Program Mission

The mission of the San Francisco VA mental health (MH) nurse practitioner residency (NPR) is to provide a one-year transition to practice program for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners through the delivery of Veteran-centric clinical and didactic learning experiences. The SFVA MH-NPR offers new nurse practitioners the opportunity to build confidence, achieve competence, and gain the knowledge and skills necessary for providing care to our complex Veteran population.

The program goals are to: 

• Provide didactic and experiential learning opportunities with PMHNP faculty and interprofessional clinicians role modeling Veteran-centric care and leadership to build knowledge and skills, as well as develop appropriate attitudes for the PMHNP role.  
• Engage learners with interprofessional colleagues and build collaborative experiences in workplace-based environments to build competency and focus on team-based care and collaboration.   
• Provide opportunities to impact systems and build leadership through the completion of a quality improvement project.   
• Involve learners in self-reflective practice and critical reflection to build a culture of self-awareness, lifelong learning, and the delivery of equitable care.   
• Contribute to building and supporting the ongoing culture of scholarship and quality improvement within psychiatric-mental health nursing.   
• The residency program aims to recruit, train, and retain psychiatric nurse practitioner residents.  

Expected program outcomes include: 

• Program participants will demonstrate confidence and competence as autonomous PMHNPs by the conclusion of the one-year residency. 
• Program participants will consistently apply evidence-based practice to ensure quality and safety in the care of Veterans. 
• Program participants will gain knowledge in quality improvement processes and will complete quality improvement projects by the end of the residency year. 
• Regular program evaluation will be obtained and analyzed for continuous program improvement. 
• The program will retain program graduates who are trained in the delivery of quality care for Veterans. 

Program Structure

• This is a 12-month program
• Residency Curriculum includes: Clinical rotations on interprofessional teams
  •  Integrated and parallel didactic sessions
  • Learner-selected quality-improvement project
  • Didactic sessions frequently occur in conjunction with other UCSF-SFVAHCS resident training programs to promote interprofessional learning
  • Core clinical rotations include longitudinal learning experiences in general outpatient psychiatry, addiction and recovery treatment, PTSD, and women's health
  • Block clinical rotations include the psychiatric emergency service, community mental health, TMS, and psychotherapy groups
  • Residents are assigned a faculty mentor and advanced practice nurse preceptors during clinical care rotations to serve as resources and provide support as they transition to performing as autonomous PMHNPs
• Upon successful completion of the residency a certificate is awarded
• Candidates who successfully complete the residency training program will be given the opportunity to apply for available vacancies at the SFVAHCS

Applicant Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must have graduated from an advanced practice psychiatric nursing program within the 12 months preceding the residency start date
• The residency must be your first position serving as an NP in the same specialty as the program’s focus
• ANCC PMHNP board exam completion within 90 days of employment
• Have 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 program state date
• Proficient in written and spoken English
• Pass a background/security investigation as required by the San Francisco VA Health Care System
• Pass pre-trainee physical examination
• Random drug testing may be required
• COVID vaccination (or approved exception) is a requirement for VA employment

Am I eligible? 

Application Requirements

• Curriculum vitae
• Graduate school transcripts
• Personal Statement:
  • What experiences (personal, professional, educational and/or clinical) informed your choice of advance practice psychiatric-mental health nursing as a profession? [Maximum: two (2) pages]
  • What are your goals and aspirations for this specific residency program, and how do they fit with your early and long-term career plans as a PMHNP? [Maximum: two (2) pages]
  • Discuss your interest in working with Veterans in the SFVAHCS. [Maximum: one (1) page]
• Three (3) letters of recommendation submitted directly from letter authors. Please do not submit more than three letters. One must be from a faculty member of your graduate program, and the other two should be from clinical preceptors who can speak to your abilities as an advanced practice provider.

Benefits

• Stipend:  $95,564
• A benefits package that includes health insurance and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Hiring preference for open positions at any VA on completion of the residency

Apply Today!

Application Deadline: February 15, 2023

Residency Start Date: Monday, July 3, 2023 

Submission:  Please send CV, cover letter, personal statements, an unofficial transcript, and an application for Health Professions Trainees (VA form 10-2850D--download form below), COMBINED INTO ONE PDF, via email to v21sfcpmhnpresidencyandtraining@va.gov.

Residency Program Director:  Gabrielle Jacobs, PMHNP-BC

*Please have letters of recommendation emailed directly from the authors