Programs

This NEAR Institute’s program is based on the fact that the roles of nurses and nurse practitioners especially in primary health care is expanding rapidly and its quality has to be guarded intentionally, thoughtfully, and proactively.  The number of physicians available does not meet the nation’s primary care needs, particularly for the more than 150 million adults here in the US with chronic conditions, including mental health and substance use disorders. Consequently, many of the traditional primary care physician roles are significantly being taken up by nurse practitioners (NPs). The situation is graver in specialties such as psychiatry where many of the physicians are aging out and retiring at a rate not matched by the number of psychiatrists being produced by the medical schools. While the number of nurse practitioners has tripled in the last ten years, thus helping to bridge the gap between primary care needs and available primary care providers, there is an obvious need for well thought-out residency programs to sharpen the clinical skills of such newly graduated nurse practitioners. Although there are many research findings that nurse practitioners already deliver safe and high-quality primary care, residency and fellowship programs will surely foster their transition to independent clinical practice. Such programs enhance NPs’ efforts in making primary health care accessible, affordable and of high quality. While NPs get about 500 to 600 clinical internship hours while in school, an additional 2,000 residency hours under close mentorship would further strengthen confidence and skill-sets for independent practice.

• Through this program, the NEAR Institute prepares new nurse practitioners (NPs) for clinical practice. The program is funded with service fees from collaborating colleges, fees paid by newly graduated nurse practitioners, or sometimes, through availability of grant funds from stakeholder government agencies and institutions.
• The residency is for 12 months
• Persons who have graduated from accredited nurse practitioner programs in the previous 24 months may be admitted for the residency
• The graduates must have passed their nurse practitioner licensure exam and be licensed in their chosen State of residency, and have their DEA and CDS certifications
• Successful candidates will be recruited following review of the applications received
• The residency entails a 40 hour work week
• Each resident receives a salary, depending on the State of residency plus and additional benefit of $5,000 toward professional liability insurance, health insurance, and renewal of nursing license
• The resident is entitled to a paid three-week vacation
• The residency training is provided by experienced physicians and nurse practitioners
• The residency focuses on helping the resident improve on their clinical skills in clinical evaluation, medication management, psychosocial assessment, various treatment approaches, professionalism, professional communication and collaboration, claims and billing, professional responsibility, professional mentoring and networking, evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, clinical crisis management, leadership and team work, cultural sensitivity, use of electronic medical records, and use of telehealth.