Postpartum (Mother/Baby) Nurse Residency Program

Summer 2026 Cohort | ChristianaCare

Application Deadline: December 17, 2027, at 11:59 PM

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

ChristianaCare 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.

How to Apply:

Please submit the following documents with your application:

• 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:

SkillSurvey 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 application deadline
• Qualified candidates will receive instructions to submit contact information for clinical instructors

HeyMilo Audio Interview Question

• Completion of an audio interview question is required

• Instructions will be provided via email after qualification review

Both the SkillSurvey and HeyMilo assessments must be completed before a candidate can be considered for interviews.

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

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 ChristianaCare, 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 Experience

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

Upon successful completion of the residency program, participants will transition into a Staff Nurse position within ChristianaCare's Postpartum department.

Prior to the program start date, candidates must:

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

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

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

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

What to Expect After Applying and Timeline

Qualified candidates will receive communication from the Talent Acquisition Team regarding required next steps, including:

• Hey Milo Audio Questions
• SkillSurvey clinical reference process

December 17, 2026 - Application deadline

January 2027 - Applications forwarded to residency coordinators for review

February 2027 - Digital live interviews begin

Late February 2026 - Offers extended to selected candidates

July 19. 2027 - Postpartum Nurse Residency Program start date

Important Licensure Information

The Delaware RN licensure process may take 6 to 8 weeks to complete. Delays in obtaining licensure may impact your ability to begin employment as scheduled if an offer is extended.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin fingerprinting and background check requirements immediately after submitting their application and to review licensure requirements through the Delaware Board of Nursing or their Compact State licensing board.

Questions?

For application assistance or program-related inquiries, please contact:

[email protected]

Start your nursing career in Maternal/Child Nursing and gain the education, mentorship, and hands-on experience needed to thrive as a Postpartum Nurse at ChristianaCare.

Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Post End Date

EEO Posting Statement

ChristianaCare offers a competitive suite of employee benefits to maximize the wellness of you and your family, including health insurance, paid time off, retirement, an employee assistance program.  To learn more about our benefits for eligible positions visit https://careers.christianacare.org/benefits-compensation/