Nurse Residency Program
The Billings Clinic Nurse Residency program supports new graduate registered nurses through the transition from students to competent professional nurses during the first year of practice. The 12-month program provides graduate nurses with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver competent, safe, and effective patient-centered care. Nurse Residents are full-time employees in the role of a professional nurse under the guidance and support of:
- Unit preceptors
- Nursing Professional Development Practitioners
- Unit Management Teams
- Nurse Residency Specialists
Learning Environment
Nurse Residents form a strong connection with the Nurse Residency Team. The program consists of guided learning activities, opportunities to identify essential resources, and reflective debrief sessions. Competency attainment centers on:
- Patient-Centered Care
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Safety
- Quality Improvement
- Evidence-based Practice
- Informatics
Evidence-Based Practice
Nurse Residents build scholarly inquiry skills while researching and developing an Evidence-based Change Project. These research projects are presented to hospital leaders and educators during the Change Project Exhibit at the promotion. Members of the Nursing Research Council (NRC) and the Collaborative Science & Innovation team collaborate with Nurse Residents to refine and advance their project ideas.
Eligibility
Who is Eligible?
- All new grad nurses are accepted into the program (ADN, BSN, Accelerated BSN, or MSN)
- Nurses with less than 12 months of working RN experience
- Fellows who have do not have experience in acute care facility
Program Expectations and Requirements
- Montana RN license to start employment
- Commit to one year of monthly didactic sessions
- Participate in orientation progress meetings with the preceptor, nurse residency specialists, and clinical leadership team
- Develop and present an evidence-based project at the end of Year 1
Nurse Residency Topics
This is an overview that include hands on learning and didactic.
- Unit based specialty education
- Foundation for Nurse Residency Program
- Foundations for Workplace
- Patient Centered Healthcare
- Medication Administration
- Handling Emergencies
- Crucial Conversations
- Resiliency and Self Care
- Professional Development and Scholarly Inquiry
- Professional Responsibilities
- Unit-based specialty education
New Grad Opportunities
All unit-specific RNs are expected to work day/night shift rotations. All RNs are expected to work weekend and holiday rotations. Placement in preferred unit is not guaranteed.
Placement opportunities include:
- Surgical Services (OR)
- Cardiovascular (CVU)
- Emergency and Trauma Center
- Endoscopy
- Family Birth Center- LDRP
- Inpatient Cancer Care (ICC)
- Inpatient Medical (IPM)
- Inpatient Pediatric Unit (IPU)
- Inpatient Surgical Unit (IPS)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Intermediate Care Unit (IMC)
- Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)
- Orthopedics Neurology Unit (ONU)
- Psychiatric Services
- Surgical Services (OR)
Learn more about nursing specialty and units
Nurse Residency Important Dates
If you possess a nursing license and have less than 12 months of experience, you must participate in the nurse residency program. You are welcome to apply to our posted RN positions outside of the application dates and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you have not graduated from nursing school, please see deadlines below.
December 2025 Graduate Application Period:
- Opens: September 8, 2025
- Closes: September 26, 2025
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