Building capacity and confidence in paediatric critical care

The Critical Care New Graduate Nurse Residency Program is powering a new era of paediatric critical care staffing at SickKids. Since its launch in September 2022, the program has welcomed and trained 100 new nurses, boosting our care teams in both the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Cardiac Critical Care Unit (CCCU). The result? A 35% increase in hiring and significant progress toward fully staffed units.

This one-year residency unfolds in three phases, combining didactic learning, orientations and shadow shifts. Simulation is at the heart of the experience—nurses practice in high-fidelity, team-based scenarios that mirror real-life critical care events, strengthening their clinical skills, teamwork and confidence in a safe, supportive environment. Through mentorship and ongoing feedback, graduates build confidence, competence and readiness for high-acuity environments, successfully transitioning into critical care within 6 – 12 months.

The program’s impact is clear: 81% of graduates remain in critical care roles, and nearly 9 out of 10 continue their careers at SickKids. Participants consistently highlight the supportive culture, focus on mental health and well-being, and the growth they experience in both technical and soft skills. Now entering its third year, the Critical Care New Graduate Nurse Residency Program is a proven foundation for a resilient, collaborative nursing workforce—and transforming SickKids’ strategy to recruit, train and retain the best in paediatric care.