Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program
Welcome to the VA Western Colorado Healthcare System’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program, a prestigious twelve-month post-graduate training opportunity located in the beautiful Grand Junction, Colorado. Our program is meticulously designed to provide new graduate nurse practitioners with intensive clinical experiences and inter-professional development activities, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver high-quality, compassionate, and patient-centered care.
Our Mission
To develop competent, confident, practice-ready NPs equipped with the knowledge and skills to address the specific needs of our nation's Veterans served by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and community.
Why Choose Us?
- Advanced Training: Engage in comprehensive clinical experiences and advanced educational sessions, focusing on the practical application of your knowledge.
- Structured Mentorship: Manage a dedicated patient panel with structured guidance from expert mentors and participate in an interdisciplinary team with increasing levels of autonomy.
- Prescriptive Mentorship: Receive focused mentorship to enhance your prescribing capabilities safely and effectively.
- Supportive Environment: Dedicated mentor to guide your clinical practice and patient interactions.
- Comprehensive Rotations: Gain exposure to various specialties within the Western Slope VA Healthcare system.
- Competitive Stipend and Benefits: Enjoy a generous stipend, full federal health insurance benefits, 11 paid federal holidays, and accrued leave.
- Career Success: An elite program with proven success rates, ensuring long-term career readiness and employability within VA and beyond.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen by birth or naturalization.
- Must be fluent in written and spoken English.
- Must have graduated from an NLN or CCNE accredited Nurse Practitioner Program between July 1 of the previous year and June 15 of the current year.
- Must not have previously held a position as a Nurse Practitioner.
- Certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
- Hold a current, full, and unrestricted NP license (can start without this but must obtain it within 90 days of residency start date).
- Submit to a background check, physical examination, and random drug testing.
- Review the "Am I Eligible? Checklist for VA HPTs."
Residency Details
The residency offers new graduates the opportunity to strengthen clinical competence and confidence as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioner residents will collaborate with a range of healthcare providers, including medicine, pharmacy, social work, and various other mental health professionals, as part of an interdisciplinary team. Activities include:
- Continuity Clinic Leadership: Manage your patient panel with structured mentorship and progressive autonomy.
- Clinical Rotations: Rotations will be within the Western Slope VA Healthcare system, including Primary Care Mental Health Integration, General Mental Health, Inpatient Psychiatry, Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, and more.
- Didactics: Participate in diverse didactic sessions focused on diagnostics, treatment, evidence-based practice, and special topics.
How to Apply
To apply for this residency program, submit the following documents to Primary Care NP Director Robert Rogers, FNP-C, via email at Robert.Rogers5@va.gov with the subject line: Applicant's Last Name, First Name - Applicant NPR (example: Rogers, Robert - Applicant NPR):
- Current Curriculum Vitae or Resume.
- A one-page narrative describing your interest in postgraduate training with the VA Healthcare System and your future career goals.
- Three letters of recommendation (one from a current or past professional peer and one from your graduate academic program).
Timeline
- Application Period: October 1 to January 1
- Q & A session: December 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM MT
- Interviews: To Be Decided.
- Residency Period: July of the current year to July of the following year (e.g., July 2027-July 2028)
Selection Process
Applicants will be reviewed and rated. An offer for an interview will be extended to the strongest applicants. Three offers will be extended by email, ideally no later than March 1. Candidates not ranked in the top three may be waitlisted. Once an email offer is made, applicants will be asked to accept or decline within 72 hours. Selected applicants will need to complete federal application documents and undergo eligibility verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Residents typically work a 4-day week (10 hours a day), including face-to-face, phone, and video appointments. Selected mornings will involve specialty clinics, and Wednesdays are reserved for didactics.
Patient panels vary between 150-200 Veterans, designed to achieve 300-400 patient contacts per cohort year.
Rotations include Primary Care Mental Health Integration, General Mental Health, Inpatient Psychiatry, Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, Veterans Recovery Center, Same Day Access Team, and Whole Health.
No, employment is not guaranteed, but the program significantly improves employability.
No, but we expect you to obtain this during residency to ensure you are fully trained and ready to secure a job upon graduation.
Yes, our mentorship fulfills the requirements for prescriptive authority across your scope of adult gerontology and family practice.
No, the residency is a trainee stipend position, not VA employment.
Currently, we offer a single start date in July. Residents must complete the full year (2080 hours).
The benefits provided within this program include a generous stipend, full federal health insurance benefits, full medical and dental coverage, 11 paid federal holidays, sick and annual accrued leave, and a four-day work week. Additionally, employees enjoy the stability of a supportive work environment that prioritizes their well-being and work-life balance.
Program Goals and Expected Outcomes
- Provide a twelve-month long supervised training program for newly graduated, licensed, and board-certified nurse practitioners during their first year of practice.
- Expected Outcome: 66% (2/3 in each cohort) of nurse practitioner residents will complete the full duration of the twelve-month long program, excluding health or family emergencies.
- Promote confidence in the role of advanced practice nurse.
- Expected Outcome: Nurse practitioner residency graduates will report average scores of “3” or greater in all domains in the NP Confidence in Practice (NPCiP) survey by month 12.
- Promote satisfaction in the role of advanced practice nurse.
- Expected Outcome: 66% (2/3) of nurse practitioner residents will remain in the role of advanced practice provider 5 years beyond completion of the NP residency, excluding health or family emergencies.
- Promote mastery in the role of advanced practice nurse.
- Expected Outcome: Nurse practitioner residency graduates will report average scores of “4” or greater in all domains in the NP Residency Competency Assessment (NPRCA) or the Mentor Assessment Tool by month 12.
- Enhance recruitment and retention of new graduate nurse practitioners.
- Expected Outcome: 33% (1/3) of nurse practitioner residents will apply for positions within VA following completion of the program, when opportunities are available.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact: Robert Rogers, FNP-C
Email: Robert.Rogers5@va.gov
Phone: 970-242-0731