VA North Texas Health Care System

Post-Graduate Nurse Practitioner Residency

Welcome to the VA North Texas Health Care System Post-Graduate Nurse Practitioner Residency homepage. Our Primary Care & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency programs in academic partnership with the University of Texas at Arlington, College of Nursing & Health Innovation are two innovative twelve-month programs supported by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations.

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Program Mission

The mission of our residency programs is to bridge education and practice while transitioning novice nurse practitioners into safe, competent professionals to care for our nation's Veterans while using clinical evidence to guide practice.

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Program Goals

The goal of the residency program is to:

• Develop competent nurse practitioners with the clinical skills necessary to improve health-related outcomes for Veterans;
• Support professional role transition, integration, and socialization of new nurse practitioners;
• Provide interprofessional learning and practice experiences in Veterans with complex health care problems;
• Improve Veteran access to high quality care; and
• Expand VA North Texas Health Care System workforce by improving the confidence, productivity, and job satisfaction of new Nurse Practitioners who choose to work in a Veteran-centric setting.

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PC-NPR Program Structure

The OAA residency is a 12 month program structured with a four-phase curriculum model with 80% experiential and 20% didactic learning activities. The model consists of multiple rotations to a wide variety of specialty units and primary care clinics. Clinical rotations will be within the Dallas VANTHCS, inclusive of surrounding Community Based Out-Patient Clinics (CBOCS). Didactic sessions consists of a variety of academic/learning activities, didactic classes, simulation, and pre/post-clinical conferences for experiential learning and evaluation. Residents will participate in a interprofessional learning environment with medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology and other interdisciplinary health care team members. Additionally, residents will implement an evidence-based practice scholarly project and participate in professional development activities geared to career advancement, networking, and building relationships within the VA Healthcare community.

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NP Residency Program Eligibility

Eligible candidates for Residency must be:

• A recent graduate (within 12 months) of master's or doctoral level nurse practitioner program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Serving in their first nurse practitioner role
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA
• Citizen of the United States.
• Hold current board certification in the same specialty area as the program’s focus:
  • Primary Care NP Residents must hold either an Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner board certification.
  • Mental Health NP Residents must hold a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a 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.

Note: Although the admission priority must be given to trainees who possess licensure and board certification at the time of program entry, the OAA Nursing Education Director may grant a “90-day grace period” to highly-qualified NP residency candidate(s) whose licensure and board certification have been delayed. Candidates must provide written assurance that they will obtain licensure and board certification within 90 days from the start of the program. If a Nurse Practitioner resident fails to meet board certification or licensure requirement within the 90 days since the start of the program, the trainee will be terminated from the program.

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NP Residency Program Benefits

Salary and Benefits:

• 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 with optional dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 10 paid holidays.
• PTO & Sick leave accrued per pay period.
• No call or weekend shifts required.
• 100% Protected Learning Time.
• Other VA unmatched benefits.

How to Apply:

• VA form-Application for Health Professions Trainees
• VA form-Declaration for Federal Employment
• Curriculum vitae
• Official graduate school transcripts. Note: No transcript weblinks will be accepted. Mail official transcripts to: Katrina Booker 
• Personal Statement: What are your aspirations for a VA Residency program? Note: Limit to one (1) page
• Two (2) letters of recommendation: one academic and one professional letter in sealed envelopes or emailed directly from the individual writing the letter. Recommendation letter template
• Accepting applications for both Primary Care and Mental Health Residency 2021 Cohorts beginning February 1st - March 5, 2021. Note: No exceptions will be made after the deadline.
• Applicants will be contacted if selected for an interview.
• The 2021-2022 Cohort will begin on August 15^th, 2021.

Please note, if you are currently a VA employee, please contact us prior to completing your application. A status change from employee to trainee, including changes in benefits, will be required to participate in the residency programs. Please submit your completed application packets by mail to Katrina Booker, Department of Nursing Education, 4500 S. Lancaster Rd Dallas, TX 75216 or by email at katrina.booker@va.gov.