Nurse Residency Summer Postpartum Track

Postpartum (Mother/Baby) Nurse Residency Program

Summer 2027 Cohort | Christiana Care

Final date to receive applications:
December 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM

Are you a senior nursing student, recent nursing graduate, or new registered nurse interested in Maternal/Child Nursing? Christiana Care is now accepting applications for the Postpartum (Mother/Baby) Nurse Residency Program
, beginning July 19, 2027
.

Christiana Care Nurse Residency Program is accredited with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs, reflecting our commitment to excellence in nursing education and clinical practice.

Why Choose a Nurse Residency Program?

Research demonstrates that nurses who participate in a structured residency program experience:

• Increased clinical competency
• Reduced medical errors
• Lower self-reported stress
• Greater job satisfaction

At Christiana Care, we are committed to supporting registered nurses with less than one year of experience through specialty-focused residency programs designed to foster confidence, clinical excellence, and professional growth.

Program Overview

The Postpartum (Mother/Baby) Nurse Residency Program is designed for graduate nurses and RNs with less than 12 months of experience who are passionate about caring for mothers, newborns, and families during one of life's most important transitions.

Postpartum nurses play a vital role in supporting families by:

• Assessing and caring for both mother and newborn
• Monitoring the newborn's transition to extrauterine life
• Providing education on newborn care and development
• Supporting maternal recovery and postpartum health
• Helping families build confidence in caring for their newborn

Upon completion of the program, nurse residents will possess the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to provide exceptional care to postpartum mothers, newborns, and their families.

Continuing Care Nursery

The Postpartum Unit also includes a Continuing Care Nursery
, where newborns exposed to substance use during pregnancy receive specialized care after maternal discharge. Residents will gain experience caring for infants diagnosed with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), including:

• Ongoing assessment and monitoring
• Withdrawal management
• Medication administration when appropriate
• Family education and support

Residency Curriculum

This intensive 24-week preceptor-led residency program includes:

• Postpartum clinical orientation
• Mother and newborn care training
• Continuing Care Nursery experience
• Specialty educational workshops
• Classroom instruction and simulation experiences
• Peer mentoring and support
• Evidence-based practice
• Communication and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Professional development and leadership growth

Following orientation, residents continue their professional development through residency sessions during months 8, 10, and 12
.

Employment Commitment

Prior to the program start date, participants must:

• Successfully pass the NCLEX
• Obtain Delaware RN licensure or Compact State RN licensure

Upon hire, nurse residents will sign a commitment agreement requiring:

• Two years of employment with Christiana Care
• A minimum of 15 months on the original unit of hire

Individuals who do not fulfill this commitment may be subject up to a $10,000 repayment obligation
.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Graduate from an accredited nursing program before June 2027 (BSN preferred)
• Hold or obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Have less than 12 months of RN experience by the program start date
• Hold a Delaware RN license or Compact State RN license before the start date
• Be willing and able to work all shifts, including:
  • Days
  • Evenings
  • Nights
  • Weekends
  • Holidays

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents with your application:

Required Documents

• Cover letter expressing your interest in the Postpartum Nurse Residency Program
  • Please address your letter to Lesley Tepner
• Current resume
• Unofficial nursing school transcript

Additional Required Assessments

If it's determined that you meet the minimum qualifications will receive separate emails from third-party vendors and additional instruction on how to complete the following:

Skill Survey Clinical References

• Two clinical instructors are required to be entered
• References are not needed at the time of application submission but must be entered in enough time for your instructors to respond prior to Final date to receive applications
• Qualified candidates will receive instructions to submit…