Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) Residency Program (Geriatrics)
Welcome to the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) Post-Graduate Nurse Practitioner Residency Program homepage. The VAMHCS has partnered with the University of Maryland School of Nursing and The George Washington University School of Nursing to provide two (2) innovative Residency Programs.
Each program is a 12-month Post Graduate training designed for the new graduate Adult Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and clinical leader for Doctorate of Nursing Practice NP graduates. Both programs are immersive with a combination of didactics and hands on patient care experience in the role of the Nurse practitioner.
The programs are designed to provide a supportive learning environment and a path to success for new nurse practitioners interested in geriatric primary care careers with the Department of Veterans Affairs and working with rural and underserved Veterans. It employs an interprofessional “clinician-leader-improver” model comprised of three major components: (1) clinical practice; (2) quality improvement science; and (3) leadership. Learning activities include clinical training, mentorship, didactic seminars, applied individual and/or team projects, and online learning activities.
The Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Residency Program ( G-NPR)
G-NPR is based in the Geriatric and Extended Care Service line. The program is structured to give the NP Residents broad exposure to many areas of care within the Geriatric Service Line through clinical rotations in Home Based Primary Care, Hospice/Palliative Care, Geri-Pact Primary Care, Long Term Care, and other specialty areas. The G-NPR provides fundamental skills training, didactic seminars, Grand Rounds, supervised and independent clinical practice, specialty rotations, professional development activities, and enhanced leadership skills.
The Primary Care Residency Program (PC-NPR)
PC-NPR is based in Primary Care, or Primary Care within a specialty clinic (Endocrinology, Orthopedics, Cardiology, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology). The program is structured to give the NP residents broad exposure to many areas of care within the medical center through clinical rotations and to provide fundamental skills training, didactic seminars, Grand Rounds, supervised and independent clinical practice, specialty rotations, professional development activities, and enhanced leadership skills.
This one-year residency is available annually and is based on full-time employment as a trainee within the VA and is designed for NP graduates who want to serve those who have served us.
The G-NPR and PC-NPR programs are an educational partnership between the Maryland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and The University of Maryland School of Nursing and George Washington University. The Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) provides generous support for the development and administration of VA health professions clinical training programs and oversees the G-NPR and PC-NPR programs.
Mission Statement
To boldly serve those who served for us through comprehensive education in Geriatrics & Primary Care, the VAMHCS G-NPR and PC-NPR seeks to increase Nurse Practitioners’ clinical skills and leadership to improve health-related outcomes for Veterans across the continuum of care.
Program Goals
- Increase access to high-quality patient and family centered care for veterans receiving care in the VHA by training NPs in a VA-based supportive educational program that prepares new NPs for full and autonomous care of all veterans receiving care in various healthcare settings.
- Provide new NPs with the depth, breadth, volume, and intensity of clinical training necessary to serve as independent providers within the VHA healthcare system.
- To integrate principles of research and quality improvement into practice.
- Educate new NPs on a model of veteran-centric care consistent with the VA’s principles of the population’s healthcare need to increase Nurse Practitioners’ clinical skills and improve health-related outcomes for Veterans as the age across the continuum.
- To expand the VAMHCS workforce in primary care geriatrics by improving the confidence, productivity, and job satisfaction of new nurse practitioners who choose to work in a veteran centric setting
- To develop leadership skills and commitment to advancing Nurse Practitioner roles by increasing the number of NPs ready to serve in leadership in the VA.
Program Structure
Preceptor Clinics: These are the cornerstone of the residency program. The NP resident will engage in scheduled sessions per week. In precepted sessions, the NP residents develop their own patient panel while having an expert primary care provider (MD, APRN or PA) exclusively assigned to them.
Specialty Rotations: The NP resident will engage in specialty rotations in areas of high-volume/high-burden/high-risk situations most commonly encountered in the Veteran population. Rotations may vary based on the selected program.
Didactic: Formal learning sessions on a variety of complex clinical challenges most commonly encountered in VAMHCS will be conducted each week. The content of the presentations is planned to correspond to the residents’ current clinical experiences.
Interprofessional Education (IPE): Interprofessional education and clinical practice is essential when dealing with the complex needs of the Veteran. IPE training will allow the NP resident to develop an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other members of the health care team, establish and build rapport, develop communication skills and build strategies to manage conflict.
Project: Each resident is required to complete a Quality Improvement and/or research project related to an identified care problem. The Nurse Practitioner resident will be afforded dedicated time each week to assess their selected topical area/problem, review pertinent literature, implement project to address problem, collect data, analyze, and interpret that data related to improving outcomes. The project, once completed, will be presented to members of the clinical staff, program leadership, and the Quality, Safety, and Improvement Council.
About the VA Maryland Health Care System
Nurse Practitioner Residency Program Application Process
Geriatric (G-NPR) Application
Thank you for your interest in the Nurse Practitioner Residency Programs (G-NPR) and (PC-NPR) Program at the VA Maryland Healthcare System (VAMHCS). This residency is designed for new graduate nurse practitioners and clinical leaders for DNP graduates with a commitment to serve the Veteran population. The program prepares new NPs to become confident and competent primary care providers, with emphasis on the needs of the geriatric population. By providing didactic seminars, Grand Rounds, supervised and independent clinical practice, specialty rotations, and leadership training during the 12 months.
