and critical care units, as well as our Emergency Department. Participating units typically include:

  • Neonatal ICU (NICU)
  • Pediatric ICU (PICU)
  • Cardiothoracic ICU (CTICU)
  • Medical Unit
  • Surgical Unit
  • Inpatient Hematology/Oncology Unit
  • Medical Behavioral Unit
  • Child & Adolescent Psych Services Unit
  • Emergency Care Center

Units participating in the RN New Graduate Transition to Practice Program may change per cohort, based on department and organizational needs. Please refer to the job posting for the units participating in that cohort.

What do I need to include with my application?

  • Applications for the Transition to Program must include a resume, cover letter, and 1 letter of recommendation.

    • Resume (1-2 pages)

      • List all clinical rotations completed throughout your nursing program. Include specialty area/unit, site location, and total number of hours completed for each rotation.

      • Specify your nursing program culminating clinical experience, e.g., practicum, preceptorship, capstone, student externship. Include the specialty area/unit, site location, and total number of hours completed.

      • Please ensure you’ve listed all academic achievements, work, volunteer, and leadership experience that you’d like to showcase.

    • Cover letter (1 page)

      • Please share with us why you are interested in pediatric nursing at Rady Children’s Hospital.

      • Be sure to indicate your top 2 specialty tracks of interest, electing from the participating units. Please note, you could be reviewed by any and all units participating in any given cohort.

    • Letter of recommendation (1 page)

      • Include 1 letter from a clinical instructor, preceptor, or supervisor who can speak to your abilities as a new graduate nurse and potential for success working with the pediatric and/or neonatal population.

  • Due to the number of applications received, incomplete applications are unable to be considered.

What can I expect after I submit my application? 

  • Application Review - Allow 4 weeks from application close date
  • Invitation to Selected Finalists to Interview - Allow 6-8 weeks from application close date
  • Interview Facilitation - Allow 8-12 weeks from application close date
  • Offer Decisions - Allow 12-15 weeks from application close date

Please note, these review periods are subject to change based on unit and organizational needs.

Please be aware that RN New Graduate Transition to Practice Program positions are limited, making selection among our large applicant pool highly competitive. As such, we are unable to provide status updates regarding individual applications. However, all applicants will receive a formal update once final selections are made.

How can I check the status of my application? 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide status updates regarding individual applications. However, all applicants will receive a formal update via email once final selections are made.

Do you hire new grad RNs outside of the Transition to Practice Program?

No, we do not. Our RN New Graduate Transition to Practice Program is specifically tailored to enhance the experience of the New Graduate Nurse. The Transition to Practice Program is for new graduate nurses, who have less than 12 months of RN experience, and have graduated from an accredited ADN, BSN or MSN program within 18 months of cohort start. If you are an experienced Registered Nurse with an interest in pediatrics, please find details about our New to Pediatric program below.

Do I need to be a California resident to apply?

All are welcome to apply! Keep in mind that a California RN license must be obtained by the cohort start date, so begin your application with the California Board of Registered Nursing with sufficient time for processing (up to 12 weeks).Please note, we are not accepting interim permits at this time.

How can I confirm you received all my application documents?

You may login to your Rady Children’s account and review your application at any time.

How do I update or add documents (resume, certifications, or licensure) after I have submitted my application? 

Documents are unable to be updated or added once an application is submitted. Updated documents may be provided to a hiring manager or Human Resources if you’re selected for an interview.

Do I need to resubmit my documents if I have already submitted them in the past 12 months?

Yes! Applications are reviewed by cohort, so you will need to reapply and provide updated documents for each new application.

Can I apply for a New Grad position before I get my RN license?

Yes! The assumption is that you will graduate and obtain an RN license prior to the cohort start date, so you are welcome to apply before obtaining one. You will not need to submit an updated resume once these requirements are completed.

I am a newly graduated RN and work as a nurse elsewhere. Am I still eligible to apply for a position?

  • Nurses with less than 12 months RN work experience by the program start date are eligible to apply.
  • Nurses with over 12 months of RN work experience are encouraged to apply to our regular Registered Nurse openings.

How can I best prepare for my application and interview?

  • Applicants with experience in the clinical area of interest will receive the highest regard for consideration.
  • Acquiring relevant pediatric experience via senior preceptorship/practicum, clinical rotation(s), intern/externship, volunteer, and/or employment as a nursing assistant is strongly advised.

Can I receive a tour of the hospital?

At this time, we are not able to fulfill New Graduate Nurse tour requests. Applicants invited to interview, will receive a tour from department leadership at time of interview. Unfortunately, we are also unable to accommodate requests for job shadowing opportunities or nurse externships.

Still need help?

Please review this page in its entirety as it is often updated. If you find yourself still having urgent questions, you can contact our New Grad team at NewGradRN@rchsd.org.

Registered Nurse - New to Pediatrics Program

Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego (Video)

The New to Pediatrics/Adult to Pediatrics Nursing Experience at Rady Children's

If you are an experienced Registered Nurse, with a passion to work in pediatrics, Rady Children’s presents this opportunity to help you achieve your goal!

We periodically offer training programs in our Acute Care, Critical Care and Emergency Care units. Each training program is unique with a specialized curriculum and clinical training tailored to each nurse based on former experience. Our customized orientation to pediatrics is approximately 8-16 weeks, depending on the unit, and includes unit based education classes as well as precepted-guided clinical experience.

To qualify, a Registered Nurse must have a minimum of 1 year acute care, critical care and/or emergency care nursing experience.

*Please sign up for a “Job Alert” below, to be notified of future openings.

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