PMHNP Residency @ The VA

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Specializes in MDS Coordinator.

Hello all fellow nurses!

Well, I am one to plan ahead as for I am still in school. I live in the good 'ol state of North Carolina. The local VA has a PMHNP residency progam in association with Duke University. If accepted you can also apply to Duke's DNP online program to where your hours and projects during residency count towards your degree. Seems pretty good but it's the renowned Duke; the tuition is like $1,800 per credit.

Anyways, to anyone who has or knows anyone who has, have participating in the residency help with attaining "Nurse III (3)" and a high Step when applying for a job with The VA after? Yes/No? Maybe getting 2-3 years of experience at a higher private industry salary will make the difference for a "Nurse III (3)" and a high step level?

Is the VA even worth it? Compared to an outpatient clinic in the community to inpatient at the local hospital system, how's the experience (paperwork/EMR/culture) any better?

Thanks in advance for any info on this. 2016 legislation granted full practice authority to NPs in the VA. North Carolina is a restricted state unfortunately.

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Why hasn't anybody commented on this? The VA appears to be doing quite a bit of these residencies for new grad PMHNPs. I'm really curious if anyone has done one, and what the experience was like. @Merky101 - did you decide to pursue this experience?

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Specializes in MDS Coordinator.

Thanks marigoldy for the response and encouragement for more answers.

Years ago when I posted the question, I was asking for personal research for general knowledge for future endeavors.

I've read that the VA doesn't compensate as well as the private sector and that their benefits are comparable too. One post I've read stated that the PMHNP saw similar amount of patients as he did private sector.

I am soon going to finish nursing school so no, I am currently in no position to pursue the VA experience at the moment. Less of a possibility in the future from the lack of comparitive advantage that the VA has over the private sector.

No offense to anyone working at the VA. God Bless our veterans but I've always worked well and empathize more with the disenfranchised groups in poorer communities.

Thank you ?❗

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