JOHNSON CITY — The East Tennessee State University College of Nursing received a federal grant to develop a unique residency program that will help to increase the number of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) in community primary care clinics and rural community-based mental health agencies.

The 12-month residency program, PREPARE (Progressive Resident Experiences for Practitioners to meet Appalachian Rural healthcare Expectations), received a $1.4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

ETSU’s first-ever nurse practitioner residency program will begin the PREPARE program in July 2020. The college will recruit four PMHNP residents annually.

“This program prepares PMHNPs to have the skills to work in underserved and rural clinics and provide mental health for the high-risk areas of substance abuse and suicide,” said Dr. Patricia Vanhook, associate dean for practice and community partnerships. “The program will increase access to PMHNPs in rural areas for adults and improve care and access for vulnerable populations including children, individuals experiencing homelessness, those who identify as LGBTQ+, incarcerated inmates, and those who have experienced military trauma.”

In addition, a Substance Abuse and Addiction Certification Program for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses will be developed and added to the College of Nursing curriculum.

The residents will work in ETSU College of Nursing’s five nurse-managed federally qualified health centers, its nurse-managed rural health clinic, and partnering community mental health agencies.

“Residents will be immersed in the College of Nursing nurse-managed health centers providing mental and behavioral health service to rural and underserved populations and have immersion experiences with community mental health agencies for specific focus on substance abuse and suicidal ideation,” Vanhook said.

Expert clinical faculty will lead weekly didactic sessions with substance abuse and grand rounds with the Quillen College of Medicine’s new Addiction Medicine Fellowship. Upon completion of the program, the residents will have completed 500 hours to fulfill partial requirements for the Addiction Certification Board examination.

Applications are currently being accepted for the first cohorts of PMHNP residents. Residents will be selected from applicants who have graduated, completed board certification and are licensed PMHNPs by the state of Tennessee. The application deadline for the July 2020 cohort is January 1, 2020. For more information or to apply, visit www.etsu.edu/nursing/residency/substance-abuse.php.