New Graduate Registered Nurse – Critical Care Nurse Residency

Job Description Summary

Job Description

The next Residency Cohort begins July 13th, 2026

Applications closed on February 28, 2026.

Interviews will be held in March 2026.



Benefits:

$10,000 Sign-on Bonus
State Retirement, State Medical Benefits
#1 Healthcare System in South Carolina
Student Loan Reimbursement
Tuition Assistance
Certification Incentives

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Regular

Cost Center

CC003730 COL - ICU (Intensive Care Unit) (DMC)

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Grade

Health-28

Scheduled Weekly Hours

36

Work Shift

Nights (United States of America)

Job Description

• Goal:

  This program’s goal is to foster nurse growth and critical care skills in a team-oriented environment.

Details of the Program

The Critical Care Residency Program is a supervised rotational residency tailored to the needs of the New Graduate Nurse. Unit details below,

4 East Progressive Care Unit (4E PCU)

A 12-bed unit that provides intermediate-level care for patients who are clinically stable but require close observation, advanced monitoring, and skilled nursing interventions. This unit is also the designated PCU for neurosurgical patients, requiring focused neurological assessment and specialized post-operative care for the neurosurgical population. The nurses on the 4E PCU manage frequent and continuous telemetry monitoring, complex medication infusions, high-flow oxygen therapy, bedside EEG monitoring, trach patients, and bedside peritoneal dialysis. With structured nurse-to-patient ratios of 1:3 or 1:4, our RNs can provide attentive, more focused care, while developing strong critical-thinking and assessment skills.

4 Tower Progressive Care Unit (4T PCU)

A 16-bed unit that provides scheduled hemodynamic and cardiac monitoring at a minimum of every four hours and comprehensive medical management of moderately complex conditions.  These may include noninvasive ventilation modalities (e.g., BiPAP or CPAP), and other time-limited or protocol-driven therapies that require enhanced monitoring but do not meet criteria for intensive care admission. Patients receiving such therapies must demonstrate clinical stability with clearly defined parameters for escalation to a higher level of care.

4 Heart Intermediate Intensive Care Unit (4H IICU)

A 16-bed unit that provides continuous hemodynamic and cardiac monitoring; comprehensive medical management of complex conditions including trach vents, neurological and gastrointestinal disorders, alcohol withdrawal (CIWA), and fluid and electrolyte imbalances; and the provision of peritoneal dialysis. The IICU team emphasizes early recognition and timely intervention for clinical deterioration and works collaboratively with critical care and multidisciplinary services to stabilize patients, prevent escalation to higher levels of care, and facilitate safe transitions to lower acuity settings when appropriate.

Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)

A 14-bed unit that cares for a broad mix of critically ill medical patients, including sepsis, respiratory failure, shock, renal failure, and complex metabolic or neurologic conditions. This unit provides full critical care support – mechanical ventilations, vasopressors, invasive monitoring, and dialysis—at a 1-2:1 patient to nurse ratio.

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU)

A growing 8-bed unit (up to 16-beds) that provides specialized critical care focusing on cardiovascular conditions, including acute coronary syndromes, cardiogenic shock, advanced heart failure, arrhythmias, and post-cardiac arrest care. This unit provides continuous hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical circulatory support, ventilatory support, and advanced cardiac therapies, with a multidisciplinary team experienced in high-acuity cardiac care.

Additional Job Description

Entity/Organization: MUHA (Medical University Hospital Authority/Medical Center) MUSC Columbia

Hours Per Week: 36 (40 hours for the first 12-weeks d/t 4-hour classroom sessions)

Scheduled Work Hours/Shift: 3 twelve-hour shifts per week, 7p-7a, every other weekend.

Job Summary/Purpose: Critical Care Nurse Residency Program - Under general supervision, the Registered Nurse II provides individualized, goal-directed patient care to families and patients at the competent level utilizing the principles and practices of the nursing process; delivers safe and effective care and interacts with other members of the health care team to achieve desired results.

You will be assigned a permanent unit after 100 days of employment. At that time, you will be notified of your permanent unit assignment, and you will begin unit specific orientation. 

Minimum Training and Education:  Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Bachelor’s degree preferred. 

Required Licensure, Certifications, Registrations:  Licensure as a registered nurse by the South Carolina Board of Nursing or a compact state. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required, either a certification from an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for Healthcare Providers (or AHA recognized equivalent) or an American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) also required for most nursing areas within the hospital, however, this will be awarded during the Critical Care Residency program. 

Physical and Mental Requirements: Ability to perform job functions while standing. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while sitting. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking. (Continuous) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outside in temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to work from elevated areas. (Frequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Infrequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Continuous) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Frequent) Ability to perform "pinching" operations. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor activities with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to perform firm grasping with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to perform fine manipulation with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to reach overhead. (Frequent) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to use lower extremities for balance and coordination. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift/lower objects 50 lbs. from/to floor from/to 36 inches unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. (Infrequent) Ability to exert up to 50 lbs. of force. (Frequent) Examples include: To transfer a 100 lb. patient that can not assist in the transfer requires 50 lbs. of force. For every 100 additional pounds, assistance will be required from another healthcare worker. 20 lbs. of force is needed to push a 400 lb. patient in a wheelchair on carpet. 25 lbs. of force is required to push a stretcher with a patient with one hand. Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations. (Continuous) Ability to work rotating shifts. (Frequent) Ability to work overtime as required. (Frequent) Ability to work in a latex safe environment. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) (Selected Positions) *Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous) *(Selected Positions) *Ability to be qualified physically for respiratory use, initially and as required. (Continuous) (Selected Positions)

Additional Job Description

If you are unsure if this opportunity is right for you, ask about a four-hour shadowing experience to visit the units with an experienced nurse, prior to deciding to accept a Residency position.

The next Residency Cohort begins July 13, 2026.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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