Published by Jamie Bond
Nurse Practitioner residency programs are a fairly new concept in the healthcare arena. The first program, introduced in 2007, was developed by Community Health Center, Inc. in Connecticut with the goal to increase the number of family nurse practitioners in the community health settings. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the demands on primary care providers have increased profoundly. Nurse practitioners are trained to evaluate, diagnose, and manage a wide array of healthcare concerns, making them an extremely valuable asset in today’s healthcare climate.
Below you will find a list of 30 organizations that offer residencies to nurse practitioners. Many are Federally Qualified Health Centers, which provide high quality, preventive to healthcare to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Some of these organizations offer specialty residencies to nurse practitioners in areas such as pediatrics and psychiatry.
1. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
This goal of this fellowship, offered by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), is to increase the number of midlevel providers in clinical hepatology. This fellowship is offered to any nurse practitioner, physician assistant, certified nurse specialist, or advanced practice nurse who is board certified and licensed on or before July 15th. Applicants must be active members of AASLD, maintain membership through the duration of the award period, and have a mentor who is a Clinical Hepatologist. The fellowship period is July 1st through June 30th and an award of $78,000 will be provided ($65,000 for salary and $13,000 for benefits).
For more information, visit: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
2. Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston LEAH (Leadership Education in Adolescent Health) offers this 10-month fellowship to any master’s or doctorate prepared board certified nurse practitioner that is interested in adolescent health. A stipend of $5,000 is given to all fellows. The application deadline is April 1st and the fellowship runs September through June.
For more information, visit: Boston Children’s Hospital
3. Capital Health
Located in Trenton and Pennington, New Jersey, Capital Health offers this 12-month neuroscience nurse practitioner fellowship. This program is open to any recent graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program. One applicant will be chosen annually with preference given to any applicant willing to commit to a 12-month employment period beginning immediately following the completion of the fellowship. Applications must be submitted prior to January 15th with interviews beginning after February 1st. The fellowship start date is July 1st.
For more information, visit: Capital Health
4. Carilion Clinic
The Carilion Clinic Emergency Department, located in Western Virginia, offers this fellowship to any nurse practitioner or physician assistant that is seeking additional training and experience in the field of emergency medicine. Two applicants will be selected to complete the 12-month fellowship with rotations in various departments including emergency medicine, anesthesia, cardiology, and internal medicine. Fellows will be full-time Carilion Clinic employees and eligible for full benefits. The application deadline is September 1st for this fellowship that begins in February.
For more information, visit: Carilion Clinic
5. Carolina’s Health Care System
Carolina’s Health Care System offers the Center for Advanced Practice fellowship program to any new nurse practitioner or physician assistant graduate seeking additional clinical experience. There are various fellowship tracks to choose from including acute care, ambulatory care, and urgent care. This fellowship begins new classes semiannually and has application deadlines of April 1st (fall class) and October 1st (spring class).
For more information, visit: Carolina’s Health Care System
6. CommUnity Care Health Centers
CommUnity Care Health Centers, located in Texas, offers this residency to any new nurse practitioner that is seeking enhanced clinical knowledge and skills. The goal of this residency is to increase the number of family nurse practitioners serving in the community health setting. The application deadline for this residency is April 15th and new resident classes begin on July 1st.
For more information, visit: CommUnity Care Health Centers
7. Community Health Care
Community Health Care, with locations in and around Tacoma, Washington, offers this residency program to any recent graduate from a master’s or doctorate nurse practitioner program that is a board certified (or eligible for testing). Applicants must be committed to a career in primary care in the Federally Qualified Health Center setting. Applications become available annually in January and new resident classes begin each October.
For more information, visit: Community Health Care
8. Community Health Centers, Inc.
This residency program, located in Connecticut, is open to any new nurse practitioner (board certified nurse or eligible for testing) that desires additional clinical experience in the family practice setting. The application deadline is April 1st and new resident classes begin in September.
For more information, visit: Community Health Centers
9. Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center
In conjunction with Duke University School of Nursing, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers this 12-month residency program to any board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner that has less than one-year experience in the field since graduating. Residents receive a monthly stipend and benefits. Visit the site below for application information.
For more information, visit: Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center
10. Emory Center for Critical Care
Emory Healthcare, located in Atlanta, Georgia, offers this residency to any recent graduate from a master’s or doctorate accredited nurse practitioner program that is a board certified. This 12-month residency is designed to teach the residents to be leaders in their specialty field. Residents receive a highly competitive stipend and full-time employee benefits. The application deadline is June 1st for spring admission and September 1st for winter admission.
For more information, visit: Emory Center for Critical Care
11. Family Health Center of Worcester
The Family Health Center of Worcester, Massachusetts, partnered with the University of Massachusetts Medical School Family Residency, offers this 12-month residency to any recent graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program that is board certified. Residents are full-time employees with benefits that include loan repayment opportunities. The application deadline is February 28th for this residency that begins every July.
For more information, visit: Family Health Center of Worcester
12. HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research
The Region’s Hospital Psychiatry Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Fellowship, offered by HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research, is located in Minnesota and offers this fellowship in psychiatry to any licensed and board certified graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner or physician assistant program. The goal of this fellowship is to provide a strong background in providing medical care to mentally ill patients. This 12-month program offers residents a $78,000 stipend plus a full benefit package.
13. Hurley Medical Center
Hurley Medical Center, located in Lansing, Michigan, offers this 10-week trauma fellowship to any licensed nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Applicants must have 1–2 years experience in surgery or critical care and be familiar with suture closure. There is a $3,500 fee for this fellowship and fellows are required to carry their own health insurance.
