Marion VA celebrates VA’s Health Professions Education Week 2024
The Department of Veterans Affairs celebrates Health Professions Education Week, March 11- 15, by recognizing contributions of VA faculty, health professions trainees, clinical educators, and academic affiliates who work together to care for Veterans.
Each year, VA trains more than 120,000 future health professionals in more than 60 disciplines at 151 VA health care facilities, making VA the nation’s largest provider of health professions training.
Training Future Healthcare Professionals: The Marion VA Health Care System
The Marion Veterans Affairs Health Care System is a beacon of hope for aspiring healthcare professionals. It’s a place where they can learn, grow, and become the best versions of themselves. The Marion VA has been instrumental in shaping the future of healthcare by providing a robust training program for nurse practitioners (NPs).
The journey began when the Marion VA submitted a proposal to the Office of Academic Affiliation (OAA) to establish a nurse practitioner residency. The proposal was approved. The program had to meet the OAA’s stringent requirements to continue beyond the first year, and we did.
The first cohort of NP residents started on September 13, 2021, and graduated successfully on September 9, 2022. Both residents were hired back within the Marion VA Health Care System. One of which now serves patients at the Mt. Vernon CBOC, while the other filled a vacancy at the Paducah CBOC before transferring to another VA.
The second cohort started their residency on August 15, 2022, and graduated on August 11, 2023. Both were hired back, with one serving as a primary care float at the Paducah CBOC and the other returning to a full permanent VA position as a primary care NP float in Marion, IL.
Current Residents
The third and current cohorts, Carrie Staggs, NP, and Elizabeth Hardy, NP, began their residency on August 28, 2023, and are set to graduate on August 23, 2024.
Each of these NP residents undertakes a quality improvement project and present it during July 25th, 2024 nursing grand rounds. In addition, presenting during the APN Council meeting on July 11, 2024.
Marion VA’s Residency Program
The Marion VA participates in the OAA-funded opportunity to observe the Health Professions Education week. This participation allows the facility to request additional funding and support for these nurse residencies. The goal is to strategically prepare the facility’s nurse workforce for staffing issues and prevent new hires from feeling overwhelmed and leaving shortly after starting. The residency provides a year-long training that leaves the residents feeling prepared and confident.
The residents also round to different areas outside of primary care to gain experience. They can go to palliative care, cardiology, etc. This exposure allows them to apply and be more familiar with any openings in our facility outside of primary care.
Nurses are among the top VA mission-critical occupations identified as a priority for recruitment and retention initiatives. Practice and research demonstrate that new graduate nurses benefit from additional training to master clinical skills. OAA nurse residents have 100% protected training time and are not counted in staffing matrices. The OAA nurse residency programs provide rotations through various clinical settings and specialties, following the standard for health professions education in other health disciplines.
Most nurses who complete OAA nurse residency programs are hired as permanent VA employees, highlighting the positive impact on the future nursing workforce. The priority should be continually focused on retaining OAA nurse residents within the VA to achieve the best return on investment.
We are proud to share, the Marion VA Health Care System is not just a healthcare facility; it’s a training ground for future healthcare professionals. It’s a place where they can learn, grow, and become the best versions of themselves. The Marion VA Health Care System is committed to providing the best training and support to its residents, ensuring they are well-prepared to serve our veterans and contribute to the future of healthcare.