News Releases

Two UMSON Alumnae Become Residents at the Veteran Affairs Maryland Health Care System

September 12, 2019

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners selected through Nurse Practitioner Residency Expansion Program.

Baltimore, Md. – Shannon Hansen, DNP ’19, CRNP, AGNP-C, and Jade Kim, DNP ’19, CCRN, AGPCNP-BC, both graduates of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Doctor of Nursing Practice Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) specialty, have been selected to serve as AGPCNP residents at the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) during the 2019-20 academic year as part of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Residency Expansion Program. As the program is being offered for the first time ever during this academic year, Hansen and Kim will serve as pioneers, selected from among 13 applicants to fill both of the available residency positions. The AGPCNP specialty is ranked No. 11 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

The program aims to provide comprehensive education in primary geriatrics to increase novice NPs’ clinical skills and improve health-related outcomes for older veterans. The highly competitive program offers NPs the opportunity to strengthen clinical, diagnostic, leadership, and scholarship skills as a primary care provider within an interprofessional team. The VAMHCS partnered with UMSON in developing the residency program and will also work with VAMHCS staff on its implementation.

As residents, Hansen and Kim will benefit from additional on-the-job education that fosters a successful transition into clinical practice, and they will work as members of an interdisciplinary team to provide patient-centered health care to veterans. Throughout the one-year program, NPs and physicians will mentor Hansen and Kim to facilitate development of their communication, reasoning, and diagnostic skills. The program also aims to expand their ability to perform quality improvement projects independently in real-world settings.

“The University of Maryland School of Nursing and the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System have had a wonderful relationship for many years, and we were pleased to again collaborate with them on this initiative,” said Shannon K. Idzik, DNP, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean for the DNP program, UMSON. “Dr. Hansen and Dr. Kim are excellent representatives of the high quality of the UMSON DNP program. This residency will help them fulfill the nation’s need for expert clinicians in geriatrics, adult primary care, and veterans’ health.”

The VAMHCS is a dynamic and progressive health care organization that is dedicated to providing quality, compassionate, and accessible care and service to Maryland’s veterans. As a leader in education, the VAMHCS prides itself on an active affiliation with local colleges and universities.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.