Advanced Nursing Education Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program Quarterly Update

MISSION STATEMENT: TO EXPAND ESSENTIA HEALTH'S TRANSITION TO PRACTICE PROGRAM FURTHER ENHANCING THE COMPETENCIES OF NP AND PA FELLOWS, INCREASING ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF RURAL AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.

The four-year, $2.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration is an expansion of Essentia Health’s current Transition to Practice program and provides new graduate nurse practitioners (NPs) clinical and academic enhancement for a 12-month fellowship program in rural and/or underserved populations. The collaboration between North Dakota State University (NDSU) School of Nursing and Essentia Health, a large regional health system covering North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin is better preparing new NP graduates for rural care practice through enhanced didactic content, simulation, and immersive clinical experiences. Although the grant stipulates funding for NPs, physician assistants (PAs) are also participating in the fellowship. The fellowship year started in October. This update highlights the current projects and achievements thus far.

Reflective conversations give time for fellows to reflect on personal, professional, and clinical growth. The goal of peer resiliency check-ins is to form supportive relationships with a peer who may be facing similar occupational or personal challenges and apply resiliency strategies.

Reflective Conversations: An Alternative to Reflective Journaling During Role Transitions of Nurse Practitioners

An MOU with Family Health Care, a federally qualified health center with locations in Fargo, ND, Valley City, ND and Moorhead, MN was established to provide immersive clinical experiences and/or expert clinical content with certified nurse midwives, primary care providers, and behavioral health specialists.

A partnership with Duluth Family Medicine Program and Aminata Kamara, DNP, FNP, PMHNP-BC, a Board-Certified Psychiatric and Family Nurse Practitioner and owner of At-Peace Integrative Mental Health clinic was established to provide behavioral health specialty rotations.

Who to Contact

This website is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2,302,543 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

ANE NPRF website