Psychiatric/Mental Health (PMHNP) Nurse Practitioner Residency Program (MH-NPR)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2024

Mission

To provide newly graduated Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners veteran-centric clinical and didactic training to further develop the confidence, competence, knowledge and skills in order to become well-prepared to practice independently and provide care to the veteran population.

About the Program

This is a federally funded cohort-based 12-month training program, totaling 2080 hours, that offers a stipend and limited benefits. The residency provides a supportive interprofessional learning environment for providing evidence-based clinical care to our nation’s Veterans.

The program offers 100% protected training time for the resident and clinical supervision throughout the program, a robust curriculum, profession-specific rotations in various clinical settings, and opportunities for residents to create their unique career paths.

80% (32 hours) of the resident’s time will be spent in experiential activities applying academic concepts into practice and 20% (8 hours) in didactic activities that build upon academic learning. The curriculum includes rotations in a variety of clinical settings including inpatient, outpatient, and specialty programs comprised of clinical and didactic experiences.

The program ensures that graduates are well prepared to practice with confidence and expertise in treating patients recovering from complex mental health issues by providing new graduates the opportunity to expand and accelerate their growth beyond entry-level professional competence in patient-centered care, operational services and further the development of leadership skills that can be applied to address the complex needs of the Veteran population in any practice setting.

Upon successful completion of the residency, a certificate of completion is awarded that is recognized throughout the Veterans Health Administration.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following program requirements:

• United States Citizenship    
• Proficient in written and spoken English
• Possess a U.S. Social Security Number
• Be a recent graduate of a master’s, post-master’s certificate, or doctoral-level Nurse Practitioner program accredited by CCNE or the ACEN within the past 12 months prior to program start date 
• Possess current national board certification as a PMHNP Across the Lifespan through ANCC or be eligible to sit for board examination
• Possess a current, full active and unrestrictive registration as a registered nurse AND nurse practitioner in a state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, prior to the start of the NPR program (exceptions may be made for highly qualified candidates with later graduation dates)
• Be serving in their first Nurse Practitioner role as a PMHNP
• Current BLS certification (must be maintained throughout the entirety of the program)
• Background and security investigation required
• Provide evidence or self-certification of satisfactory physical condition based on a physical examination in the past 12-months
• Provide evidence or self-certification of up-to-date vaccinations for healthcare workers as recommended by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and VA 

CDC Recommended Vaccines for Adults  

• Males born since 1960, between the ages of 18 and 25, MUST register for Selective Service.
  Click to Register or Check Registration
• VA is a drug-free workplace. Random drug testing may be required
  Click here to see what that means for HPTs 

Am I eligible?
Download this checklist to be sure you meet all eligibility requirements to train at VA Facilities

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae, including but not limited to:
  • Graduation date
  • Education and Awards/Honors
  • Work Experience
  • Research and Publication
  • Leadership Service
  • Life Experience/Professional membership
• Official graduate school level nursing school transcripts
• A copy of RN license and current BLS certification (and PMHNP certification and APRN license if already obtained. 
• Three (3) professional letters of recommendation  emailed directly from individual writing letter to mischa.endicott@va.gov  or in sealed envelope:
• One (1) must be from a faculty member of graduate program  (requires direct observation of your clinical skills as a PMHNP student) 
• One (1) must be from a former preceptor (requires direct observation of your clinical skills as a PMHNP student)  
• Letters  must  be submitted on company letterhead and the professionals must be available for verbal confirmation of the information below:
• Relationships with team members such as nurses, physicians, social workers, RT etc.
• Professional PMHNP ability, including application of theory, independent judgment where appropriate, and quality of patient care
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Capacity to complete a scholarly quality improvement project related to psychiatry on the PMHNP level
• Responsibility and initiative
• Personal Statement, not to exceed two pages, outlining:
  • A statement of your commitment to begin and complete the one year program requirement
  • Your interest in this specific residency
  • Your commitment to furthering the profession
  • How your early and long-term career goals align with the PMHNP role and furthering the profession
  • Identification of a tentative subject for your quality improvement project,  addressing veterans’ mental health & psychiatric needs
• Application forms
• Application for Health Professions Trainees  VA 10-2850D 
• Declaration for Federal Employment  OF 306 
• Health Professions Trainee Random Drug Testing Notification and Acknowledgement Memo HPTTestingAck 
• Successful participants will be eligible, and encouraged, to apply for nurse practitioner vacancies in the Veterans Health System.

*All documents (with exception of letters of recommendation) must be submitted together in one electronic PDF packet if sent via email. 

Applications that are not sent as one packet (either hardcopy or PDF if email) will not be considered.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Louisville VA will not be responsible for documents, references and transcripts sent separately.

PMHNP Stipend and Benefits

• Residents in our program are considered federal trainees with a competitive stipend. As of AY 2023/24, stipend amount is : basic pay= $77,796+Employer Share Benefits and FICA
• A comprehensive benefits package that includes in part:
  • Paid vacation and sick leave 
  • paid federal holidays
  • Optional enrollment for federal health, vision and/or dental insurance
  • Access to VA online library with subscriptions to UpToDate, PubMed, and more
  • Hiring preference for open positions at Veterans Health Administration following successful completion of the residency

 The resident stipend is based on the current year’s allocation rate for the local area. Resident is not vested and does not have a 401K or matching fund benefit during their residency year. Though this program is designed to help with the recruitment and retention of high-quality PMHNP’s, completion of the program does not guarantee employment.

Application Dates

Application deadline: June 1, 2024

Interviews: through June 2024

Fall 2023 start date: Late September 2024

Please submit completed PDF of PMHNP Residency Application with all supplemental materials (via hardcopy or email) and/or any questions to:

Mischa R. Endicott, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Mental Health Services Mental Health-Nurse Practitioner Residency (MH-NPR) Program Director

800 Zorn Ave.

Louisville, Ky., 40206

Mischa.endicott@va.gov

502-287-4000, ext. 4482

Please periodically check this page for updates to program information

Updated 3/18/2024