# Nurse residency programs: application windows and preparation

Compare three nursing residency programs, distinguish current openings from upcoming intakes and closed cohorts, and prepare a new graduate application with the matching resume guide.

Editorial edition: 2026-10-22

Small U.S. pilot, checked October 22, 2026. These are dated observations, not a live vacancy feed or a complete directory. Confirm availability, exact cutoff time and all eligibility requirements on the employer page before applying. Employers do not endorse ResumeTurtle.

Dated snapshot. Next source review due: 2026-10-29. Recheck the official source before applying.

## Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Winter 2027
Nashville, Tennessee
Checked: 2026-10-22
Status at check: Open for remaining openings at check
Application window: Remaining-opening phase: August 10, 2026–January 4, 2027. The general phase ended August 9. No cutoff time or time zone stated. Individual unit availability was not verified; the separate unit list requires sign-in.
Program starts: February 22 or March 1, 2027
Eligibility: New graduates or RNs with less than six months of RN experience at application; accredited nursing program. NCLEX before start; BLS active for at least 90 days after start; full-time 36–40 hours/week during year one. Confirm licensure and unit requirements in the posting.
Prepare: Resume, education and work history, unit preferences and pre-screen responses.
Official source: https://vumc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/vumccareers/job/Nurse-Residency-Program-Winter-2027_R-62350-2

## Stanford Health Care — Cohort 46
California
Checked: 2026-10-22
Status at check: Upcoming at check — not yet open
Application window: November 9–15, 2026. No cutoff time or time zone stated on the reviewed program page or FAQ.
Program starts: April 12, 2027
Eligibility: Accredited ASN/ADN, BSN or MSN; graduation within 18 months of start; no more than six months/1,040 hours of paid full-time RN experience. California RN license by February 12, 2027; AHA BLS and ACLS at hire. No work visa sponsorship.
Prepare: Resume, cover letter, nursing transcript (official or unofficial) and answers within the electronic application. Confirm participating specialties for this cohort.
Official source: https://careers.stanfordhealthcare.org/us/en/nurse-residency-program

## UCLA Health — Fall 2027 (next intake)
Los Angeles area, California
Checked: 2026-10-22
Status at check: Upcoming at check — exact window unannounced; Spring 2027 closed
Application window: Spring 2027 applications are closed. For fall, the cohort selector says February/March 2027; the recruitment notice says March 2027, with more information in January. Exact opening/closing dates, cutoff time and time zone are unannounced.
Program starts: September 2027 (fall cohort selector); the closed spring cohort starts March 2027
Eligibility: Accredited BSN or MSN; the fall selector lists graduation December 1, 2025–June 30, 2027. Less than six months inpatient RN experience by start; California RN license by start; current AHA or American Red Cross BLS. Confirm final eligibility in the fall posting when published.
Prepare: Resume, cover letter and two recommendation letters; the Talent Plus questionnaire is emailed after application. Prepare for fall; spring applications remain closed.
Official source: https://www.uclahealthcareers.org/nursing-new-graduates/

## Choose a window you can meet

Compare your graduation date, NCLEX plans, license timing and previous RN experience before choosing a program. A degree accepted by one hospital may not qualify for another. A future window is a preparation date, not an application you can submit today.

## Build a packet for the selected program

Keep a separate row for each cohort. Save the requisition ID and the employer page you actually applied through. Copy the required documents and deadline into your tracker; do not treat an interview or cohort start date as the application deadline.

Field	Your entry
Program and cohort	[Employer / cohort / requisition ID]
Eligibility	[Degree / graduation / experience / license deadline]
Application window	[Open / close / cutoff time and time zone / official URL]
Documents	[Resume / cover letter / transcript / references / questionnaire]
Next action	[Action / personal target date / application status]

Use the new grad nurse resume example: https://www.resumeturtle.com/resources/new-grad-nurse-resume

Track your applications: https://www.resumeturtle.com/job-application-tracker

## Refresh policy

Open windows need a weekly source check, and upcoming windows need a check before opening. This edition is due for review October 29, 2026. Until a new check is published, use the dated status only as a planning reference and visit the official source for today’s availability. Closed cohorts remain labeled closed; future dates are added only after an employer announces them.

## Your checklist

[ ] Confirm degree, graduation and RN experience eligibility.
[ ] Check the actual posting for license and certification timing.
[ ] Open the official application and verify it is accepting candidates.
[ ] Save the cutoff time and time zone, or ask the employer if absent.
[ ] Prepare the requested attachments and save the confirmation.

## Sources and method

On October 22, 2026, we reviewed Stanford’s program page and FAQ, UCLA’s program page and interactive cohort selector, and Vanderbilt Workday requisition R-62350. Vanderbilt’s Apply button opened application-start options; its separate unit list required sign-in, so individual unit availability was not verified. UCLA’s selector and recruitment notice give different opening-month guidance; exact fall dates remain unannounced. A Duke listing was excluded on October 15 after its live page said filled.

Sources reviewed: 2026-10-22

Vanderbilt — Winter 2027 requisition R-62350: https://vumc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/vumccareers/job/Nurse-Residency-Program-Winter-2027_R-62350-2

Stanford — program eligibility and cohort dates: https://careers.stanfordhealthcare.org/us/en/nurse-residency-program

UCLA — next fall intake, closed spring cohort and application guidance: https://www.uclahealthcareers.org/nursing-new-graduates/

Stanford — application and resume FAQ: https://careers.stanfordhealthcare.org/us/en/nrpfaq

Guide: https://www.resumeturtle.com/resources/nurse-residency-programs