RN (Registered Nurse) Residency Program in Boone, North Carolina at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System

Registered Nurse (RN) Residency Program

Location: Boone, North Carolina | Full-Time | Multiple Departments | Hospital-Based

Start Your Nursing Career with Confidence

You worked hard to become a nurse. Now, start your career with a team that will invest in your growth.

As a Registered Nurse (RN) Resident at UNC Health Appalachian, you’ll begin your nursing career with structured education and training, mentorship, preceptor support, clinical experiences, and professional development designed to help you transition confidently from nursing school into professional nursing practice.

Our Nurse Residency Program supports new graduate RNs with less than one year of registered nursing experience throughout their first year of practice. You’ll learn alongside experienced nurses, clinical experts, leaders, and other new graduate RNs while developing the skills, clinical judgment, and confidence that will serve as the foundation for your nursing career.

Whether you already know the specialty where you want to begin or are still exploring your options, we offer pathways designed to meet you where you are and help you move forward with confidence.

Now hiring for Fall/Winter/Spring Nurse Residency cohorts!

Compensation: Starting at $34.00/hour or more, based on education, experience, certification, and internal equity

Additional Pay: Eligible for applicable shift and department differentials based on assignment and schedule

Schedule: Full-time; schedules vary by department and may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays

Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; HSA option; supplemental insurance options; 403(b) retirement plan with employer match; paid time off; tuition reimbursement/certification bonuses; paid parental leave; wellness incentives; may be eligible for childcare assistance; and employee discounts

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits begin the first of the month following 60 days of employment from the new hire orientation date

Choose the Path That Fits You

Direct Specialty Placement

Know where you want to be?

If you already know the specialty where you want to begin your nursing career and an opportunity is available, you may be placed directly into that department.

You’ll complete your department-specific orientation and begin building experience within your chosen specialty while also participating in the required Nurse Residency Program alongside other new graduate RNs.

Throughout your first year, you’ll continue receiving education, mentorship, professional development, and support as you strengthen your clinical skills and grow within your specialty.

Specialty Exploration

Still discovering where you belong?

You don’t have to have your entire nursing career mapped out on day one.

For new graduate RNs who are still exploring their interests, this pathway provides opportunities for training and exposure to specialty areas. Experienced mentors, preceptors, and clinical experts will help you build your skills, learn about different areas of nursing, and discover where your interests and strengths may be the best fit.

You’ll participate in the same required Nurse Residency education, training, mentorship, and professional development while gaining additional opportunities to explore your future career path.

No matter which clinical pathway you choose, you are a Nurse Resident—and you’ll have the education, resources, mentorship, and support designed to help you succeed.

What to Expect from Nurse Residency

Nurse Residency is more than an orientation. It’s an investment in your continued development as you make the transition from nursing school to professional nursing practice.

As a Nurse Resident, you can expect:

• Scenarios developed and facilitated by clinical experts

• Structured Nurse Residency training and professional development

• Opportunities to interact with facility and nursing leaders

• Clinical instruction from subject matter experts

• Continued support from mentors and preceptors

• Opportunities for training and exposure to specialty areas when available

• Connection with other new graduate RNs navigating the same transition

• Continued development as you build confidence in professional nursing practice

What You’ll Do as an RN Resident

• Provide compassionate, patient-centered nursing care appropriate to your level of licensure and clinical competency

• Participate in structured Nurse Residency education, training, clinical experiences, and professional development throughout your first year

• Work closely with experienced preceptors, mentors, nursing leaders, and clinical experts as you transition into professional nursing practice

• Develop clinical judgment, critical-thinking skills, time management, communication, and confidence in the delivery of nursing care

• Assess and respond to the physical, psychosocial, emotional, and restorative needs of patients

• Recognize changes in patient condition and communicate or escalate concerns appropriately

• Communicate clearly and compassionately with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team

• Participate in department-specific orientation and competency development based on your clinical placement

• Promote ethical decision-making and provide care with compassion and respect for the dignity, worth, and individual needs of each patient

• Support teammates, patients, families, and visitors by providing assistance within the appropriate scope of practice

• Demonstrate professionalism, personal accountability, teamwork, and a commitment to continued learning

• Contribute to exceptional patient experience, quality, safety, and clinical outcomes

• Demonstrate UNC Health Appalachian’s Mission, Vision, and Values through daily interactions and patient care

For Nurse Residents awaiting RN licensure: Direct and indirect patient care is provided under the supervision of a licensed Registered Nurse. RN functions requiring licensure may not be performed independently until successful completion of the NCLEX examination and verification of an active RN license.

