Cook Children's Medical Center

When to apply

Applications August 17 to September 9, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CT. Interviews September 21 to 25, 2026. Selection notification October 5, 2026. Two Zoom information sessions were held August 6 and August 10, 2026. You may apply to ONE specialty track only. Timeline dates are subject to change per their page.

Cohort schedule

Two 2027 cohorts, starting February 8 and April 5, 2027. Both are filled from ONE application window. IMPORTANT: the February 2027 cohort accepts BOTH clinical tracks (Critical and Intermediate Care, and Medical-Surgical and Subspecialty); the APRIL 2027 cohort accepts the Medical-Surgical and Subspecialty track ONLY.

Requirements

BSN or entry-level MSN graduate, graduating between August and December 2026; must be your first professional nursing role; must pass NCLEX before the residency starts; minimum 2.5 GPA. INELIGIBLE: ADN holders without a BSN/entry-MSN, anyone with prior professional RN work experience, and anyone who has previously applied to this program (prior applicants may not reapply). Letters of recommendation are NOT required.

Specialties

Critical and Intermediate Care track (ED, PICU, NICU, Cardiac ICU, Cardiac stepdown, OR, transitional care and rehab); Medical-Surgical and Subspecialty track (hematology, oncology, endocrine, respiratory, surgical, behavioral health, transitional care, rehab)

How to apply

Read the current requirements on the official page, gather the documents it asks for, then apply directly with the hospital.

Where these dates came from

Checked on the hospital's own page on August 17, 2026

Dates and requirements change on the hospital's schedule, not ours, and the official page is always the final word. cookchildrens.org nurse residency page fetched 2026-08-17; Aug 17 - Sep 9 5 p.m. CT window, Sep 21-25 interviews, Oct 5 selection and Feb 8 / Apr 5 2027 starts re-verified unchanged. NEW this run: the April 2027 cohort is Med-Surg track only, and the 2.5 GPA minimum and no-reapply rule are stated under applicant eligibility.

Keep your next step together.

Save the role and record your application status in your own tracker.