Graduate Nurse - Pre-Nurse Residency Program

Graduate Nurse Program @ Howard University Hospital

With over 150 years of caring for our community and each other in the Washington DC area, Howard University Hospital has a world-renowned reputation for high-quality, patient-centric care. Howard University Hospital is the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a Historically Black University and has created a superior learning environment, with groundbreaking research and positive patient outcomes.

Howard University Hospital seeks to hire a Graduate Nurse who will embrace our rich and historic tradition of excellence. If you want to make a difference in someone’s life every day, consider a position with a team of professionals who are doing just that, making a difference. Positions are available for our Medical/Surgical units.

The Graduate Nurse:

The Graduate Nurse is a graduate of a board-approved registered nursing education program in the District of Columbia, or an out-of-state nursing education program determined to be equivalent by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing.

The Nursing Graduate is a member of the patient care team and practices under the direct supervision of a registered nurse who is physically present on the unit to observe, assist, and evaluate the graduate nurse.

The Graduate Nurse performs routine procedures taught within the graduate’s generic nursing program.

The Graduate Nurse may not work without the physical presence of and direct supervision by a registered nurse or accept charge responsibilities.

Responsibilities include:

• Perform as a team member in the patient care team.


• Perform routine patient care procedures delegated and supervised by RN.


• Receive delegation and clarify with RN as necessary.


• Communicate with team members, patients, family members, and ancillary staff.


• Follow hospital policies and procedures for provision of care, standard precautions, and patient safety.


• Participate in team huddles and unit huddles.


• Attend all assigned learning activities and clinical experiences.


• Arrive on time and prepared.


• Rotate shifts according to program and/or preceptor’s schedule.


• Work closely with preceptor, educators, and program coordinator to integrate and maximize learning.


• Participate in regular evaluation sessions to obtain/provide feedback on individual performance.


• Complete competency documentation.


• Schedule NCLEX exam in Washington DC.


• Complete program within 90 days.

The Nursing Graduate may not:

• Perform initial patient assessment or the first patient assessment of the shift.


• Develop patient plans of care.


• Evaluate or document patient discharge.


• Independently administer medications.


• Independently administer intravenous therapy.

Qualified candidates will possess:

• Graduation from an accredited Associate or Baccalaureate program within the previous six months with a cumulative 2.8 GPA or better.


• Must apply to take the District of Columbia NCLEX-RN exam and provide proof of a completed application.


• Must be deemed a “Graduate Nurse” by the DCBON after submitting an application to take the District of Columbia NCLEX-RN exam, in order to be in the Pre-Nurse Residency Program.


• Must apply to Howard University Hospital’s Nurse Residency Program for the September 2025 Cohort.


• A 2-year employment commitment as an RN at Howard University Hospital is required.

At Howard University Hospital our job is to care for you. We do this by offering:

• Work-life balance.


• Recognition and rewards for professional expertise.


• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans offered (including health, disability, vacation and sick leave, and 403B retirement plan).