Post‐Graduate Nurse Practitioner Residency

Post‐Graduate Nurse Practitioner Residency in Community Health and Family Medicine

Overview:

In 2009 Family Health Center of Worcester (FHCW) pioneered a Family Nurse Practitioner Residency, building upon the training resources of the Worcester Family Medicine Residency in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Taking this successful Nurse Practitioner Residency a step farther, in 2019 FHCW partnered with the University of Massachusetts Worcester Graduate School of Nursing, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center and other sites to successfully apply to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration for four years of funding.

This multi-site, 12-month full-time residency provides new FNP graduates (within 18 months of graduation) with the foundation to build their career as a primary care provider in community health centers.

The residency sites are:

• Family Health Center of Worcester, Worcester MA www.fhcw.org
• Edward M. Kennedy Health Center, Worcester, MA www.kennedychc.org
• Codman Square Health Center, Dorchester, MA www.codman.org
• Harbor Health Services, Boston, MA www.hhsi.us
• Baystate High Street, Springfield, MA www.baystatehealth.org/locations/high-street-health-center

Residents will be employed by their sponsoring residency site and receive salary support and benefits through this employer.

Residency Description:

The Post-Graduate Nurse Practitioner Residency in Family Practice and Community Health will:

• Prepare family Nurse Practitioners to take on responsibility of comprehensive primary care for complex underserved populations across the life span.
• Build upon the clinical knowledge acquired during formal education by providing clinical and professional support for Nurse Practitioners in an active learning environment.
• Expand the number of Nurse Practitioners interested in building a life-long career in community health.
• Prepare Nurse Practitioners for careers in organizations that provide care to underserved patient populations.

Residents work alongside preceptors and team members with a wide variety of expertise and clinical interests. Residents interested in women’s health, international medicine, addiction medicine, chronic disease management, office procedures and new models of health care delivery will have opportunities to learn from experts. Residents will participate in online learning based at FHCW with precepted continuity sessions and mentor support at their residency site as they develop and manage a panel of patients.

Application Process:

Applicants will be screened by the grant’s project team with staff from each partner site. Once screened, applicants may be invited for interviews which will be conducted via Zoom. Once accepted into the residency and a residency employment site is determined, applicants will complete the employee application and meet all employment requirements of their residency employer.

Application Requirements: (please note, this application complies with federal reporting requirements for the grant)

- Applicants must be within 18 months of graduation from their Nurse Practitioner program.

- Applicants must agree to a full-time, 12 month residency and commit to a second year of employment at the discretion of the employing health center.

- Applicants must be a citizen of the US or a foreign national with a visa permitting permanent residency in the US or a non-citizen national. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.

- All applicants are required to have their MA Advanced Practice License, Federal DEA, and MA Controlled Substances Registration (MCSR) prior to starting clinical sessions.

-Please note, preference will be given to applicants who have taken or scheduled their certification exam. Alternatively, if your Advanced Practice License is not available at the time of application, please submit a letter from your program stating that you are in good standing and expect to be eligible to test for national certification.

-When hired, residents must provide their NPI to the UMass Worcester Graduate School of Nursing and agree to one year of employment tracking post-residency to comply with grant requirements.

-Complete the Residency Application and the Statement of Application and Release Form.

-Provide the contact information of three clinical references. This can include faculty.

-Submit a narrative response to the following questions. This is an opportunity to reflect upon and communicate your personal statement of qualifications, interest, and motivation for acceptance to this residency (attach in Word or PDF; 2 page maximum).

• What personal, professional, educational and clinical experiences have led you to choose nursing as a profession, and the role of a Family Nurse Practitioner as a specialty practice?
• Please comment upon your vision and planning for your short and long-term career development.
• What are the goals that you are looking to accomplish during your residency? Please identify specific areas of interest by lifecycle, age, or setting that you would like to develop increased mastery, competence, or confidence in.
• Please comment on your personal qualities and strengths that you think will positively contribute to this experience.

-Submit the following or provide a statement of the status (scanned documents are acceptable):

• CV with month and year
• Official Transcript
• Copy of professional diploma (BSN, MSN)
• Copy of RN and NP Massachusetts license
• Board certification (ANCC/AANP) status
• NPI

-Submit two letters of recommendation that specifically address your capabilities and interests related to this Residency Program. Letters should be addressed to the Post-Graduate NP Residency Selection Committee (attached in Word or PDF).

Application Deadlines & Inquiries:

The completed application must be received by August 1, 2023. Please note that applications will be shared with the partners in this grant. Selected individuals will be invited to interview via Zoom.

If you have questions, please contact Alyda Justiniano - Manager, Provider Relations/Credentialing at (508) 860-7962 or email Alyda.Justiniano@fhcw.org

Mailing Address: Alyda Justiniano - Manager, Provider Relations/Credentialing / Attn: NP Residency / Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. / 26 Queen Street / Worcester, MA 01610

Thank you for your interest in Post-Graduate Nurse Practitioner Residency in Family Practice and Community Health

The residency is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through grant T14HP33205. The contents are those of the author(s) and developer(s) of the residency and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHA or the US Government