Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Fellowship

Transition to Practice Program

Welcome to the APRN Fellowship Program at Cook County Health!

Welcome to the APRN Fellowship Program, an accredited program awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Accreditation (APPFA)! 

Cook County Health

Overall Aims

In partnership with Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, the APRN Fellowship Program was created to focus on reducing Cook County’s primary care provider shortage and creating a pipeline of APRNs for Cook County Health’s primary care clinics and other underserved settings.

Learn from the Best!

  • Cook County Health (CCH) has served the people of Cook County for over 180 years. Today it is the home to top health care practitioners, leading the field in caring for vulnerable populations. 
  • CCH holds ambulatory care and primary care medical home certification through The Joint Commission.
  • Fellows will be selected from a competitive pool to serve patients across Cook County in an interprofessional model and practice-based learning environment. 

Program Goals & Objectives

  • Support new graduate APRNs during the critical first year of their transition into APRN practice, address concerns, remove barriers and create a supportive learning environment.
  • Provide an immersive practice-based learning environment focused on organizational enculturation and professional development.
  • Provide training in an interdisciplinary and interprofessional care team model committed to delivering high quality patient care to the underserved.
  • Provide collaborative shared model training and preceptorship.
  • Support the development of APRN primary care provider expertise in patient assessment, care planning, diagnostic testing, implementation, and evaluation of the plan of care.
  • Provide Primary Care Medical Home Clinic experience with focus on transition from novice to competent or proficient APRN practice.
  • Support fellowship participants’ professional development in the creation of an evidence-based quality improvement projects and presentation at “Graduation.”

Program Requirements

  • Must have a minimum of two (2) years RN experience
  • Must have completed an MSN or DNP program within the last 18 months prior to the start of the fellowship program
  • Graduated from an accredited Nurse Practitioner MSN or DNP program within the State of Illinois and across the United States
  • Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and/or Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Board Certified
  • Holds a current Registered Nurse license in the State of Illinois
  • Holds a current Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN) license in the State of Illinois
  • Out of state candidates must apply for an Illinois RN and APRN licenses
  • Must complete the credentialing process prior to the start of the program. The credentialing process will take place upon hire, and it takes about three (3) months or more to complete
  • Must be able to obtain an Illinois Controlled Substance License within 6 months of employment
  • Must be able to obtain a DEA license within 6 months of employment
  • Holds a valid and current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA)

Program Overview and Application Documents

Salary & Benefits

Full-time, benefit eligible appointment for 12 months.
For more information, please contact: Department of Nursing Professional Development and Education at cchaprnfellowshipprogram@cookcountyhhs.org.
 
Funding for this fellowship program was provided by a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Program Contact

Department of Nursing Professional Development and Education
312-854-5011
Email

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