New Grad Registered Nurse - Nurse Resident

Job Description:

We are hiring upcoming May 2026 New Graduate RNs at Essentia Health - St Joseph's Medical Center! Join Essentia’s accomplished team as a Registered Nurse in Brainerd and Baxter, Minnesota, where you can enjoy the beauty of 465 lakes offering endless opportunities for water sports and outdoor activities. Located just 125 miles north of Minneapolis, these vibrant cities are at the heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area, a premier vacation destination in the state.

Education Qualifications:

Must meet one of the requirements below:

• Registered Nursing student currently enrolled in accredited Nursing Program

• Current or upcoming graduate of an accredited Nursing Program

• Beginning first RN position with Essentia Health within one year of graduation

We are currently hiring for upcoming December 2026 New Graduate Nurses! If you have already graduated, you are encouraged to look at openings on our careers page.

New Graduate Nurses will benefit from:

• Transition to Practice Support: Comprehensive assistance to help you smoothly integrate into your nursing role and build confidence in your new position.

• NCLEX Study Support: Resources and guidance to aid in preparing for and passing the NCLEX exam, ensuring you achieve your licensure with confidence.

• Nurse Residency Program Enrollment: Enrollment in a structured residency program designed to provide mentorship, advanced training, and ongoing professional development.

• Hiring Incentive: A financial incentive to welcome you to our team and recognize your commitment to joining our healthcare community.

Key Responsibilities of a Registered Nurse:

• Lead Patient Care: Organize and deliver comprehensive care by managing all phases of the patient care process, including assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.

• Guide and Delegate: Act as a team leader by delegating care responsibilities to nursing staff based on their licensure, training, and role specifications.

• Contribute to a Greater Mission: Play a crucial role in advancing the facility’s and Essentia’s mission and goals, making a meaningful impact on the community we serve.

• Ensure Compliance: Adhere to the standards set by the Joint Commission and other relevant federal, state, and local regulatory or accrediting agencies.

A Nurse Resident is a new graduate Registered Nurse (RN) with less than one year of RN nursing experience. As New Grad RN, you will be part of our Nurse Residency Program which coincides with your Registered Nurse role on the unit in which you are hired.

The Nurse Residency Program at Essentia Health is a yearlong professional development program providing opportunities for new nurses to grow in the profession of nursing with a series of learning and work experiences designed to assist new nursing graduates as they transition into their first year in a professional nursing role. Essentia Health’s Nurse Residency program is a structured evidence-based practice experience that focus on professional nursing practice concepts.

At the conclusion of the Nurse Residency program, nurses will:

• Transition from novice nurse towards competent professional nurse in a clinical environment.

• Develop effective clinical judgement and decision-making skills.

• Demonstrate clinical nursing leadership skills at the point of care.

• Feel a strengthened commitment to nursing clinical practice at the point of care.

• Demonstrate the ability to incorporate research and evidence-based practice into care and link it to practice and patient outcomes.

• Demonstrate a stronger commitment to nursing as a profession.

Licensure/Certification Qualifications:

• Current nursing licensure in state of employment upon date of hire

• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification within one month

Nursing Teams at St Joseph's Medical Center:

• Medical

• Med/Surg

• Intermediate Care/Intensive Care

• Emergency

• Grace/Focus

• Family Birthplace

• Float Pool

We are currently hiring for upcoming December 2026 New Graduate Nurses! If you have already graduated, you are encouraged to look at openings on our careers page.

Registered Nurses Will Work:

• 60 hours per pay period

• Every Third Weekend

• Rotating 12 Hour Shifts

• Day Shift: 7:00AM - 7:30PM

• Overnight Shift: 7:00PM - 7:30AM

Employee Benefits at Essentia Health:

• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance options to ensure employees' well-being.

• Retirement Savings Plans: 401(k) with employer contributions to support long-term financial security.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for career growth through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs.

• Work-Life Balance: Flexible scheduling, paid time off, and personal leave to help employees manage their professional and personal lives.

• Employee Wellness Programs: Initiatives focused on physical, mental, and emotional health, including fitness memberships, counseling services, and wellness activities.

Employee Benefits at Essentia Health: At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please note that benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Job Location: St Josephs Medical Center

Shift Rotation: Day/Night Rotation (United States of America)

Shift Start/End: 7:00AM and 7:00PM/7:30PM and 7:30AM

Hours Per Pay Period: 60

Compensation Range: $41.22 - $61.83 / hour

FTE: 0.75

Weekends: Every third weekend

It is our policy to afford EEO to all individuals, regardless of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, military service or veteran status, culture, socio-economic status, status with regard to public assistance, and other factors not related to qualifications, including employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other category as defined by law.