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Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency

The program is a 12-month Post-Graduate training program for new graduates of Adult, Gerontology, or Primary Care Nurse Practitioners seeking their first job as a certified nurse practitioner. This residency is designed to prepare NPs to become confident and competent primary care providers with emphasis on the needs of the veteran population. The program provides a combination of didactic seminars, quality improvement projects, specialty rotations, clinical practice with graduated independence, and skills training individually tailored for each resident.

The Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Residency is an educational partnership between VA Black Hills Health Care System and South Dakota State University School of Nursing in collaboration with VA’s Office of Academic Affiliations(OAA).

This one-year residency is available annually and is based on full time employment as a trainee within VA and is designed for NP graduates who hope to practice in the Veterans Health System.

Mission statement:

The overall mission of this residency is to:

  • Increase access to high-quality primary care for veterans receiving care in the VHA by training newly graduated NPs in a supportive VA-based educational program that prepares them for full and autonomous care of veterans receiving care across various healthcare settings.
  • Provide newly graduated NPs with an individually tailored curriculum that expands on their current clinical foundation providing enhanced knowledge, independence, comfort, and clinical skills that are necessary to serve as experienced providers within the VHA healthcare system.
  • Educate new NPs on a model of veteran-centric primary care consistent with the VA’s principles of the population’s healthcare needs
  • Increase the number of NPs ready to serve in leadership in the VA.

Program Goals

  • Gain additional experience in managing veterans primary care and complex health conditions
  • Evolve foundational critical thinking and diagnostic skills
  • Work collaboratively with mentors and specialty services as an interdisciplinary health care team within VA Black Hills.
  • Focus on the well-being of veterans and their families by providing high quality, holistic primary care
  • Engage in a meaningful quality improvement project
  • Provide a supportive, structured transition to independent practice upon program completion.

 

Application Qualifications

  • a. US Citizenship
  • Recent graduate within the past 12 months from a credentialed Adult/ Gerontology/ or Family Practice Nurse Master’s degree or doctorate degree program
  • Must hold a current, full, active and unrestricted RN license in a state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia
  • Proficient in written and spoken English.
  • Must be able to complete or pass a drug screen, background investigation, and  physical exam required for the hiring process (see application checklist for details)
  • Must be applicants first job as a nurse practitioner
  • APRN/ CNP license
  • National Certification with AANP or ANCC

Application requirements

** Please note that due to COVID-19 Pandemic- special consideration in regard to deadlines and or requirements for program graduation/ completion, transcripts, potential start dates, and licensure expectations will be considered based on individual needs. If you or your program has been delayed by the pandemic and would like to be considered for the program, please contact the program director. **

  1. Completed PC-NPR Program Application (Must submit by May 30, 2024) (download below)
  2. Interest Statement-See PC-NPR Program Application (Must submit by May 30, 2024) (download below)
  3. Curriculum Résumé included but not limited-Include with Application (Must submit by May 30, 2024)
    • Education & Awards/Honors
    • Work Experience
    • Research & Publication
    • Leadership Service
    • Life Experience/Professional membership
  4. Unofficial nursing school transcript (Must submit by May 30, 2024)
  5. Official nursing school transcripts (Must submit later during credentialing/hiring process)
  6. A copy of APRN License (Must submit later during credentialing/hiring process)
  7. Three (3) letters of recommendation (Must submit prior to May 30, 2024)
    • 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.

 

**Program start date for the fall cohort 2023-2024 is September 1, 2024**

Salary and Benefits

  • Salary competitive with local new NP graduate salaries – AY 24-25 $77,796/year or $37.40 hourly
  • Salary is paid by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) and rates may increase depending on the current year allocation rate. 
  • Government Health Care Medical Plan
  • 11 paid holidays
  • 4 hours of PTO and 4 hours of sick leave accrued per pay period (increased accrual for those with previous federal service)
  • No call, nights or weekends.

Submission:

Completed Application submitted via email to karron.zopp@va.gov
We look forward to reviewing your application,
Karron Zopp, NP
VA BHHCS Primary Care NP residency director
605-347-2511 ext. 17968
karron.zopp@va.gov

 

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