Our nursing team is the backbone of delivering world-class healthcare. One of the many benefits of working at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System is our tailored nursing residency and training programs.
Dedicated Teaching Unit (DEU), Clinics and Affiliations
A DEU is a unique clinical teaching/learning model based on an academic practice partnership. Currently, four DEUs are in place at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) in the Medical/Surgical Nursing Units. UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing has partnered with STVHCS to offer this clinical learning model for a clinical course, Adult I: Care of the Chronically Ill Patient, with plans to expand the courses to other units.
RNs working on one of these DEUs will have the opportunity to attend the “Becoming a Clinical Teacher” workshop sponsored by UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing. This exciting professional development opportunity as a clinical teacher offers RNs a unique role in mentoring and teaching nursing students through a collaborative partnership with UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing .
The Nursing Education Department of STVHCS assists in more than 200 clinical placements for nursing students each year. Most clinical placements are for undergraduate nursing students at UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing and Ila Fay Miller University of the Word Embodied School of Nursing and Health Professions . These students report excellent learning opportunities and find the staff at STVHCS very student friendly.
STVHCS offers a number of programs that support students as they progress through their education, training, and licensing. Typically, the VA Student Trainee Experience/Nurse Technician student will transition to a Graduate Nurse position upon graduation and then to a Transition-to-Practice Registered Nurse position upon licensure .
VA Student Intern Experience Program (VA-STEP)
For over 20 years, VA has offered this exciting one-year clinical intern experience to BSN students between their junior and senior years. VA-STEP is designed to improve participants’ critical thinking, clinical judgment, and clinical skills while caring for our nation’s veterans. This program provides learning opportunities, including didactic or classroom experiences and clinical practice with a qualified Registered Nurse (RN) preceptor.
Students recruited for the program must have completed the last semester or the last quarter of their first year in an accredited baccalaureate nursing program. Students are appointed during the summer months for 400 hours. This experience may continue into their last part-time academic year to a maximum of 800 hours.
Nurse technician student
The Student Nursing Technician (SNT) is a competitive paid program for BSN nursing students with outstanding academic and clinical achievements. The SNT program offers the student the opportunity to work in a clinical setting and provide direct patient care. Under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing staff, female nursing students perform a variety of nursing services equivalent to a licensed practical nurse while serving our nation’s veterans. The program offers a flexible schedule to accommodate school commitments.
Certified Nursing Technician (GNT)
GNT is a graduate nurse who has successfully completed a baccalaureate nursing program at a CCNE or ACEN accredited nursing school and is awaiting licensure as a registered nurse . The GNT will perform the role, duties, patient care activities and procedures that are performed by a registered nurse under the supervision of an assigned preceptor. The GNT provides fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing professional skills. The GNT will participate in an orientation program and will be assigned a qualified preceptor who will work closely with them during the unit’s clinical orientation. Following orientation on the role and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse and following orientation on Patient Care Services Policies and Procedures, the EGN will function as a bedside nurse while remaining under the supervision of a registered nurse. The GNT will take and pass the RN Licensure Examination within 90 days of hire to convert to a RN position.
Registered Nurses Transition to Practice Program (RNTTP)
The RNTTP program is a structured orientation designed to support new RN graduates, from advanced entry-level beginners to competent professional nurses.
Nursing residents focus on developing and verifying skills in key entry-level areas to include technical and professional development and critical thinking skills necessary for safe practices. RN residents are introduced to the mission of veterans health care and interact with members of the health care team to gain knowledge of regulatory requirements related to clinical practices in acute care facilities and/or or in an outpatient setting.
The program lasts one (1) year and consists of monthly seminars, clinical experiences, simulation, preceptorship and mentorship. All experiences focus on developing the critical thinking skills nurses need to deliver safe and competent care at the bedside
Program Objectives
Patient-centered care
Provide safe, compassionate and coordinated patient-centered care within the established staffing model for the patient population served. appropriately Teamwork and collaboration
Function effectively within nursing teams and between interprofessional teams by promoting open communication, mutual respect and shared decision-making to ensure quality patient care
Using an evidence-based curriculum to build critical thinking skills, leadership skills, and professionalism Safety and quality improvement
Reduce the risk of harm to patients and providers through adherence to approved system processes, regulatory requirements, and outcome data
Use information and technology appropriately to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate errors and support decision-making. Nurse Practitioner Residency Program
The STVHCS Nurse Practitioner Residency Program (NPR) is a twelve-month postgraduate training program with three streams: Geriatric and Continuing Care, Mental Health, and Primary Care. The program offers the opportunity to expand one’s existing knowledge base and strengthen one’s clinical skills as a nurse practitioner in geriatrics, mental health, or primary care.
Nurse Practitioner (NPR) Residency Programs are designed to produce competent, confident, and practice-ready Nurse Practitioners (NPs) equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet the specific needs of veterans. The program will prepare the novice NP to function independently with confidence by expanding the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and norms associated with the practice of NP in various veteran care-focused settings. The NPR program promotes the socialization of professional roles in advanced practice and facilitates the path of the NP towards population-specific expertise. Our academic affiliate for NPR training programs is the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at the San Antonio School of Nursing.
Trainees will spend 40 hours weekly in clinical and didactic learning activities to master the specified skills within the population for the specific NPR program. Twenty percent of the NPR Resident’s time will be spent on didactic learning. Upon successful completion of residency, interns will have the opportunity to apply to available vacancies within the VA healthcare system across the country.
