• ​New Undergraduate Students/Trainees ‐ the school clinical coordinator/staff will provide initial confirmation of the clinical/preceptorship assignment, as well as credentialing instructions (including documents to be filled out) to the new student/trainees. All credentialing documents (including instructions for the TMS online training) are found on the Massachusetts Centralized Clinical Placement (Mass CCP) System website ‐ www.mass.edu/mcncps/orientation/welcome.asp

• New Graduate Students (including masters and doctoral) ‐ upon notification by the school clinical coordinator/staff that a match has been chosen, the credentialing process will be coordinated by VA Boston Nursing Affiliations staff directly with the graduate students/trainees. All credentialing documents (including instructions for the TMS online training) are found on the Massachusetts Centralized Clinical Placement (Mass CCP) System website ‐ www.mass.edu/mcncps/orientation/welcome.asp

• Returning Students/Trainees ‐ Following the instructions from the school clinical coordinator, the credentialing process will be coordinated by VA Boston Nursing Affiliations staff directly. All credentialing documents (including instructions for the TMS online training) are found on the Massachusetts Centralized Clinical Placement (Mass CCP) System website ‐ www.mass.edu/mcncps/orientation/welcome.asp

• Must be U.S. Citizen.

• Graduated from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited program with a BSN or Direct Entry-MSN, between August 2022 and June 2023.

• Proficient in written and spoken English.

• Background & Security Investigation are required.

• Pass pre-trainee physical examination.

• Random Drug Testing is required.

• Obtain current, unrestricted RN license by Aug. 1, 2023.

• RESUME: no more than 2 pages.

• PERSONAL STATEMENT: 400 words “Why I Wish to be Selected for the VA Boston Healthcare System RN Residency Program”.

• THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS: TWO from school faculty (one must be a clinical faculty) and ONE from Nurse Manager/Assistant Nurse Manager of Unit of Senior Capstone Experience (or if you are employed as NA or PCA– your current immediate Nurse supervisor). Place sealed envelope or e-mailed directly from School Faculty/Nurse Manager to Nurse Recruiter at: BostonVAnurse@va.gov.

• TRANSCRIPTS: Unofficial or official transcripts are accepted for initial application. Please note: official transcripts are required upon selection.

• DD -214: submit if applicant is a Veteran.

• Applications are accepted until April 15, 2023.

• The residency program start date is August 2023.

• Complete application materials (as specified above) must be postmarked or e-mailed by close of business (COB) on April 15, 2023.

• Submit application materials to:
  Nurse Recruiter, VA BHS
  940 Belmont Street (118)
  Brockton, MA 02301
  Fax: 774-826-1115
  E-mail: BostonVAnurse@va.gov

• ​Funded by the VA Boston Healthcare System (VA BHS)

• Salary per Nurse Professional Standards Board (NPSB) Appointment

• Weekend/off-shift/holiday differential earned. Over-time allowed as per VA BHS policy

• Nurse Manager of the hiring unit is immediate supervisor

• Clinical preceptor for the first 3 months (co-assignment)

• Schedule managed by Unit Nurse Manager with coordination of program’s key elements with RN Residency Program Director to ensure compliance with all program requirements

• Specific Off-unit experiential observations scheduled throughout the 12-month program

• Accrue annual and sick leave, and benefits

• Incremental increase in FTE over 12 months

• Evaluations by clinical preceptor (1 & 3 months) and Nurse Manager (6 & 12 months)

• EBP project identified and developed during a structured 12-month curriculum. Quality improvement project identified & developed during a structured 12-month curriculum (ADN only)

• Accredited by CCNE and meets Office of Nursing Service (ONS) directive requirements

The purpose of the Adult Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner residency is to provide an intensive clinical experience supplemented by professional development activities to result in a better prepared primary care provider available to function independently in providing services for the veteran population. This program adopts and builds on the philosophy statements of Northeastern and the beliefs and values of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The overall mission of this program is to enhance the competencies of nurse practitioner residents, providing a well-qualified workforce to increase access to excellent primary care services for the Veterans throughout our country. Increasing the availability of these providers will expand the Department of Veteran Affairs ability to provide comprehensive primary care services and to improve the overall quality of health and primary care services.

1) Recruit and retain well-trained and experienced AGNP/FNP residents.

2) Enhance inter-professional collaborations and educational opportunities. Residents will demonstrate an expanded knowledge base and mastery of competencies to care for Veterans with chronic disorders using evidence-based treatment in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team.

3) Enhance the intensity of collaborations between VA Boston and Northeastern University School of Nursing.

4) Improve the quality of primary care services for Veterans.

5) Achieve the professional, cognitive, and technical skills to provide veterans with high quality care reflecting the VABHS’ values (integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence).

