Miami VA Healthcare System

Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Residency Program

Welcome to the Miami VA Healthcare System Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Residency homepage. A major goal of this program is to create better access to mental health care for Veterans and to prepare new Nurse Practitioners (NPs) for full and autonomous expert patient centered care of Veterans with complex mental health issues. Upon completion of this program, graduates will receive a Residency Completion Certificate from the Residency Program.

PMHNP Residency Eligibility

1. U.S. citizenship
2. Graduation from Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited psychiatric nurse practitioner programs, licensure AND completed ANCC board certification as a PMHNP
3. Recent graduation within the past 12 months
4. Proficiency in written and spoken English

Application Requirements 

July/August 2021 application deadline is April 9, 2021 and interviews will be scheduled for April 15 & 16, 2021.

1. Completed PMHNP Residency Application (Application form for Health Professions Trainees)
2. A Letter of Interest (no more than two, double-spaced pages), including but not limited to:
   
   1. Your three most important professional goals
   2. Your interest in serving a variety of patient populations, including vulnerable, underserved or elderly patients
   3. Your willingness to serve the severe mentally ill population in all settings: hospital, residential program, clinics and the veterans’ home/shelter in the Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
   4. Your willingness to register and attend a two day CBT psychotherapy training on your own (https://deploymentpsych.org/training)
   5. Your commitment to furthering the profession
   6. Your interest in this specific residency
   7. How your career goals align with the PMHNP role and furthering the profession
   8. Your commitment to begin and complete the one year program requirement. 
3. Curriculum Vitae/Résumé, including but not limited to:
   1. Education and Awards/Honors
   2. Work Experience
   3. Research and Publication
   4. Leadership Service
   5. Life Experience/Professional membership
   6. Nursing school transcripts: A copy of RN license, BLS certification, APRN license.
   7. Three letters of recommendation:
      • one letter must come from an academic instructor
      • one letter must come from a preceptor
      • one letter must come from a place of employment/co-worker

*All documents must be submitted together in one electronic PDF packet by email. Applications that are not sent as one PDF will not be considered. Miami VA will not be responsible for documents, references and transcripts sent separately.

*Recommenders must also be available for verbal reference.

*Each recommender who you nominate is asked to address the following areas, as appropriate:

1. relationships with team members such as nurses, physicians, and others
2. professional nursing ability, including application of theory, independent judgment where appropriate, and quality of patient care
3. communication skills
4. leadership skills
5. responsibility and initiative

Salary and Benefits

• The resident in our program is considered a federal full-time employee with a stipend of approximately $80,282 and benefit package.
• Health benefits information about federal employment benefits, visit www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/Guide-Me/New-Prospective-Employees/
• These benefits include a government health care medical plan and an option for dental and life insurance.
• 10 paid federal holidays
• Annual/sick leave that accrues at a rate of 4/4 hours per pay period.
• Resident is not vested and does not have a 401K or matching fund benefit during their residency year.
• Employment is not guaranteed upon completion of the program.

Submit completed PMHNP Residency Application with all supplemental materials as one PDF to Fariba Ostovary at Fariba.Ostovary@va.gov.