nursing programs
Explore nursing programs at Dayton Children’s—including nurse externships, residency programs and graduate clinical practicums—designed to help you grow your nursing career.
grow your nursing career with us
There’s no better place to be a nurse, find your passion, and grow your career. Dayton Children’s—a Magnet®-recognized hospital—is committed to helping nurses at every stage of their professional journey thrive through education, collaboration, and compassion.
Our nurses make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families every day. Whether you’re a nursing student gaining experience through our summer externship, a new graduate RN entering our nurse residency program, or a graduate student completing a clinical practicum, you’ll receive the training, mentorship, and support to advance your skills and achieve your career goals at Dayton Children’s.
our nursing programs
Explore our programs designed to help you grow your pediatric nursing career.
nurse externship program
The summer nurse externship program at Dayton Children’s is a unique program combining on-the-job skills and nursing academics for students. We understand your needs as a nursing student and this program provides you with the specific experiences and skills needed to be successful. After the externship, many of our externs even continue to work at Dayton Children’s.
We invite you to become a part of our specialized team who provides excellent pediatric nursing care.
what to expect in the nurse extern program
Nursing students accepted into the externship will experience 9 weeks of mentored clinic experience from May 4 through July 4, 2026 at Dayton Children’s. This also includes a weekly seminar of didactic lecture and classroom experience. Over these 9 weeks, you’ll have 36 to 40 paid hours per week. College credits are also awarded upon completion of the program. Learn more about the pediatric specialty areas that are available for externships.
pediatric specialty areas for externships
emergency department
Provides urgent and emergent treatment for acutely ill patients.
mental health inpatient unit
Provides care for children who require inpatient admission for mental health needs.
hematology oncology
This unit offers specialized care for patients diagnosed with cancer, sickle cell and blood related disorders.
home care
Provides pediatric home care for chronic and acute needs.
house float
Provides nursing care for the children in the various units, the emergency department and perioperative services. Floats to the various units based on unit needs.
newborn intensive care unit (NICU)
A Level III tertiary care center for the treatment of sick neonates and neonates requiring surgery.
pediatric intensive care unit
Provides the environment to care for critically ill pediatric patients.
perioperative services
Provides perioperative nursing care during the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative period for patients undergoing a surgical procedure.
specialty pediatrics
Provides inpatient nursing care for general medical and surgical patients.
transitional care unit
Provides care for children with chronic care needs, who are technology dependent and need close observation.
eligibility criteria for externship
- Currently enrolled at Wright State University or Cedarville University with graduation no later than the spring 2027.
- If attending another accredited nursing program, you can still apply for the externship. If accepted into the program, you will need to enroll as a non-degree seeking student at Wright State University in order to participate in the program.
- Completion of all junior-level courses
- Completion of pediatric or maternal child rotation required
Two nursing faculty references submitted using this provided reference form by January 3, 2026 at noon.
apply today
Applications are now open for the 2025 nurse externship program The deadline to apply is January 3, 2025 at noon. View openings and apply today! For any questions, contact Andrea Forsythe at Forsythea@childrensdayton.org.
nurse residency program
Start your career with the Magnet®-recognized nursing team at Dayton Children’s. Our nurse residency program supports newly graduated registered nurses as they transition from student to professional nurse in a dynamic, pediatric environment.
This 12-month, hands-on program combines clinical experience, mentorship, and professional development to help new nurses build confidence and competence. Residents strengthen their critical-thinking and evidence-based decision-making skills while learning about topics such as patient and family experience, safety, ethics, and quality of care.
Each cohort begins with an in-depth orientation designed to ensure residents have the knowledge, skills, and support needed to provide safe, high-quality care to children and families—and to thrive during their first year as an RN.
nurse residency program tracks
This track includes multiple units and time as a house float. Specialty pediatric units provide inpatient care for general medical and surgical patients. The hematology oncology unit provides specialized care for kids diagnosed with cancer, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders. And the house float team provides nursing care for kids by floating to various inpatient units, the emergency department and perioperative services.
