Graduate nurse education

We appreciate your interest in Graduate Nursing Education at St. David’s HealthCare. Our network offers six programs that support your professional development, no matter your experience level. We provide nursing students and registered nurses (RNs) several options to develop their knowledge and build clinical skills.

As a nursing student, our Nurse Externship Program offers you an excellent opportunity to learn at the bedside. You sharpen skills and work closely with hospital unit staff to impact patients' lives before your graduation. One of the benefits of this program is the flexibility of working around your school schedule.

Program overview and features

• Complete a minimum of two, 12-hour shifts per month during the program
• Schedule externship training around current classes and clinicals
• Build confidence in your nursing skills
• Improve your overall nursing knowledge in a hospital setting
• Network with hospital and nursing leaders before graduation
• Interview and secure RN residency positions early

Program eligibility requirements

• Currently enrolled, and in good standing, in an accredited School of Nursing
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross

Apply to the Nurse Externship Program

You can apply to the Nurse Externship Program here.

Questions? Contact our nurse extern recruiter!

You can reach out to our recruiter anytime by emailing Kessler Bordwell.

We have partnered with local nursing schools to offer the ASE program. It is a good option if you are in your final semester or quarter of nursing school. Additionally, after completing our ASE, you will seamlessly transition into our Specialty Training Apprenticeship for Registered Nurses (StaRN) residency.

Program overview and features

As an ASE participant, you will complete additional hours working one-on-one with a clinical preceptor in your chosen specialty. You will also receive tailored support from leaders and educators in our network. After completing the program, you'll begin full-time employment in the unit where you completed training. The number of ASE positions available varies depending on our network's needs.

Some of the features of our program include:

• Increased competence and confidence in a specialty area
• Personal and professional support
• Trained, individually assigned preceptors
• Ongoing feedback to ensure progress
• Paid training bonuses
• Position in the StaRN Residency program (after successful completion of ASE)

Specialty areas of interest in the AES program include:

• Critical care
  • Cardiovascular ICU
  • Surgical trauma ICU
  • Progressive care/intermediate care/trauma care unit
• Emergency department
• Medical and surgical services
  • Oncology/blood cancer unit
  • Neurology
  • Orthopedics
  • Rehab
  • Telemetry
• Women’s services
  • Labor and delivery
  • High risk antepartum
  • Mother and baby
  • Neonatal intensive care
  • Newborn nursery
• Pediatrics
  • Medical and surgical
  • Emergency department
• Surgical services
  • Operating room
  • Post anesthesia care unit
  • Outpatient surgery

Program eligibility requirements

Our program seeks highly motivated students who have demonstrated high clinical performance and leadership abilities. To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a nursing student entering their final semester or quarter (see calendar)
• Maintain a preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to a B average or higher)
• Submit two letters of recommendation from nursing instructors or faculty from the specialty area being applied for
• Complete a personal essay: “Why I Should be Accepted into ASE”
• Submit a program application

Qualifying applicants will participate in a two-step interview process. The first step will be an interview with the hiring manager. The second step will be interviews with peers from your specialty areas of interest.

We base program acceptance on the number of available positions in the specialty of interest, the strength of the application and feedback from the interview process. Applicants can expect the ASE program roadmap to follow this path:

• One semester prior to final semester or quarter, student applies for ASE program
• Student interviews with Nurse Manager and Peer Team
• Student shadow shifts, four hours required, an additional 32 hours optional
• Offer extended, Letter of Agreement signed
• Student begins hours in their unit of hire
• Student applies to open requisition; accepts offer; receives stipend
• Student graduates nursing school and ASE program
• Student passes NCLEX
• New graduate RN starts work in unit of hire; receives bonus

Questions? Contact our ASE program coordinators!

You can reach out to our recruiter anytime by emailing either of our program coordinators:

• Email Beth Vaughn

Our StaRN Residency is a continuation of training begun in our ASE program. It provides new RN graduates the opportunity to obtain acute care experience through an intensive 12-17 week paid internship.

Program overview and features

• Part 1: Training
  • Instructor-led classroom training
  • State-of-the-art simulation, including comprehensive debriefs
  • Self-directed learning
  • Training schedule will be Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
• Part 2: Clinical preceptorship
  • Training with a preceptor precisely matched to you and your area of interest who will help you acclimate to your role
  • Training conducted at the hospital on the unit of hire
  • Regular development meetings among you, your preceptor and their Director
  • Training schedule will be three, 12-hour shifts and rotating weekends at the hospital

Our StaRN Plus Program provides a pathway for HCA Healthcare RNs to transition into specialty areas. We base our curriculum on the AACN National Standards of Care.

Are you a high-performing nurse with two years of experience interested in a fellowship that promotes professionalism, leadership, and engagement? Our Peak Fellowship is a new and unique program that provides an exciting avenue for continuing your journey to excellence and career advancement through numerous succession planning courses and experiences.

Program overview and features

This fellowship offers four professional development tracks plus examples of potential positions you'll be able to pursue after completing your fellowship, including:

• Education — Prepares fellows for Specialty Educator, Generalist and Residency Coordinator positions
• Leadership — Develops fellows for DEU, CNC, Manager and Director positions
• Advanced Bedside Roles — Trains fellows to cover Navigator, Case Manager, Quality Improvement, Inpatient Care and Palliative Care roles
• Informatics — Prepares fellows for Nursing Analytics and Clinical Analyst positions

Program eligibility requirements

Applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Be a current St. David's HealthCare employee in good standing
• Be a St. David's HealthCare employee for at least six months
• Full-time employee
• Have a BSN Degree
• Be preceptor-certified
• Be a hospital or unit committee member
• Have director-approved participation
• Have at least two years of nursing experience before the start of the fellowship
• Not currently in a CNC position

Whether you’re a new RN or an experienced nurse looking for ongoing development, HCA Healthcare’s majority ownership in Galen College of Nursing means it’s easier for you to afford and gain certifications, degrees and job skills with no tuition cap.

Educational support and resources

We are committed to your professional development. Our network offers resources that help you advance your career. Some of these resources include:

• Educational benefits — tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, clinical certification support, HCA Healthcare Scholars Program, Dependent Scholarship Program and education advisors
• Preceptor development — specialized classes and ongoing support to preceptors to enhance their skills and competencies; receive specialized training to support future nurses.