Upon completion of this program, graduates will receive a Residency Completion Certificate from the Residency Program. Our program will admit 3 residents a year in each program for a total of 6 Residents per year. Please see the below Criteria for each program .
Geriatric (G-NPR)
I. Eligibility:
- US Citizenship
- Graduates of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Recent graduate within the past 12 months or upcoming graduation by May 2023 (Day TBD).
- Hold a Master’s Degree or Doctorate degree with board certification in Adult- Gerontology Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner.
- Hold a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse and nurse practitioner in a state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, before the start of the PC-NPR program.
- Proficient in written and spoken English.
- Completion of one or more of the following; drug screen, background investigation, lab and physical exam, tuberculosis skin testing, Hep B titer, COVID-19 Vaccine (or approved exception) (Required during the credentialing/hiring process).
- Strong desire to work in GERIATRICS to provide Seamless Age Friendly Care across the Continuum for our Nation’s Aging Veterans
II. Application Requirements:
- Completed G-NPR Program Application (Must submit by March 20, 2023)
- Interest Statement-See PC-NPR Program Application (Must submit by March 20, 2023)
- Curriculum Vitae/Résumé included but not limited-Include with Application. Must include applicable Education & Awards/Honors - Work Experience - Research & Publication - Leadership Service - Life Experience/Professional membership (Must submit by March 20, 2023)
- Unofficial nursing school transcript (Must submit by March 20, 2023)
- Official nursing school transcripts (Must submit during credentialing/hiring process)
- A copy of APRN License (Must submit during credentialing/hiring process)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation (Must submit prior to March 20, 2023)
- one (1) letter must come from an academic instructor.
- one (1) letter must come from a preceptor.
- one (1) letters must come from a place of employment/co-worker.
Early submission is highly recommended. Submit the above-required documents for the Geriatric NP Residency Program to DeDee Williams, Program Applications Specialist Geriatrics & Extended Care: dedee.williams2@va.gov
III. Application Dates:
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until March 20, 2023.
- Virtual interviews may be conducted sooner but not later than April 6, 2023.
- The selection process will be completed, and notification letters will be sent by April 14, 2023. The letter will include follow-up instructions regarding completing the HR process, an appointment with individual supervisors, and orientation.
**You must submit complete application packets with all required attachments in 1 file to the program(s) you are seeking residency. Incomplete packets or packets not submitted by the designated deadline will not be considered for Residency. **
Early submission is highly recommended.
We look forward to receiving your submissions!
Primary Care (PC-NPR) Application
I. Eligibility:
- US Citizenship
- Graduates of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Recent graduate within the past 12 months or upcoming graduation by May 2023 (Day TBD).
- Hold a Master’s Degree or Doctorate degree with board certification in Adult- Gerontology Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner.
- Hold a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse and nurse practitioner in a state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, before the start of the PC-NPR program.
- Proficient in written and spoken English.
- Completion of one or more of the following; drug screen, background investigation, lab and physical exam, tuberculosis skin testing, Hep B titer, COVID-19 Vaccine (or approved exception) (Required during the credentialing/hiring process).
- Strong desire to work in Primary Care and ADULT/ GERIATRICS to provide Seamless Age Friendly Care across the Continuum for our Nation’s Veterans
II. Application Requirements:
- Completed G-NPR Program Application (Must submit by March 20, 2023)
- Interest Statement-See PC-NPR Program Application (Must submit by March 20, 2023)
- Curriculum Vitae/Résumé included but not limited-Include with Application. Must include applicable Education & Awards/Honors - Work Experience - Research & Publication - Leadership Service - Life Experience/Professional membership (Must submit by March 20, 2023)
- Unofficial nursing school transcript (Must submit by March 20, 2023)
- Official nursing school transcripts (Must submit during credentialing/hiring process)
- A copy of APRN License (Must submit during credentialing/hiring process)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation (Must submit prior to March 20, 2023)
- one (1) letter must come from an academic instructor.
- one (1) letter must come from a preceptor.
- one (1) letters must come from a place of employment/co-worker.
III. Application Dates:
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until March 20, 2023.
- Virtual interviews may be conducted sooner but not later than April 6, 2023.
- The selection process will be completed, and notification letters will be sent by April 14, 2023. The letter will include follow-up instructions regarding completing the HR process, an appointment with individual supervisors, and orientation.
Submit the above-required documents for the Primary Care NP Residency Program to Angela Washington DNP, FNP-BC, CRNP Angela.washington@va.gov
**You must submit complete application packets with all required attachments in 1 file to the program(s) you are seeking residency. Incomplete packets or packets not submitted by the designated deadline will not be considered for Residency. **
Early submission is highly recommended.
We look forward to receiving your submissions!
Lynetris Williams DNP, RN, CRNP, FNP, BC
Geriatric-NPR Program Director
VA Maryland health care
Phone: 410-605-7586
Email: Lynetris.Williams@va.gov
Angela Washington DNP, FNP-BC, CRNP
Primary Care NPR Program
VA Maryland health care
Phone: 443-421-5748
Email: Angela.washington@va.gov