This track includes the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), which is a level III tertiary care center for the treatment of sick neonates and neonates requiring surgery.
This track also includes critical care services in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and transitional care unit (TCU). The transitional care unit provides care for children with chronic care needs who are technology dependent and need close observation.
The track includes our emergency departments, where we provide urgent and emergent care for acutely ill patients.
The mental health inpatient unit stabilizes a child in crisis in a safe, comfortable and supportive environment then connects them to ongoing outpatient therapy. The healing process begins on the unit through a combination of traditional talk therapy, art, music and movement therapy.
This track includes the perioperative nursing care during the intraoperative period for patients undergoing surgical procedures, including pre-operative, operating room and post-operative care.
Through Children’s Home Care of Dayton, we provide pediatric home care services to children in over 21 counties with needs ranging from managing chronic illness and premature births to patient family education, palliative care and recovery from hospitalizations.
program curriculum
After a one-week hospital and nursing orientation, residents begin a department-specific orientation that includes clinical experiences in their home unit and other specialty areas. These hands-on experiences are supported by interactive learning sessions on a wide range of topics, including pediatric-focused clinical care, safety and quality, communication and teamwork, patient experience, and professional development.
Throughout the program, residents also explore key areas such as evidence-based practice, business and changes in healthcare, cybersecurity, regulatory readiness, and maintaining a healthy work environment. Dedicated sessions on self-care, stress management, and work–life balance help each nurse build resilience and long-term success in their nursing career.
eligibility & requirements
- Graduation from an accredited* nursing education program with less than 12-months of RN experience
- Employment is contingent upon passing the NCLEX, obtaining an Ohio registered nurse license and meeting pre-employment requirements
- A desire to work in an environment that respects inclusion and belonging
- BLS Healthcare Provider Certification
- During the first 8 weeks, nurse residents are expected to work 36-40 hours per week
*Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
application & interview process
Applications for the nurse residency program at Dayton Children’s are accepted all year long. Apply your preferred track here.
You will first be notified to complete and submit a video interview. Within the following 2-3 weeks you will be contacted with next steps.
If you are selected to move forward in the process, a panel interview will be scheduled with leaders from the program track you applied to. After that, employment offers will occur based on the nurse residency cohort start date.
As needed, interviews and start times will occur between cohort start dates. Details will be shared if the additional dates are needed.
For anticipated graduations in spring:
- Interviews occur October through December
- Nurse residency employment offers are extended by December 31
- Cohort start dates occur April through July
For anticipated graduations in summer:
- Interviews occur January through March
- Nurse residency employment offers are extended by March 31
- Cohort start dates occur August through October
For anticipated graduations in fall/winter:
- Interviews occur May through July
- Nurse residency employment offers are extended by July 31
- Cohort start dates occur December through March
questions?
For questions or additional information about the nurse residency program, email nursingexcellence@childrensdayton.org.
graduate nursing clinical practicum
Dayton Children’s Hospital partners with graduate nursing programs to provide clinical practicum experiences for students pursuing advanced degrees in nursing. Opportunities are available for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse educators, nurse administrators, and doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) students and more.
Each placement provides real-world exposure to pediatric care and allows students to apply academic learning in a supportive, team-based environment.
application process & deadlines
To request a graduate nursing practicum placement, complete the online application. Placement is based on available preceptors and the number of requests received for each semester. Students completing research or school-based projects (DNP, MSN, BSN, etc.) should also complete the application so that all experiences can be coordinated appropriately.
For spring experiences, January through May:
- Application is due by October 31
- Notification of placement are sent by November 30
For summer experiences, May through August:
- Application is due by February 28
- Notification of placement are sent by mid-April
For fall experiences, August through December:
- Application is due by May 31
- Notification of placement are sent by mid-July
questions?
For questions or additional information about our graduate nursing clinical practicum opportunities at Dayton Children’s, contact Beth Lee at leee@childrensdayton.org.
here when you need us
Whether you’re looking for the right provider, ready to make an appointment, or need care right now—we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence.
