Nurse Faculty Residency Program
Applications open January 8 for Fall 2025
The Nurse Faculty Residency is an opportunity for individuals to receive job training and skill development for a teaching career in Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN), or Advanced Practice Provider (NP or PA) programs. Applicants must be currently enrolled in or accepted to a master’s degree program to be admitted to the residency program. Individuals who have already earned a master’s degree will be considered if space is available. Those who are pursuing or have a doctoral degree or certificate (DNP, PhD, or post-graduate certificate) are not eligible.
About the Nurse Faculty Residency
This program emphasizes:
- Collegial relationships
- Opportunities to mentor students
- Opportunities to shape nursing practice
Across 12 months, participants will complete the following requirements:
- Three Health Professions Educator courses and apply their knowledge to prepare class lessons and syllabi. Participants will also grade and participate in active learning sessions with students
- Complete active learning sessions including the Western States Simulation Alliance training, such as Simulations and High-Fidelity Simulations, Basic and Advanced Debriefing, and Adapting and Evaluating Simulation Activities
- Work toward their master’s degree, which may include nursing, other select health related fields, administration or education
- An online or local hybrid master's degree program is preferred to ensure residents can fully participate in the teaching experience.
Upon completion of the program, participants will be prepared to take the NLN CNE® novice exam and be well positioned to apply for faculty positions.
The program will train a total of 20 participants over the next three years.
Apply January 2025 for the 2025-26 cohort
Applications for the 2025-26 cohort open on January 8, 2025. The program begins on September 16, 2025. Admissions will take place on a rolling basis until all spots are filled, so apply early!
Final review for the Fall 2025 cohort will be conducted for applications received by July 27, 2025.
Stipend
Participants will receive an annual stipend of $75,000 (paid monthly) and up to $50,000 in tuition assistance toward their master's degree program (must be enrolled or accepted as a student at time of application). For applicants who already have a master’s degree, tuition assistance is not applicable. Scholarships and student loan reimbursement/forgiveness are not available under this grant-funded program.
Co-teaching
Each NFR will be precepted by an experienced nurse faculty member who will facilitate their learning and co-teach in the classroom. These may be pre-licensure or graduate-level nursing courses. Participants will learn the skills to develop and implement a nursing or nursing-related graduate course, develop and provide lectures, help facilitate student simulations, and conduct student assessments, including grading papers. They will work with a learning management system (e.g., Canvas) and learn classroom management skills.
Teaching experiences will be coordinated by the program and may include courses taught in partner organizations located throughout Northern California. The RETAIN program will facilitate teaching placement to align with applicant interests to the degree possible.
Benefits
Benefits (e.g., health and welfare benefits) are not available; however, there are some supportive funds available to assist with childcare and transportation costs based on need (see below).
Health Professions Educator Graduate Academic Certificate Program
Participants completing the three mandatory Health Professions Educator courses will receive a Graduate Academic Certificate and be prepared to sit for the NLN CNE® novice exam. The costs associated with the prep course and exam are covered by the residency program.
The Health Professions Educator Certificate Program consists of three courses (UC Davis' fall, winter and spring quarters), 12 units total: 8 didactic units plus 4 lab/practicum units, and includes topics such as curriculum development, clinical skills teaching, classroom management and student assessments. These courses are provided through UC Davis with a practical portion that will consist of the NFRs' teaching experience. On-site and online training assignments will be scheduled with the residents.
Travel
Travel to UC Davis’ Sacramento campus 3-4 times in the 12-month program is required. Residents are required to travel to teaching sites for in-person education days that may be geographically distant from their homes. Reimbursement for travel expenses may be available based on need.
Schedule
View a sample of the program schedule
Other support for participants
A dependent care allowance is available if eligibility criteria are met. Contact retain@ucdavis.edu for more details.
Applicants must:
- Be a California state resident
- Have a valid, current, unrestricted, and active RN license through the California Board of Registered Nursing and be free from any disciplinary action by the board
- Possess a baccalaureate degree
- Be working toward or have completed their master’s degree (may include nursing, other select health-related fields, administration, or education)
- Nurses who currently have a master's degree will be considered if space is available.
- There is a preference for students attending primarily online programs to allow the NFR to participate fully in the teaching experience.
- The following schools work closely with this residency program: Sacramento State University; Sonoma State University; Cal Poly Humboldt, American River College; Sacramento City College; and Sierra College.
- Be able to participate in all learning activities during the full 12-month timeframe
- Have at least one (1) year’s continuous, full-time or its equivalent experience within the previous five years providing direct patient care as a registered nurse in one of the designated nursing areas (geriatrics, medical-surgical, mental-health/psychiatric nursing, obstetrics, pediatrics or community health)
- Applicants are advised to review CA TITLE 16, CCR SECTION 1420(d) defining faculty requirements for clinical competence and CCR SECTION 1425 describing requirements to qualify for a faculty instructor position in a School of Nursing.
- The RETAIN Nurse Faculty Residency program meets the requirement for: One (1) academic year of registered nurse level clinical teaching experience in the designated nursing area or its equivalent that demonstrate clinical competency.
Applicants cannot:
- Work full-time in a paid employment arrangement
- Part-time, per diem, temporary, contract, or agency employment that is not full-time (full time = 1.0 FTE) during the residency period is allowed but not recommended due to the full-time nature of the program.
- Be a current employee of UC Davis
- Have already earned a doctoral degree
- Please contact us at RETAIN@ucdavis.edu if you have a master’s degree in nursing or a graduate degree in an area that does not include nursing, healthcare related fields, administration or education.
The information below provides details pertaining to the selection of the 2025-26 cohort.
- Jan. 8, 2025 – Application opens
- July 27, 2025 – Application closes at midnight PT*
- *Application period may be extended only if space is available.
- Sep. 16. 2025 – Program for 2025-2026 cohort begins
Application components:
- Completed online application
- Specific instructions for submitting the required documents outlined below can be found at the conclusion of the application.
- Cover letter describing your nursing experience, your goals as an educator and why you are interested in participating in this program
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of diversity and inclusion (one paragraph); refer to the Faculty Equity and Inclusion webpage for guidance
- Two letters of reference: At least one letter should be from an RN or NP clinical supervisor. The second letter can be from a master’s program faculty member (if applicable), a faculty member from your nursing program if a recent graduate (within five years) or another clinician (RN, NP, PA, MD/DO) who can speak to your clinical role
- Current unofficial graduate program transcript (if any course work in a master’s program has been completed) or acceptance letter with start date (if course work has not yet been completed)
- Interviews will not be conducted for this program; however, a pre-admission meeting to clarify application elements may be requested or offered by the program.
Contact retain@ucdavis.edu for more information about this program.
