Residency Program, VA Nursing Academy, San Diego State University


	VANA Program Participants in the SDSU Sharp Healthcare Simulation Lab

The VA Nursing Academy (VANA) is a five year $40 million pilot program to enhance partnerships between VA facilities and nursing schools. VANA faculty teach in the residency program.

Admission Requirements:

Student participants in the residency program must meet requirements for acceptance to the VA VALOR Program or (SDSU-SON) student externship program.

VANA program experiences would be offered in addition to clinical experiences in medical-surgical nursing, psychiatric nursing, critical care, and nursing administration that SDSU-SON students currently have at the VA. Students selected for the program would have enhanced clinical experiences at the VASDHS.

The Program Includes:

enhanced student externships emphasizing evidence-based nursing practice
critical thinking opportunities through the use of simulated learning experiences
didactic and group support activities to ease transition to professional practice
inter-professional clinical experiences in areas such as home telehealth or spinal cord injury based on the student's areas of interest.

At the end of the VANA Residency Program students are expected to:

transition to entry level nursing positions at VASDHS at an advanced beginner level
develop effective decision making skills related to clinical practice
incorporate research-based evidence into their practice
formulate an individual career development plan

For more information on SDSU Extern Program:

Contact Joan Hall MS, RN, SON Extern Coordinator, jhall2@mail.sdsu.edu.