Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program
Purpose & Overview
In response to Massachusetts’ (MA) increasing demand for psychiatric and mental health services, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) utilized funds received from the U.S. Department of the Treasury from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (FRF)[1] to establish a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Fellowship Program.
The PMHNP fellowship program, managed by UMass Chan Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing (UMass Chan GSN) in partnership with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (MLCHC) is offered to both PMHNP graduates, new hires (hired by a community health center (CHC) between 6/1/23-6/30/24) as a PMHNP, and registered nurse PMHNP students at CHCs across Massachusetts. PMHNP graduates (including new hires) will fulfill a 12-month service commitment. PMHNP students will have a semester-long placement with the option to extend the fellowship to additional semesters. The Fellowship offers Fellows the opportunity to increase their knowledge and improve their skills while receiving support from preceptors at the CHC. Graduate Fellows (including new hires) will receive clinical supervision of prescriptive practice.
Weekly didactic sessions, provided by UMass Chan Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, will provide educational experiences on topics related to practicing in community health settings. Additional professional development, clinical support, and mentoring opportunities include:
- Psychiatry Grand Rounds
- Virtual Simulation Opioid Safe prescribing training
- Online self-directed courses for integrated primary care
- Group supervision/case presentations.
[1] Established under Section 602 of the Social Security Act, as added by Section 9901 of ARPA