Registered Nurse (RN) Residency Program - Inpatient Behavioral Health (Psych) - NIGHTS
About The Position
REGISTERED NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM Spring 2026 Behavioral Health - Inpatient Psych The RN Residency Program is designed for the soon-to-be or newly licensed or an RN with less than one year of experience. Our mission is to prepare RNs to successfully transition to practice by strengthening clinical skills and establishing a shared knowledge base that bridges the classroom academic experience with the hands-on clinical hospital experience. The Behavioral Health Unit at CentraState Medical Center offers a deeply rewarding opportunity for those looking to begin, transition, or advance a career in behavioral health nursing. This acute general unit features nineteen blended beds—twelve for voluntary patients and seven for involuntary patients—and serves adults aged 18 and older experiencing acute psychiatric conditions. These include schizophrenia and psychotic spectrum disorders, depressive and obsessive-compulsive disorders, trauma-related illnesses, and co-occurring substance use disorders. CentraState Medical Center currently has an employment opportunity available for an RN Resident in the Behavioral Health Unit. The RN Residency Program at CentraState is designed to provide a structured transition into practice for newly licensed Registered Nurses at CentraState Healthcare System. The program includes preceptorship, progressive clinical experience, didactic, and simulation experience. This twelve-month orientation offers great flexibility in meeting your individual needs. It is a time for continued learning, as well as an opportunity to develop the confidence and comfort to work independently in the hospital setting.
Requirements
- Must be a soon-to-be or newly licensed RN or have less than one year of working RN experience.
- Must have a BSN or ASN degree, passed the NCLEX and have a NJ RN license before the employment start date.
- Must have BLS certification.
- Starting salary $44.00 hr.
- All offers will be for Full Time only. No guarantee of shift (may be selected to work day or night shift upon completion of orientation)
- Start date will be March 23rd (must be licensed by the start date).
Responsibilities
- Completed over the course of 12 months, our program is focused on giving the newly licensed RN a strong foundation of key elements in the nursing profession such as:
- Leadership
- Critical Thinking
- Professional Development
- Our goal is to provide a supportive environment that builds confidence and competence through:
- Structured didactic content and curriculum
- Simulated lab experiences led by committed staff
- Informal mentoring and coaching
- Dedicated clinical preceptors who guide learning to ensure you progress at your own pace and acquire skills necessary to establish clinical competency and independent practice
- Be hired as a full-time, benefit eligible employee
- Competitive starting pay and total rewards package
- Balance between classroom learning and on-the-floor exposure
- Be paired with a trained and experienced preceptor on your unit
- Given a gradual increase in responsibility over time
- Will receive off-unit experience with the Wound Care Team and Respiratory Therapy Department.
- Build on your clinical, technical, and critical thinking skills
- Learn effective delegation and organizational skills
- Constant engagement with assigned nurse educator, nurse manager and preceptor to ensure clinical skill & critical thinking development
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Coverage (30 hours per week or above for full-time and part-time team members)
- Life & AD&D Insurance
- Long-Term Disability (with options to supplement)
- 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match
- 401(a) Retirement Plan with employer contribution
- PTO
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Well-Being Rewards
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Fertility Coverage, Healthy Pregnancy Program
- Flexible Spending & Commuter Accounts
- Pet, Home & Auto, Identity Theft and Legal Insurance
- Growth Opportunity and Workforce Development Initiatives
- Continuing Education / Onsite Training
- A warm, welcoming company culture based upon mutual respect and a collaborative goal of providing excellent patient care
- Concierge Services with Work & Family Benefits
- Magnet recognized healthcare facility
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
