Internships and fellowships

VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System offers both pharmacy student (pre-licensure) and residency (post-graduate training) programs. Pharmacists play a vital role in the delivery of patient care; working closely with physicians, nurses and other health care team members to ensure America's Veterans receive the finest care.

Visit our pharmacy resident programs page

The Nurse Practitioner Residency in Primary Care (NPR-PC) program at the Omaha VA provides a one-year structured environment with concentrated education and training in the primary care setting. The NPR-PC Residency program prepares nurse practitioners for professional leadership, education, and research in practice. The program is designed to provide clinical and academic experiences for new graduate Nurse Practitioners transitioning into professional practice.

The VHA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) Nurse Residency programs are designed to develop competent, confident, practice-ready Nurse Practitioners equipped with the knowledge and skills to address the specific needs of our nation's Veterans in the VHA and the community.

The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System (NWIHCS) NPR-PC program is partnered with UNMC College of Nursing. The VA NWIHCS and UNMC College of Nursing support evidence-based nursing education, research, and practice. Together, we foster a supportive learning environment for academic, professional, and personal success.

Mission Statement

To enhance the clinical knowledge of new graduate nurse practitioners to provide competent, holistic and evidence-based primary care to the Veteran population. In addition, this program will promote critical analysis of opportunities for improvement within the health care system to allow for improved access to care and optimal utilization of resources.

About VA NWIHCS

The VA NWIHCS is a tertiary care center for the VA Midwest Health care System Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). It encompasses the main campuses at Omaha and seven community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs).

VA NWIHCS serves an estimated Veteran population of 161,000 in 101 counties in Nebraska, western Iowa, Kansas and Missouri over a 58,000 square mile service area.

​The VA NWIHCS has academic affiliations with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University, and numerous other institutions. As a teaching facility, the VA NWIHCS provides a full range of inpatient, residential, vocational and outpatient services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research.

​The NPR-PC program provides the critical foundation upon which trainees build their expertise in primary care during their first transitional year into professional practice.

Application Requirements

• ​Curriculum vitae
• Personal Statement (Maximum two (2) pages, double-spaced pages) and must clearly address the following:
  • Motivation for working with the Veteran population
  • What are your aspirations for a Residency program?
  • Level of commitment to a career in the VA Healthcare System
  • Please comment upon your vision and planning for your short and long-term goals
• ​Three (3) letters of recommendation: (one must be from faculty member or graduate program); emailed directly from the individual writing the letter. See application instructions.

Benefits

• Competitive stipend
• A comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, 11 federal holidays, and health benefits.

Program Structure

• This is a year-long residency program (2080 hours of training)
• The NPR start date is late July 29, 2024.
• The program will satisfy the Nebraska board of nursing 2000 hour transition to practice agreement requirement.
• Clinical rotations are supplemented with weekly didactic sessions, Grand Rounds, Journal Club and other learning experiences.
• Clinical Rotations: Outpatient clinic, Women’s clinic, Surgery, Cardiology, Orthopedics, and other specialty clinic settings.
• Residents are assigned a mentor to act as a resource and provide support as they transition to autonomous and competent primary care 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 NWIHCS.

Applicant Qualifications

• U.S Citizens
• Graduate of Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited nurse practitioner programs.
• Recent graduate within the past 12 months.
• Be serving in his or her 1st NP role.
• Hold a Master’s degree or Doctorate.
• Preference will be given to those who are nationally board certified in AGPCNP or FNP through the ANCC or AANP and licensed as a nurse practitioner. If you will not be able to test prior to mid-August, please contact the Residency Coordinator for guidance.
• Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Background & Security Investigation required.

Accepting applications through April 29, 2024.

RESIDENCY START DATE: July 29, 2024.

Any questions please contact:

Program Coordinator
Tricia Hotaling, DNP, APRN-CNS, RN, AGCNS-BC
Phone: 402.559.6539  |  cell 402.681.1310
Email: Patricia.hotaling@unmc.edu

How to Apply
 

• Complete and submit application by stated deadline
• Download the application form, located below
• Submit complete application and requirements to the Program Coordinator
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed

CONTACT

Karen Kulp MS, Nurse Practitioner| U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 
Director of Nurse Practitioner Residency Program
2201 N Broadwell Ave. Grand Island NE 68803
office:  | Fax: | e-mail: Karen.kulp@va.gov

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications are now being accepted through April 29, 2024 for the 2023-2024 cohort.