Qualifications & Licensure

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) required

• New graduate RN or Registered Nurse with less than one year of RN experience

• Prior healthcare experience in an acute care or clinical setting preferred

• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required at time of hire

• Must obtain and maintain an active Registered Nurse (RN) license as required for the position

• Candidates awaiting NCLEX/licensure must successfully complete the NCLEX examination and have an active RN license validated through primary source verification before independently performing functions requiring RN licensure; strong preference for candidates with active NC CNA certification

Additional certifications may be required within one year of hire based on department assignment.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members

• Commitment to safe, compassionate, and patient-centered nursing care

• Ability to apply nursing knowledge and develop clinical judgment through education, supervised practice, and experience

• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and appropriately communicate or escalate concerns

• Strong critical-thinking, organization, teamwork, time-management, and problem-solving skills

• Ability to remain composed and professional in dynamic and high-stress clinical environments

• Commitment to continuous learning, professional development, ethical nursing practice, and patient safety

• Ability to receive feedback, ask questions, and incorporate coaching into professional practice

Physical & Work Environment

• Ability to lift, position, push, pull, and/or transfer up to and greater than 50 pounds

• Prolonged periods of standing, walking, and patient mobilization, which may exceed eight hours during a shift

• Frequent sitting, bending, squatting, twisting, turning, reaching, and other mobility-related activities

• Ability to perform repetitive hand, finger, and wrist movements and tasks requiring manual dexterity

• Near visual acuity, including the ability to see clearly at 20 inches or less

• Regular exposure to blood-borne pathogens, bodily fluids, and other risks associated with direct patient care

• Exposure to chemicals, medical equipment, hazardous materials, and clinical environments common to hospital-based care

• May be exposed to vibration, confined workspaces, and ionizing or non-ionizing radiation depending on department assignment

• May be subject to irregular schedules, including days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, on-call responsibilities, and emergency situations

What Sets Us Apart

A Strong Start to Your Nursing Career: Our Nurse Residency Program is designed specifically to support new graduate nurses during one of the most important transitions of their careers—from nursing student to professional Registered Nurse.

A Full Year of Development: Your support doesn’t end when department orientation does. Nurse Residency continues throughout your first year with structured education, clinical learning, mentorship, professional development, and opportunities to strengthen your practice.

A Path That Fits You: Already know your specialty? Pursue Direct Specialty Placement when opportunities are available. Still exploring? Specialty Exploration provides opportunities to learn about different areas of nursing while building your clinical foundation.

Mentorship & Connection: Learn alongside experienced preceptors, mentors, clinical experts, nursing leaders, and other new graduate RNs who understand the transition you’re making.

Career Growth: Access ongoing training, professional development, tuition reimbursement, certification opportunities, and opportunities to advance through our progressive Career Pathways Program.

Impactful Work: Build your nursing career while making a meaningful difference for patients and families throughout North Carolina’s High Country.

Community & Lifestyle: Located in Boone, North Carolina, UNC Health Appalachian offers the opportunity to live and work in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with access to hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, dining, shopping, and cultural attractions throughout Boone, Blowing Rock, Linville, and the surrounding High Country.

Top-Tier Community: Boone is home to Appalachian State University and a highly regarded public school system and is consistently recognized as a desirable destination by Forbes, Southern Living, and Niche.

Meaningful Benefits: Enjoy comprehensive insurance coverage, retirement benefits with employer match, paid time off, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and college savings resources, an award-winning wellness program, employee-to-employee financial assistance, and discounts to regional attractions such as Dollywood, Biltmore Estate, and Tweetsie Railroad.

Inclusive Culture: UNC Health Appalachian embraces diversity and is committed to creating a fair, inclusive hiring process and workplace where every team member is respected and valued.

Ready to Start Your Nursing Career with Confidence?

You’ve put in the work to become a nurse. Now, build your future with a team committed to investing in you.

Apply today to join UNC Health Appalachian as a Registered Nurse (RN) Resident and begin your nursing career with the education, clinical experiences, mentorship, preceptor support, and professional development designed to help you succeed.

Whether you know exactly where you want to go or are still discovering your path, there’s a place to begin at UNC Health Appalachian.

About UNC Health Appalachian

UNC Health Appalachian, the leader for healthcare in the High Country, comprises three hospitals, 13 medical practices, Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, The Rehabilitation Center, and Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation. UNC Health Appalachian stays committed to promoting health in the High Country, enhancing quality of life, and simply “making life better.”

About UNC Health

UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 14 hospitals, 18 hospital campuses, and more than 500 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine (SOM). It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina SOM.

Over the past three years, UNC Health has provided more than $400 million in uncompensated or charity care to the citizens of North Carolina. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety, and the overall patient experience.

For more information, please visit unchealth.org.

UNC Health Appalachian embraces diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. We value a workforce that reflects a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, as it enhances our ability to provide outstanding care. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

UNC Health Appalachian is committed to providing a fair and inclusive hiring process and a workplace where all team members feel respected and empowered. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us.

Employment at UNC Health Appalachian is contingent upon successful completion of a background and drug screen.

For accommodations or additional information, contact arhsrecruitment@unchealth.unc.edu.