New Grad Residency Program FAQs

While you don’t need an RN license to apply, you need to have graduated within the last year or year-and-a-half OR be graduating before the last week in June for the summer program and the end of December for the Winter program to be eligible. You need to have a California RN license and degree before your start date as a New Graduate at UCLA.

1. No. BSN or MSN are the required degree programs.
2. If you have an ADN (Associates Degree in Nursing) and you are about to graduate with a BSN and have not worked as an RN, you will be considered.
3. If you have an ADN and have worked and are graduating with a BSN, please apply to an experienced RN position.

Yes, you need to have graduated within the last year or year-and-a-half.

If you are applying to the summer cohort, you will need to have a graduation date of no later than June.

If you are applying to the winter cohort, you will need to have a gradation date of no later than December.

This program is for New Graduate RNs only. It is not a refresher program. Please check the California Board of Nursing website at www.rn.ca.gov for refresher programs.

We accept applicants nationwide. We like applicants with a diverse educational background.

1. You need to have less than 6 months of experience by the time the program starts (August/September for Winter and March/April for Summer).
2. If you have 6 months or more of RN experience, you are considered an experienced RN.

1. Cover letter
2. Resume, including clinical rotation sites and hours
3. 2 Letters of Recommendation
4. You may create your profile ahead of time. Please click on the link to our website to apply: www.uclahealthcareers.org
5. If you are an internal applicant, please create an internal profile and only apply internally.
6. If you are an external applicant, please create an external profile.
7. Upload documents with application.

1. Professors
2. Clinical Faculty
3. Clinical Liaisons
4. One from a current clinical manager if working in a healthcare environment
5. All of these are acceptable for letters of recommendation.
   You ultimately want to pick the people who will be able to best speak on who you will be as a future nurse.

The system will only allow you to submit two letters. If you would like to submit more, you may bring them upon receiving an invitation for an in person interview.

University or Professional Letterhead should be used when submitting letters of recommendation.

Please use one of the following options:

1. To Whom It May Concern (This allows you to use the letter for the unit director should you be called in to interview.)
2. If you would like to address it specifically for UCLA:
   Sheri Monsein, Assistant Director of Nurse Recruitment or Amanda Lozano, Nurse Recruiter
   10920 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 400
   Los Angeles, CA 90095

This is your opportunity to let us get to know you better. It should be one page or less. It is best to be more general or focus on an area of special interest. If selected to interview, you may bring a cover letter specifically addressed to the manager with whom you will be interviewing.

We review every application.

Please apply by the deadline, and for special circumstances, please contact us for instructions to submit the missing documents.

The first round of applicants to be interviewed will be notified by email 4−6 weeks after completion of the application. Make sure to check your email regularly, including your spam inbox. We will continue to contact applicants until all positions are offered.

The interview dates are posted on the job description.

Each program will fluctuate based on need.

Units accept new grads based on needs and the number of new grads the department feels that they can support. It is different every cohort. The list of units accepting will be posted at the end of the application.

It is best to apply to the area you are most qualified for. Select the specialty that you are most passionate about and experienced in, or the area in which you have received positive feedback from your instructors and professors.

The program lasts one year, and you are hired into a new graduate position on the unit with whom you interview. You will a UCLA Health employee, and therefore, you will be paid. The New Graduate Residency Program is supplemental to your working at the bedside as an RN.

We have 2 New Graduate Programs per year. The programs usually begin in March/April and August/September. Applications usually post in September/October for the Winter Program and March for the Summer Program.

On your application, you will get the option to pick your top two choices for units you would like to work in. During the New Grad Program, you will train and work in that unit with that patient population.

No, you will need both your degree and your license before you start the program.

The New Grad program offers placements at our Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and our Santa Monica, UCLA Medical Center.

Please contact the Nurse Recruitment Office at 310-825-8141 for details.