Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency (PC-NPR) Program

The VA Central Iowa Healthcare System (VA CIHCS) Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency Program is a 12-month program that offers newly licensed Nurse Practitioners 100% protected time to master clinical skills, enhance competence, and improve professional confidence. This comprehensive training experience is competency based, offering experiential, scholarly, and didactic learning opportunities. Rotations through a variety of specialty and primary care settings will provide residents with exposure to diverse perspectives and structured mentoring.

Mission

The PC-NPR mission is to provide an innovative, evidence-based educational training experience designed to develop competent, confident, practice-ready Nurse Practitioners equipped with the knowledge and skills to address the unique needs of our nation’s Veterans and improve their access to care. 

Eligibility 

Applicant should meet the following criteria:  
•    Be a recent graduate (within 12 months) of a master's, post-master's certificate, or doctoral level NP program accredited by CCNE or the ACEN
•    Be serving in their first Nurse Practitioner role in Primary Care
•    Possess current board certification as an Adult-Gerontological Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner prior to the start of the PC-NPR program
•    Possess a current, full, active and unrestrictive registration as a nurse practitioner in a state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia prior to the start of the PC-NPR program
•    Be a citizen of the United States

Benefits and Compensation

•    $81,402 (stipend reviewed and set by VA Office of Academic Affiliations)
•    Accrued annual leave 
•    Accrued sick leave 
•    Paid federal holidays 
•    No weekends, call, overtime, or night shift duties 
•    Eligible for VA paid trainee benefits, including Federal Employee Health Benefits
•    Access to VA provided resources (UpToDate, Visual Dx, and many more)
•    Certificate of VA Residency Completion upon successful program completion
•    Pathway to prioritized hiring of qualified resident program graduates within the VA

Program Goals 

•    Provide new nurse practitioners with the depth, breadth, volume, and intensity of clinical training necessary to increase competency in clinical practice

• Provide new nurse practitioners with training in team-based, patient centered care with curriculum focused on issues specific to ambulatory medicine with interactive learning activities, including simulation, case-based learning, reflective discussion to increase their confidence

• PC NPR complete a 12-month program (2080 hours), manage primary care panel with the ability to practice independently by month 12, completion of an evidence-based practice project, and completion of a didactic and case conference presentation

• Train and retain PC NP residents in the VA healthcare system

• Provide a well-rounded, robust program that is satisfactory to the PC NP residents and stakeholders

Application Process

Applications are currently being accepted for the fall cohort, which begins annually in September. 
To be considered, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Letter of interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Graduate school transcripts
• Personal statement (2 pages) that includes:

1. Personal, educational, and professional experiences that led to your interest in working with Veterans in the primary care specialty
2. Personal goals for this residency program and how these will impact your long-term career goals
3. Specific areas of interest you would like to develop during the residency program

• Three recommendation letters mailed or emailed directly from the individual writing the letter to the program contacts below.  Letters should include information regarding your clinical competence and experience.  Preferred sources include:

1. NP program faculty or program director
2. NP program preceptors
3. Previous supervisors
4. Colleagues familiar with your clinical practice

Inquiries and application documents may be sent to:  VHACIHPCNPRProgram@va.gov

If you have questions, would like additional information, or would like to set up a time to discuss the program over the phone, please reach out to:  VHACIHPCNPRProgram@va.gov 

PUBLIC NOTICE OF UPCOMING ACCREDITTION REVIEW BY THE CCNE

The VA Central Iowa Healthcare System wishes to announce that our Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency (PC NPR) Program will undergo an accreditation review by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) from January 26-28, 2026.

You are invited to share your comments (third-party comments) regarding your role and/or experience with the PC-NPR Program. Please submit your comments directly to thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org or mail to: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, ATTN: Third-Party Comments, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001.

*All comments should be received by the CCNE by January 5, 2026.

Program Contacts

Lindsay Prendergast, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
PC NPR Program Director
VA Central Iowa Health Care System
3600 30th St., Bldg. 4, Room 3100
Des Moines, IA  50310

Rhonda Ross, BSN, RN
PC NPR Program Coordinator
VA Central Iowa Health Care System
3600 30th St., Bldg. 4, Room 3100
Des Moines, IA  50310