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New, advanced practice providers receive a boost as they transition into professional life

(SACRAMENTO)

California is facing one national deficit for primary care providers. An additional 4,100 primary care providers will be needed over the next decade to meet the state’s projected needs.

And one resource health systems are increasingly relying on to address the shortage are advanced practice providers—nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). These are doctors with advanced training and clinical training who can diagnose, treat and treat many common health problems.

“The shortage of healthcare professionals affects access to healthcare, causes significant delays in timely utilization of healthcare services, and creates barriers that negatively impact health outcomes,” he said Deb Bakerjian, associate dean for practice at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing.

A workforce to fill underserved gaps

Bakerjian leads a program that equips new primary care NPs and PAs to work in underserved areas through clinical rotations and training. The Primary Care Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship. is a postgraduate program developed through collaboration between the School of Nursing, affiliated centers and clinics of UC Davis Health, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and the Veterans Affairs Administration and Sutter Health.

The program was formerly known as the NP PRACTICE residency program, but the new name better reflects that these APPs are fully licensed and nationally certified, Bakerjian said.

During the 12-month fellowship, APP fellows will:

  • Sharpen clinical nursing skills in a supervised primary care setting
  • Expand their knowledge of relevant primary care topics through online and in-person training sessions
  • Learn practice management skills
  • Receive wound care training that prepares you for certification in wound care

The supervised approach builds confidence and skills

Bakerjian says the supervised experience transitioning into practice strengthens and improves new fellows’ critical thinking and decision-making skills. New graduates agree that the program does this and more.

Graduate of the 2023-24 cohort Shante Myers noted that the program was challenging, including the transition to independent practice, but that the specialist-led didactic sessions helped to increase their confidence. “They encouraged self-directed practice that would have been impossible without participation in the program,” she said. “It really allowed me to hit the ground running when I started my career as a nurse.”

Fellows practice at a clinical site four days per week and their fifth day is dedicated to educational activities. In clinical practice, mentors provide them with continuity in care and practice management. Fellows may also complete select specialty rotations at their assigned clinical site. The comprehensive curriculum includes online modules for advanced learning, simulation training in UC Davis Health’s state-of-the-art simulation centers, and scientific or creative activities.

“Ultimately,” Bakerjian said, “this will strengthen the NP and PA professions and expand capacity in areas with provider shortages.”

UC Davis Health’s service area includes 33 predominantly rural counties with 6.1 million residents from ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The grant addresses UC Davis Health’s goals of reducing care disparities and collaborating with other organizations to form partnerships that solve care problems for underserved patients.

New NP and PA graduates who want to work in primary care and believe the program would ease their transition into practice may do so Attend an informational webinar on December 3rd.

The fellowship is one of two innovative programs for new graduate NPs and PAs seeking supervised counseling.

The other program is this UC Davis Health Specialty Care Advanced Practice Fellowship. The focus is on developing specialist skills in the areas of trauma acute surgery, neurological surgery, neurology, inpatient glycemia, oncology, interventional radiology, burn surgery or orthopedics. Applications for the 2026 Specialty Scholarships will be accepted later next year.

Both programs achieved three-year accreditation from the Consortium for Advanced Practice Providers in 2023.

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