Applications: 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.
Cohorts: 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)
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.
Windows for other programs are on the Window Board, and the full list is in the residency directory. No signup is needed to read either one.
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