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Acute Care Transition Program (ACT)

Our program features the following structure:

The Acute Care Transition (ACT) Program is designed for registered nurses with at least 1 year experience who have minimal or little acute care experience, and desire to transition into an acute care setting.

As an institution, we are driven by a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we were seeking an opportunity to discover the talented nurses who sought a pathway to transition into acute nursing care. The ACT program was developed to provide support, guidance, and recognition in a community that encourages success. The program combines didactic learning, on-unit orientation and preceptorship, simulations, and case studies that helps experienced nurses transition into an acute care specialty area. Just as we value each of our patients as individuals, we value each member of our staff as individuals with different origins and experience. 

The program is a 6 month structured program that features:
  • Clinical precepted time to support personal learning needs
  • ACT Program Seminars
  • Simulations- allowing for safe clinical practice and learning
  • Check-ins with NPDS team members
  • This is a fully benefited position and you continue your career on the unit you were hired at the completion of the program.

This program will provide a strong foundation for a clinical career at Stanford Health Care.

Specialties Offered 

Our program hires nurses into a variety specialty areas. Participation is dependent on organizational need and subject to change. 
Inpatient Medicine Units
General Medicine
Observation
Inpatient Surgical Units 
Neurosurgery
Gynecological Surgery
Ear Nose & Throat/Plastics - Reconstructive Surgery
Trauma Surgery
General Surgery
Inpatient Oncology 
Hematology
Medical Oncology
Additional Specialties 
Stanford at Sequoia Medicine 

Recruitment Process

Program Qualifications
    • Must be a graduate of an accredited ASN/ADN, BSN or MSN program.
      • Accredited online programs included.
    • Must hold current Basic Life Support Certification - issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) at time of hire
    • Must hold current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification - issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) at time of hire
    • Must hold current California Registered Nurse licensure – unencumbered 
    • Recent employment (within last 6 months of application submission) must include a minimum of 12 months full time experience as a registered nurse in a non-acute care setting**. (Previous acute care experience accepted, must not be within the last 3 years of application submission.) 

    Additional information
    • Acute Care is healthcare where patients receive acute, but short term treatment for injury or illness. Examples include, but not limited to: Inpatient Medicine/Surgical, Critical Care, Inpatient Observation. Non-acute care settings examples are, but not limited to: Skilled Nursing Facility, Long Term Acute Care, Case Management, Dialysis, Ambulatory Clinics, Operating Room, Blood bank, Vaccination Sites, etc
    Critical Dates
      Winter 2026 Cohort
      Application Posted: To Be Annouced in Fall 2025 
      Interviews: TBD
      Cohort Start Date: TBD
      ​​​​​​Application Components
        • Cover Letter
        • Current Resume 
        • Complete application questions - please answer the following questions within the electronic application (this is not a separate attachement):
          • Successful completion of the Acute Care Transition (ACT) program requires hard work, persistence, dedication, and resilience. Share with us, what initially motivated you to pursue this program? How do your professional goals align with the ACT program ? What obstacles would you need to overcome to achieve these goals?
          • Tell us about a time during your clinical practice when you experienced a caring moment with a patient. How did this moment affect the patient's outcome? How has this experience changed your clinical practice?

        Watch our Acute Care Transition Webinar