14. Indian Health Service
The Indian Health Service, a federal health program for American Indians and Alaska natives, offers this work-study program to any nursing student pursuing an associate, bachelors, master’s, or doctorate degree from an accredited university. Recipients will receive up to $8,000 in tuition assistance. The awardees are obligated to complete a three-year service obligation for each year tuition assistance is awarded. The application deadline for this program is June 30th.
For more information, visit: Indian Health Service
15. International Community Health Services
International Community Health Services, located in Washington State, offers this 12-month family practice residency to any recent graduate from a master’s or doctorate nurse practitioner program. Applicants must be board certified and licensed to practice in Washington State. Accepted residents will receive a full-time competitive salary with medical and dental benefits. The application deadline is April 10th for this residency that begins every September.
For more information, visit: International Community Health Services
16. John Hopkins School of Medicine
This 12-month residency, offered by the division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, is offered to any recent graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program or practicing nurse practitioner planning a career in gastroenterology or hepatology. Residents receive a $40,000 stipend and full benefits including health insurance and professional liability insurance. The application deadline for this residency is January 15th.
For more information, visit: John Hopkins School of Medicine
17. Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
This 24-month dermatology fellowship offered by Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, located in Burlington, Massachusetts, is available to any board certified nurse practitioner with several years of clinical experience in the general medical setting who is seeking a career in dermatology. Fellows are full-time employees and receive full benefits. The application deadline is March 1st for this fellowship that begins every September.
For more information, visit: Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
18. Massachusetts General Hospital
This fellowship, offered by the Palliative Care Department of Massachusetts General Hospital, is open to any nurse practitioner with a master’s or doctorate degree that is licensed to practice in Massachusetts. This 12-month full-time program provides the fellows with a competitive salary and full benefits. The deadline is March 1st to apply for this fellowship that begins July 1st.
For more information, visit: Massachusetts General Hospital
19. Mayo Clinic of Arizona
Mayo Clinic of Arizona offers this extremely competitive nurse practitioner fellowship in cardiology to any recent graduate from a nurse practitioner program with experience in critical care, interventional cardiology, or telemetry. With clinics in Scottsdale and Phoenix, this 12-month fellowship aims to transition any nurse practitioner into a professional cardiovascular nurse practitioner. The application deadline is March 31st with sessions beginning in early September.
For more information, visit: Mayo Clinic of Arizona
20. Mayo Clinic of Minnesota
The Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota, one of the most advanced medical centers in the world, offers this residency program to any registered nurse employed at Mayo Clinic who is seeking an advanced degree as a nurse practitioner. This residency consists of three or four 8-hour workdays weekly. The application deadline for this residency is March 1st and clinical rotations begin each August.
For more information, visit: Mayo Clinic of Minnesota
21. MD Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the top two cancer centers in the nation. MD Anderson offers a post-graduate fellowship in oncology to any board certified nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist with a desire to broaden their knowledge in oncology. The application deadline for this fellowship is January 31st and the classes begin in September.
For more information, visit: MD Anderson Cancer Center
22. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Located in New York City, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center offers a 12-month clinical fellowship in palliative care to any master’s prepared nurse practitioner. After completing this fellowship, the nurse practitioner will be prepared to sit for the advanced certification in palliative and hospice nursing.
For more information, visit: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
23. Methodist Hospital System
Houston Methodist Hospital System offers two 12-month fellowships (transplant and neuroscience) to any board certified nurse practitioner with a master’s or doctorate degree from an accredited university. Priority is given to applicants that commit to a 24-month (minimum) term of employment following the fellowship. The application deadline and the fellowship start date are both ongoing.
For more information, visit: Methodist Hospital System
24. Robbie Simpson Fellowship
Located at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, this 3-month fellowship focuses on pediatric oncology and hematology patients. This fellowship is available to any nurse practitioner student or advance practice nurse with a strong interest in pediatric oncology and hematology. The deadline for application to this fellowship is May 1st and the fellowship term runs September through November.
For more information, visit: Robbie Simpson Fellowship
25. Rogers Center for Research and Training
Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rogers Center for Research and Training offers this psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP) internship to any PNP graduate from an accredited university. See the link below for application information.
For more information, visit: Rogers Center for Research and Training
26. Santa Rosa Community Health Centers
This fellowship, offered by Santa Rosa Community Health Centers in California, is offered to any nurse practitioner that is a recent graduate from an accredited university. Fellows in this program will gain exceptional experience in caring for the underserved population across all life cycles. The application deadline is in November and the fellowship begins in January.
27. St. Luke’s University Health Network
St. Luke’s University Health Network in Pennsylvania offers a 12-month residency program to any board certified nurse practitioner or physician assistant seeking clinical experience in emergency medicine. The fellow salary is $50,000 with benefits that include health insurance and malpractice insurance. The application deadline for this fellowship is May 15th.
For more information, visit: St. Luke’s University Health Network
28. University of Maryland Medical Center
The University of Maryland Medical Center and the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center offer two residency programs (critical care and trauma) to any recent graduate from a nurse practitioner program or nurse practitioner that is new to critical care. Residents are full-time employees with full time benefits.
For more information, visit: University of Maryland Medical Center
29. Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, with locations in Oregon and Washington State, offers this 12-month residency program to any recent graduate from an accredited master’s or doctorate nurse practitioner program that is licensed and board certified (or eligible for testing). This residency is open to any nurse practitioner that is committed to a career in community health or other safety net settings. The application deadline is April 30th and the residency begins in September.
For more information, visit: Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic
To learn more, check out what clinical settings are available to the nurse practitioner.
About the author:
Jamie Bond has been a registered nurse since 2002 and returned to the college scene in 2012 to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has a passion for all things nursing, especially the care of the at–risk population. Jamie has first hand experience navigating the complicated, multifaceted field of nursing. A married mother of two school-aged sons, Jamie enjoys spending her spare time cheering on her kids at their various activities.