Nurse Practitioner Residencies

[JuiceBoxHero]

I am wondering; are there any current practicing nurse practitioners who have completed a residency/fellowship who would be willing to share about their experience? Thanks in advance!

[Neuro Guy NP, DNP, PhD, APRN]

I completed one in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care. Incised lectures during the week, clinical immersion, and rotations through neuro ICU and other ICUs, stroke, ER, and made me more marketable and command a higher salary. Hands down the best decision I ever made coming out of school. Even though for the duration of the program how was making what resident physicians made, it has more than paid off now that I am in the real world practicing.

[Neuro Guy NP, DNP, PhD, APRN]

23 hours ago, Neuro Guy NP said:

I completed one in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care. Incised lectures during the week, clinical immersion, and rotations through neuro ICU and other ICUs, stroke, ER, and made me more marketable and command a higher salary. Hands down the best decision I ever made coming out of school. Even though for the duration of the program how was making what resident physicians made, it has more than paid off now that I am in the real world practicing.

Darn typos! Maybe I should quit responding from my cell phone ??

[Nursedina11]

I am in one now at Carolina Medical Center for medical critical care. It is one year long, I work a lot of hours, didactic, papers etc...it has definitely helped me in so many ways. I am half way through.

[JuiceBoxHero]

Thank you both for what you shared. I appreciate it!

[ArmaniX, MSN, APRN]

I really looked into and considered trying for a residency. Opted to just get a staff position, but the place I got hired to had a very structured orientation period for the new NPs and extended orientation of a minimum three months (which I feel is pretty far from standard).

The low pay was probably my main anxiety about a fellowship. Although I envy the teaching available in some fellowships I viewed and the potential to cycle through many critical care fields and departments.

[johnnyRN9851, BSN]

Of those who did a residency program, how many programs did you apply to? I'm in an FNP program so I've been looking for FNP residencies. At the moment, distance isn't really a downfall. I'm willing to move for the 12-18 months.

If you did go out of your home state, was it difficult to obtain licensing for the state in which you did your residency? A friend of mine said it may take a long time in certain states like California.

[Naturally Brilliant, BSN, RN]

Has anyone here done the VA Nurse Practitioner residency program? The official name for it is "VA Nursing Academic Partnership for Graduate Education Program (VANAP-GE)". Apparently they have locations in about a dozen different states.

[NPfellow123]

Not all residencies and fellowships are what they say they will be. I wish I had gotten more information from current and former NPs in my program before starting. Not only a person or two that the organizations recommends talking to. Be very cautious is my advice.

[Naturally Brilliant, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, NPfellow123 said:

Not all residencies and fellowships are what they say they will be. I wish I had gotten more information from current and former NPs in my program before starting. Not only a person or two that the organizations recommends talking to. Be very cautious is my advice.

How so? In what aspects should we be judicious about? What isn't (or wasn't) working for you?

[Neuro Guy NP, DNP, PhD, APRN]

On 3/13/2019 at 1:48 AM, johnnyRN9851 said:

Of those who did a residency program, how many programs did you apply to? I'm in an FNP program so I've been looking for FNP residencies. At the moment, distance isn't really a downfall. I'm willing to move for the 12-18 months.

If you did go out of your home state, was it difficult to obtain licensing for the state in which you did your residency? A friend of mine said it may take a long time in certain states like California.

I applied to a few. I got accepted into a pulmonary/critical care one but chose neuro. I moved several states to do the program. Licensing in my state was terribly slow but it worked out eventually. After completion of the program I stayed in the area. The pay is simply a lot higher than where I came from and there was no way I was going to stay in an area of the country with restrictive practice laws and low average salaries.

[Neuro Guy NP, DNP, PhD, APRN]

9 hours ago, Naturally Brilliant said:

How so? In what aspects should we be judicious about? What isn't (or wasn't) working for you?

I agree. Even for physicians not all programs are good. Same applies to us. I did my research and was pleased and proceeded. If your program is at a renowned institution, you're likely fine. I would be careful if going to a facility that doesn't have a reputation that precedes them. For example, UPMC, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma, Vanderbilt, Emory, New York Presbyterian, Penn and others all have good reputations and have NP fellowship/residency programs. I'd stick to reputable places like that not so much xyz medical center. But don't listen to those who 'down' such experiences. It will prepare you in ways that simply stepping out into practice won't.