University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, based in Iowa City, offers a 12-month Nurse Residency Program for graduates of academic RN programs with no previous nursing experience. New residents can start as soon as they receive their RN license, with hospital-wide orientation classes held roughly every two weeks.

The first week covers hospital-wide orientation, introducing residents to the health system's approach to patient care. From there, residents move into unit orientation, which runs six to twelve weeks depending on the unit. Nearly all inpatient units accept new graduates, including intensive care units, the emergency department, the main operating room, and pediatrics, and candidates can interview and shadow with up to three units before choosing where to start.

The program combines paid learning both on the unit and in the classroom with an accredited residency curriculum, ongoing professional development, and opportunities to build connections with fellow new graduates. That structure makes it a well-rounded entry point for new RNs across a wide range of clinical specialties within an academic medical center.