6) Prepare new graduates to practice in a diverse and rapidly changing healthcare environment.

7) Integrate and apply evidence-based knowledge, expertise, and judgment required to practice ethically and safely.

8) Provide a comprehensive educational experience for nurse practitioner residents, using Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice, and Veteran-centered competencies, to expand their knowledge necessary to ethically apply scientific and clinical expertise.

This 12-month residency is divided into a year-long primary care experience with opportunities in other specialties as well. The VA BHS is the largest consolidated tertiary care center for the VA New England Healthcare System Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). It encompasses three main campuses (including 448 inpatient beds, 160 nursing home beds, and 46 domiciliary beds) and five community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) within a 40-mile radius of greater Boston. In FY 2017, VABHS had 951,932 outpatient encounters and 62,020 Station Level unique patients.

Resident pay is based on taxable pre-determined stipend with locality adjustments as applicable. The stipend amount is reviewed annually and set by the National VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA)

Selected candidates will enjoy a 12-month paid residency with no service obligation. As a federal trainee, residents are eligible for certain benefits such as Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), sick leave, and annual leave. A certificate of VA Residency Completion will be provided at the end of the program. Residents will be eligible to apply for VA employment upon graduation.

The federally funded traineeship model offers:

• 12-month residency (2,080 hours)
• Clinical supervision throughout the program
• 100% dedicated training time
• Robust curriculum with 80% experiential activities that apply academic concepts to clinical practice in a variety of care settings, and 20% didactics that builds upon academic learning – including Grand Rounds, Journal Club, and other learning experiences

Residents are assigned a mentor to act as a resource and provide support as they focus on the advancement of clinical, leadership, and scholarship skills with an emphasis on Veteran-centric, geriatric-focused care. Upon successful completion of the residency, a certificate of completion is awarded. At the time of completion of the NPR program, residents will have one year of credible population-specific clinical experience.

Resident pay is based on taxable pre-determined stipend with locality adjustments as applicable. The stipend amount is reviewed annually and set by the National VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA)

Selected candidates will enjoy a 12-month paid residency with no service obligation. As a federal trainee, residents are eligible for certain benefits such as Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), sick leave, and annual leave. A certificate of VA Residency Completion will be provided at the end of the program. Residents will be eligible to apply for VA employment upon graduation.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. All requirements must be met by the time of program start.

Applicants should be a U.S. citizen and fluent in written and spoken English. They should have less than one year of experience as a Nurse Practitioner and have a master's degree from a program accredited by a NLNAC or CCNE accredited program within the last 12 months. Applicants must hold certification as an adult-gerontological primary care, adult-gerontological acute care, gerontological, or family nurse practitioner as well as a current, full, and unrestricted license as a RN and NP in a state, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. All applicants must submit to a background screening, physical exam, drug testing, and credentialing verification of education and employment to be a part of the VA health care system.

• Competitive stipend

• A comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and health benefits

• This is a 12-month residency

• Clinical rotations are supplemented with didactic sessions, Grand Rounds, Journal Club and other learning experiences

• The program includes integrated didactic sessions weekly with the Harvard South Shore Residency Training Program

• Clinical Rotations: Inpatient Psychiatry, Outpatient Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Psychiatric Emergency, Neurology, and Geropsychiatry

• Residents are assigned a mentor to act as a resource and provide support as they transition to autonomous and competent mental health nurse practitioners

• Upon successful completion of the residency, a certificate of completion is awarded

• Candidates who successfully complete the residency training program will be given the opportunity to apply to available vacancies at the VA BHS

• ​U.S Citizens

• Graduate of Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing  (ACEN)  accredited psychiatric nurse practitioner programs

• Recent graduate within the past 12 months

• Hold a Master’s degree or Doctorate and be licensed, nationally board certified through the ANCC and credential as a nurse practitioner with a specialty in Psychiatric-Mental Health

• Proficient in written and spoken English

• Background & Security Investigation required

• Pass pre-trainee physical examination

• Random Drug Testing required

• Curriculum vitae

• Official graduate school transcripts in a sealed envelop.

• Personal Statement: What personal, professional, educational 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?  What are your aspirations for a Residency program? Please comment upon your vision and planning for your short and long-term career development.  Maximum: two (2) pages

• Three (3) letters of recommendation: (one must be from faculty member or graduate program); in sealed envelopes or emailed directly from the individual writing the letter

• Deadline, March 04, 2023 (accepting applications now through March 4, 2023)
• Start date, July 2023
• Submit completed application requirements to:
  Nurse Recruiter
  VA Boston Healthcare System
  940 Belmont Street (118)
  Brockton, MA 02301
  FAX: 774-826-1115
  BostonVANurse@va.gov
  CC: sherley.belizaire@va.gov