Question

What about the issue of a residency program for APRNs? Is that something you think would be valuable after graduation?

Answer 1

"The extra in-the-trenches learning of a residency not only solidifies skills, but also acts as a testing ground for future work experience. We want to be able to groom the next generation of nurse practitioners to be not only well-prepared clinicians, but well-prepared to work in these types of clinical environments….we want to be able to ensure we have clinicians who have this passion, as well as preparation."

In 2007, the first advanced practice nursing residency program was introduced in Connecticut. Since then, APRN residency and fellowship programs have spread across the US, with residencies and fellowships now available in most states. The largest fellowship to date is housed at the Center for Advanced Practice at Carolinas Healthcare System in North Carolina, which accommodates 68 fellows at any given time.

While some providers (such as the Department of Veteran Affairs) still use the term “residency” to describe post-graduate, on-the-job training for advanced practice nurses, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) released a statement along with several other national nursing organizations saying that the term “residency” can be a bit off the mark in describing NP post-graduate mentoring experience and has the potential to be confused with medical residencies, which are a standard licensing requirement for physicians.

In general, a residency has been the term used for programs designed to advance knowledge in a clinical practice specialty, while a fellowship focuses on a subspecialty. This is less often the case now as professional associations and advocacy groups like NONPF and ANA embrace the term fellowship for all paid post-graduate mentored experience opportunities.

Regardless of terminology, both residencies and fellowships refer to voluntary post-graduate positions through which advanced practice nurses shadow other healthcare providers in order to earn critical, on-the-job experience.


The Graduate Nurse (GN) is a nurse who has completed his or her academic studies but not completed the requirements to become a Registered Nurse (RN). A Graduate nurse has not yet passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Yes, it is valuable after gradustion.
Nurses who engage in postgraduate study are more likely to have improved critical thinking and decision-making skills, demonstrate leadership qualities to empower them to challenge poor practice, and have the skills needed for advanced clinical practice roles.