Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program

Mission & Goals

Mission

The mission of the VA Maine Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program is to “provide an enriched educational experience to new graduates by offering didactic and clinical learning experiences.  The program will inspire exploration of the best evidence to provide care to Veterans in an environment of inquiry, excellence, and openness, utilizing all healthcare disciplines to enhance the education of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner” which is aligned with and supports both the mission of the National Veterans Health Administration and VA Maine.

Program Goals

1. Provide didactic and experiential learning opportunities with interdisciplinary clinicians role modeling Veteran-centric care and leadership in order to build knowledge and skills, as well as develop appropriate professional attitudes for the PMHNP role.  
2. Engage learners with interdisciplinary colleagues and build collaborative experiences in the clinical setting to build competency and focus on team-based care that is collaborative, respectful and supports communication in order to provide safe, time-sensitive and evidence-based care.   
3. Provide opportunities to impact systems and build leadership through the completion of an evidence-based practice project that is in alignment with the Pathways to Excellence Program within VA Maine.
4. Involve learners in self-reflective practice and critical reflection to build a culture of self-awareness, lifelong learning, and the delivery of equitable care.   
5. Contribute to building and supporting the ongoing culture of scholarship and translation into practice of evidence-based practice within psychiatric-mental health nursing.   

6. The residency program aims to recruit, train, and retain psychiatric nurse practitioner residents within the VA Maine and Greater VA System of Care.  

    

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen. 
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 
• Must have graduated with a Master or Doctorate degree from a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Nursing Education (ACEN) accredited psychiatric nurse practitioner program within the 12 months preceding the residency start date. 
• Must have GPA of 3.0 or greater. 
• Must pass ANCC PMH-NP board exam within 90 days of employment. 
• Must have a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a Registered Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or the District of Columbia, before program start. 
• Nurse Practitioner state licensure with prescriptive/furnishing license and DEA number must be obtained within 90 days of residency start date. 
• Must pass a background/security investigation. 
• Must pass pre-trainee physical examination. 
• Random drug testing required.  

Benefits

• 1-year Residency  
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance available
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 4 hours of sick leave accrued bi-weekly
• 4 hours of annual leave accrued bi-weekly
• 100% Protected Time for Learning

Important Dates

1. Applications open: Now
2. Final Application deadline: February 14, 2025 
3. Interviews: To be scheduled for March 4-6, 2025.
4. Selection Emails: to be sent no later than March 21, 2025
5. Second Application deadline: May 2, 2025 (if cohort is not full after initial call for applications)
6. Program Start Date: September 8, 2025
7. Program End Date: September 4, 2026

Application Process

1. Required documents:
   1. Current Resume/CV
   2. Personal Statement:
      1. What personal, professional, education, and clinical experiences have led you to choose nursing as a profession, and the role of a mental health nurse practitioner as a specialty practice?
      2. What are your aspirations for a residency program? Please comment upon your vision and planning for your short and long-term career development.
      3. Maximum two (2) pages
   3. Unofficial Transcripts
   4. Active/Unrestricted RN License
   5. Three Letters of recommendation mailed or e-mailed from the individual writing the letter.
      1. One must be from a faculty member or graduate program. 
2. Send all application documents to VHATOGPMHNPResidencyPro@va.gov 

3. Documents will be reviewed, and an interview will be scheduled.

    

Program Point of Contact

Jeffrey Osborne RN, MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Director – Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program

 Jeffrey.Osborne@va.gov

 Program Accreditation

The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program at VA Maine Healthcare System is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).