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Community-Based Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Fellowship Program

Fellowship Program

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) is pleased to implement a HRSA-funded Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) Community-Based Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Fellowship Program. The purpose of the project is to prepare APRNs to work in rural and underserved communities.

Mission, Goals, and Outcomes

The mission of the VUSN Community-Based APRN Fellowship is to expand Tennessee’s primary care and behavioral health workforce by increasing the number of nurse practitioners serving in rural and medically underserved communities. Supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the fellowship prepares nurse practitioners for autonomous, human-centered practice through evidence-based education, compassionate clinical care, and reflective professional development. The program supports the transition of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) into underserved practice settings through a structured, evidence-based fellowship model that promotes quality, safety, and professional growth while addressing the social determinants of health and advancing equitable, high-quality, person-centered care.

Goal I. Increase the APRN workforce in rural and medically underserved areas. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  •  Recruit, train, and retain 5 APRNs in rural and medically underserved settings annually. 
  • Fellows complete the 12-month fellowship program.
  • Fellows are employed in rural, underserved, or primary care settings at program completion.

Goal II. Increase the competence and confidence of new APRNs to practice in rural and medically underserved areas. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Fellows build clinical competency and confidence.
  • Fellows complete a QI project addressing a clinical or systems-level issue relevant to underserved populations.

Goal III. Fellows are satisfied with their program experience. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Fellows are satisfied with the fellowship program.

Goal IV. The program uses evaluation data to drive continuous quality improvement.

Expected outcome:

  • Program evaluation data, stakeholder feedback, and outcome trends inform the program’s continuous quality improvement process.

Our NPR program will increase the APRN primary care workforce in rural and underserved communities through collaboration with partner community-based health clinics (CBHCs).

Benefits

The fellowship includes specialty-specific learning pathways for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP), and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNP), with shared core content and specialty-aligned clinical immersion.

Fellows participate in additional focused learning modules and experiences involving social determinants of health, psychopharmacology, telehealth, and other educational topics designed to build post-graduate NP proficiency in caring for rural or medically underserved patients.

The program uses a structured patient volume progression with guidance from a clinical mentor at the CBHC throughout the 12-month program, monthly group debrief conferences, and ongoing coaching and support from VUSN faculty.

Clinical mentorship is supplemented through regular, one-on-one reflective supervision meetings with non-clinical mentors and members of the fellowship program leadership team.

Fellow progress is evaluated through structured competency assessments, reflective supervision, and mentor feedback. Program outcomes and stakeholder input are reviewed annually to guide continuous quality improvement.

Eligibility and Application Information

VUSN conducts an initial applicant interview to assess each candidate's alignment with fellowship goals and the participating clinical site's workforce needs. VUSN then recommends selected candidates for a second interview with a participating CBHC. Candidates must complete any site-specific employment application materials required by the clinical site. Site-specific application requirements, timelines, and interview processes may vary. The CBHC makes the final hiring determination.

Sites vary by year, and candidates are notified at the time of selection which sites are participating.

Current Community-Based Health Clinic (CBHC) Partners and fellow placements:

TrackClinical Placement SiteLocation
FNPMatthew Walker Comprehensive Health CenterNashville, TN
WHNPNeighborhood HealthNashville, TN
PMHNPVanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Primary Care West EndNashville, TN
FNPVanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Primary Care GallatinGallatin, TN
WHNPVanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Midwives MelroseNashville, TN

Fellowship placements vary by year based on funding, site capacity, workforce needs, available mentorship, and candidate fit. Participating sites may include VUMC clinical sites and other community-based health centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other medically underserved practice settings. Fellows are employed by the participating clinical site and complete fellowship activities through the VUSN Community-Based APRN Fellowship Program.

The program funding supports 5 fellows during each cohort year who meet the following eligibility criterion:

  • Hold at minimum a Master’s Degree in Nursing from a CCNE- or NLN-accredited program;
  • Are Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNPs), or Psychiatric-mental health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) within 18 months of graduation;
  • Hold or are eligible for licensure in Tennessee as an RN and APRN with a certificate of fitness;
  • Demonstrate a strong desire to work with rural or urban underserved populations;
  • Are US Citizens or permanent residents eligible to work in the US;
  • Availability to work as a full-time employee of the CBHC for the duration of the 12-month program;
  • Hold or are eligible to receive a DEA registration certificate;
  • Successfully complete a background check;
  • Participate in screening and selection interviews with the VUSN fellowship team;
  • Participate in interview(s) with the partner community-based health center;
  • Have no active HRSA service obligation; and
  • Provide professional references from supervisors, mentors, or academic advisors who can attest to their clinical and professional abilities upon request.

The application for the 2025-2026 NPR Fellowship is now closed. The next fellowship application cycle is expected to open in July 2026.

Please contact vusn.npr@vanderbilt.edu with questions.

Project Team

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s degree-granting academic programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The fellowship operates under the academic oversight of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and is structured to meet national standards for post-graduate nurse practitioner fellowship and residency programs. However, the Community-Based APRN Fellowship is a post-graduate, non-degree educational program and is not part of the academic program accreditation.