Psychiatric/Mental Health (PMHNP) Nurse Practitioner Residency Program (MH-NPR)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 7, 2025

Mission

To provide newly licensed Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners clinical and didactic training focused on Veteran-Centric care to further develop of his/her confidence, competence, knowledge and skills to become well-prepared to practice independently and provide care to the veteran population.

About the Program

This is a federally funded, cohort-based, 12-month training program, totaling 2080 hours, that offers a stipend and limited benefits. The residency provides a supportive interprofessional learning environment for providing evidence-based clinical care to our nation’s Veterans.

The residency program offers clinical supervision, a robust curriculum, profession-specific rotations in various clinical settings, and opportunities for residents to develop their own unique career paths.

Each week, 80% (32 hours) of the resident’s time will be spent in experiential activities applying academic concepts into practice and 20% (8 hours) in didactic activities that build upon academic learning. The curriculum includes rotations in a variety of clinical settings including Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, Inpatient Services, Primary Care Mental Health Integration Clinics, and specialty programs. 

Upon successful completion of the residency, a certificate of completion is awarded that is recognized throughout the Veterans Health Administration.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following program requirements:

• United States Citizenship   
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Possess a U.S. Social Security Number
• Be a recent graduate of a master’s, post-master’s certificate, or doctoral-level Nurse Practitioner program accredited by CCNE or the ACEN within the past 12 months prior to program start date
• Possess current national board certification as a PMHNP Across the Lifespan through ANCC or be eligible to sit for board examination
• Possess a current, full active and unrestrictive registration as a registered nurse AND nurse practitioner in a state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, prior to the start of the NPR program (exceptions may be made for highly qualified candidates with later graduation dates)
• No prior experience in APRN role as a PMHNP
• Current BLS certification (must be maintained throughout the entirety of the program)
• Background and security investigation will be required
• Able to provide evidence or self-certification of satisfactory physical condition based on a physical examination in the past 12 months
• Able to provide evidence or self-certification of up-to-date vaccinations for healthcare workers as recommended by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and VA 

CDC Recommended Vaccines for Adults  

• Males born since 1960, between the ages of 18 and 25, MUST register for Selective Service.
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• VA is a drug-free workplace. Random drug testing may be required
  Click here to see what that means for HPTs 

Am I eligible?
Download this checklist to be sure you meet all eligibility requirements to train at VA Facilities

Application Requirements

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae, including but not limited to:
  • Graduation date
  • Education and Awards/Honors
  • Work Experience
  • Research and Publication
  • Leadership Service
  • Life Experience/Professional membership
• Official graduate school level nursing school transcripts
• A copy of RN license and current BLS certification (and PMHNP certification and APRN license if already obtained)
• Three (3) professional letters of recommendation upon request, should be emailed directly from individual writing letter to Jessica.Rivera6@va.gov  or in sealed envelope:
  • One (1) must be from a faculty member of graduate program  (requires direct observation of your clinical skills as a PMHNP student)
  • One (1) must be from a former preceptor (requires direct observation of your clinical skills as a PMHNP student) 
• Letters  must  be submitted on company letterhead and the professionals must be available for verbal confirmation of the information below:
  • Relationships with team members such as nurses, physicians, social workers, RT etc.
  • Professional PMHNP ability, including application of theory, independent judgment where appropriate, and quality of patient care
  • Communication skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Capacity to complete a scholarly quality improvement project related to psychiatry on the PMHNP level
  • Responsibility and initiative
• Personal Statement, 250 words or less, outlining:
  • A statement of your commitment to begin and complete the one year program requirement
  • Your aspirations for this specific residency
  • Your commitment to furthering the profession
  • How your short and long-term career goals align with the PMHNP role and furthering the profession

Application forms

• Application for Health Professions Trainees  VA 10-2850D
• Declaration for Federal Employment  OF 306
• Health Professions Trainee Random Drug Testing Notification and Acknowledgement Memo HPTTestingAck 

Successful participants will be eligible, and encouraged, to apply for nurse practitioner vacancies in the Veterans Health System upon successful completion of their residency program.

*All documents (with exception of letters of recommendation) must be submitted together in one electronic PDF packet if sent via email. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Louisville VA will not be responsible for documents, references and transcripts sent separately.

PMHNP Stipend and Benefits

• Residents in our program are considered federal trainees with a competitive stipend plus limited Employer Share Benefits. The stipend amount is non-negotiable.
• A comprehensive benefits package that includes in part:
  • Paid vacation and sick leave
  • Paid federal holidays
  • Optional enrollment for federal health, vision and/or dental insurance
  • Access to VA online library with subscriptions to UpToDate, PubMed, and more
  • Free CEU’s offered in optional training sessions throughout the year
  • Hiring preference for open positions at Veterans Health Administration following successful completion of the residency

 The resident stipend is based on the current year’s allocation rate for the local area. Resident is not eligible for retirement benefits, including but not limited to, Federal Pension Program, 401K or matching fund benefit during their residency year. Though this program is designed to help with the recruitment and retention of high-quality PMHNP’s, completion of the program does not guarantee employment.

Application Dates

Application deadline: July 7th, 2025

Interviews: through September 2025

Upcoming cohort start date: January 2026

Please submit completed PDF of PMHNP Residency Application with all supplemental materials (via hardcopy or email) and/or any questions to:

Jessica Rivera, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Mental Health-Nurse Practitioner Residency (MH-NPR) Program Director

800 Zorn Ave.

Louisville, Ky., 40206

Jessica.Rivera6@VA.gov        

502-287-4000