Residency in Education, Teaching, And Instruction in Nursing (RETAIN)
New programs funded by the U.S. Department of Labor expand the pipeline of highly qualified nursing instructors and educators and increase capacity for new student nurse admissions
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing offers two new programs for registered nurses interested in pursuing careers as nurse faculty and/or clinical instructors: the Nurse Faculty Residency and Clinical Instructor Internship. Both programs pay a generous stipend. Supportive funds are also available for those who qualify — please see specific program details for more information.
Gain the training to make an impact on teaching the next generation of nurses. Enrollment for these unique, grant-funded programs ends May 31, 2027.
New for 2025: Employees of UC Davis Health are now eligible to apply for RETAIN training programs.
Join our email list to receive updates on opportunities to join these programs.
The Nurse Faculty Residency is an opportunity for individuals to receive job training and skill development to prepare them for a teaching career in Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN), or Advanced Practice Provider (NP or PA) programs.
The 12-month, part time (average of 20-24 hours per week) program is comprised of three requirements:
- Completion of an online health professions educator graduate academic unit certificate at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis (3 courses, 4 units each)
- Co-teaching with a faculty preceptor
- Participation in active learning sessions, weekly mentoring sessions and reflective journaling across the year
During the 12-month residency program, Nurse Faculty Residents will learn and practice classroom teaching skills.
Under the guidance of an experienced faculty member, participants will:
- Develop and/or refine course curricula
- Develop learning objectives and student outcomes
- Design interactive coursework
- Assess student learning, including designing Next Generation NCLEX format test questions and rubrics
- Grade assignments such as quizzes and papers
- Facilitate small group sessions
- Evaluate student psychomotor and application of learning
- Evaluate outcomes of learning utilizing evidence-based teaching principles and innovative and/or emerging technologies
- Learn classroom management skills
Completion of this program will prepare RNs to sit for the NLN CNE® novice exam.
Learn more about program details, the application process and eligibility requirements at the link below.
The Clinical Instructor Internship (CI2) will train nurses in a 14-week structured program.
During this nearly full-time program (~36-40 hours per week), participants will:
- Learn and apply theory and techniques to teach future RNs
- Under the mentorship of an experienced clinical instructor, apply knowledge and skills in the clinical environment to facilitate RN prelicensure students’ learning
- Learn to evaluate student clinical capabilities and methods to facilitate their clinical skills
- Complete online education modules designed to prepare participants for the NLN CNE®cl exam (additional clinical experience needed)
The internship is offered three times per year with sessions starting in March, June and August. The program will train 48 participants over the four years of the grant-funded program.
Learn more about program details, the application process and eligibility requirements at the link below.
For additional information about how to apply to RETAIN programs, including eligibility requirements and an overview of the professions, please view the June 2025 recording of the webinar information session.
The U.S. Department of Labor has provided grant funding to support workforce training programs in 17 states in recognition of significant staffing shortages in the nursing profession. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing recently received one of the largest of the grants - $6 million in funding to expand the numbers of nurse faculty and clinical instructors, particularly those from underserved and under resourced communities or who have unfilled faculty positions in baccalaureate and/or graduate nursing programs. These programs support the school’s mission to support local and regional communities and collaborate with partners in Northern California’s underserved rural counties.