Omaha VA medical center has a variety of nursing internship programs at different levels. We also offer the VA Student Trainee Experience Program (VA-STEP) Program, an honors program for select nursing students who have completed the junior year of a BSN program.

Learn more about our student nurse technician and VA-STEP programs

The Post Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Residency Program (PB-RNR) is a one-year paid residency program for newly licensed, BSN prepared nurses.  The nurse residency year is similar to a fellowship – you will earn significant work experience and clinical and professional training and skill development opportunities that are not typically available to someone starting in an entry-level nursing position.  The accreditation standards of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) guide the development of the curriculum and the learning activities designed to help develop the essential competencies for a new graduate nurse.  Upon completion of the program, nurse residents have experience in Medical/Surgical Care, Emergency Care, Intensive Care, Surgery, Outpatient, Mental Health, and others.

Nurse Residency Mission: “supporting the growth and development of professional nurses. Those who are passionate and dedicated to excelling in their nursing careers to provide exceptional healthcare to America’s Veterans.”

Nurse Residency Goals:

PB-RNR Nurse Residents will

• demonstrate increased competence in the practice domains, including Management and Delivery of Quality Patient Care and Professional Role and Leadership in Nursing.
• Increase comfort and confidence in transitioning from entry-level, advanced beginner nurses to competent professional nurses.

The Nurse Residency Program will assist in recruiting and retaining new graduate nurses in the VA Workplace.

Application Packet

* Resume and Cover Letter

* Personal Statement-300 words “The VA Post-baccalaureate Nurse Residency Program interests me because…”

* Unofficial Transcript

* Two to Three letters of support: examples from your Dean, Faculty (one clinical faculty preferred) and one professional.

* All letters of support must be on an official college or business letter head.

For more information contact:

Program Director

Karen Kulp, MSN, APRN-NP 

Email: karen.kulp@va.gov

RN Transition-to-Practice (RNTTP)/ Residency Program. Since 2011, the VHA has required that each VAMC establish and maintain a RNTTP/ Residency program if they hire post-graduate RN’s with less than one year of professional nursing experience. The RNTTP program assists the post-graduate RN in the transition from academia to a complex practice environment. The RNTTP Program consists of a comprehensive 12-month curriculum built upon standards related to clinical, leadership, and professional dimensions. Additionally, Veteran-centric content is reviewed during the RNTTP Program. The program may contain both didactic and experiential learning components.

Please read the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System Doctoral Psychology Internship brochure for 2024-25 applicants through the link below.  

Thank you for your interest in the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System Psychology Internship.   Applicants for the 2024-25 training year are invited to review the Brochure and “Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data” links, below, as well as contact the Training Director, Dr. Weilage at Mark.Weilage@va.gov 

NWI offers a single unified APA-accredited internship with six interns at four training sites. Different Match numbers allow applicants to specify their interest in one, two, three or all four of the training sites.

* Track 221711 --  2 Interns at the Grand Island VA Hospital
* Track 221712 --  1 Intern at the Lincoln VA Clinic
* Track 221713 --  1 Intern at the Norfolk VA Clinic
* Track 221714 --  2 Interns at the Omaha VA Medical Center

Irrespective of training site, all Interns train to meet the same profession-wide competencies at an intermediate to advanced level by the end of the training year. Approximately three days per week focus on intervention training experiences assisting outpatient Veterans with a range of mental health concerns including significant number of Veterans with PTSD.   In addition to all interns also participate in a yearlong Assessment Clinic approximately eight hours per week and come together for didactics and group supervision.

Two programs are available for the new graduate nurse.

The Post Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Residency Program (PB-RNR) is a one-year paid residency program for newly licensed, BSN prepared nurses. 

RN Transition-to-Practice (RNTTP)/ Residency Program. The RNTTP Program consists of a comprehensive 12-month curriculum built upon standards related to clinical, leadership, and professional dimensions. Additionally, Veteran-centric content is reviewed during the RNTTP Program. The program may contain both didactic and experiential learning components.