Nurse Fellowship

CHI Memorial Registered Nurse (RN) Fellowship is accredited as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission (ANCC) on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs.

CHI Memorial began an RN fellowship program in critical care in June 2020 with the intent to provide structured training for experienced nurses who want to work in critical care departments but do not have prior experience in an intensive care environment. In fall 2023, the program expanded to include the emergency department. 

The RN Fellowship Program has two phases. Phase one is 12 weeks and lays the groundwork through instruction on critical care or emergency department concepts, provides precepted critical care or emergency department experience and interdepartmental shadows. Phase two follows the fellow through the remainder of his/her first year of experience in critical care or emergency department providing support and continuing education. The fellowship program has a proven track record of success for new critical care nurses at CHI Memorial.

The RN Fellowship Program is offered at CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga, Hospital Hixson and Hospital Georgia. Any registered nurse who applies for a job in a critical care unit or emergency department but does not have prior critical care or emergency department experience will automatically join the fellowship program upon hire.

ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation validates hospital residency or fellowship programs that transition registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) into new practice settings and that meet rigorous, evidence-based standards for quality and excellence. Nurses in accredited transition programs, like CHI Memorial’s RN Fellowship Program, experience curricula that promote the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors necessary to deliver safe, high-quality care. 

Candidates are eligible for CHI Memorial’s sign-on program: 

• $5k* for full time RN position with less than one year of RN experience
• $15k* for full time night shift with more than one year of RN experience

*New external hires only