New onboarding program helps train and support advanced practice providers
As nurse practitioner and physician assistant numbers grow, Sentara’s new program seeks to strengthen training, boost retention, and improve job satisfaction. Below: Nurse practitioner Briana Campbell (left) mentors nurse practitioner Corin Miller at Sentara Volens Family Medicine.
When Corin Miller became a nurse practitioner, she already had eight years of experience as a nurse in intensive care units. Still, she had a “huge learning curve."
“That’s why I was so thankful to have the onboarding program that Sentara offered,” Miller said. “To have such a structured learning program and resources, and to have a mentor—that is what has made me successful.”
Miller is among the first group of advanced practice providers to complete Sentara’s new onboarding program for primary care APPs, or advanced practice providers.
The one-year program, which launched July 2024, is designed to bridge gaps in training while improving retention and job satisfaction. Sentara has also started APP onboarding programs in pulmonary and critical care, hospital medicine, and walk-in care.
APPs are advanced health care professionals who can perform many of the same medical activities as physicians, including conducting physical exams, prescribing medications, and making referrals to specialists.
The most common types are nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), but the term also includes certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
The new, one-year onboarding program is like a medical residency in that it offers on-the-job training, said Stephanie Zeiber, a physician assistant and Sentara’s director of advanced practice provider development. Currently, around 50% of medical staff in Sentara Medical Group are advanced practice providers.
“We recognize that unlike physicians, APPs don’t undergo a post-graduate medical residency, which offers enhanced on-the-job learning between medical school and independent practice.”
“This highlighted the need to support our advanced practice providers in a different way with our own transition-to-practice program.”
The new onboarding program includes weekly educational units on clinical topics ranging from chronic disease management to wellness visits. It also covers professional development topics like enhancing patient experience and communicating effectively.
In addition, participants meet regularly with mentors, undergo professional competency evaluations, and shadow experienced providers in different specialties.
In the next decade, nurse practitioners and physician assistants will be among the top 10 fastest growing occupations in the country. In contrast, physician jobs are projected to grow at an average rate, leaving a national shortage.
As a result, advanced practice providers have been seen as key to expanding access to healthcare, especially in rural areas.
Last year, Sentara Medical Group announced plans to double its number of advanced practice providers as part of a new, team-based approach to primary care
.
The initiative should give patients better access to care. Each advanced practice provider added to a physician-led team increases primary care capacity by over 70%.
Briana Campbell has been a nurse practitioner since 2016 at Sentara Volens Family Medicine, which is in a rural area near Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital.
Campbell mentors Miller through the new onboarding program. They talk regularly, including phone check-ins during their commutes.
According to Campbell, the program makes new advanced practice providers feel welcome and gives them a sense of community, in addition to offering helpful resources.
“It’s scary when you come in as a new person,” Campbell said. “It eases some of those fears when you have someone you can reach out to.”
As she adjusts to her new role as a nurse practitioner, Miller is grateful for the support system. She described Campbell’s mentorship as “invaluable.”
Recently Miller had a young female patient with elevated liver enzymes, which is unusual. Miller made a list of tests to run, then checked with Campbell. She suggested another test.
Fortunately, the tests found nothing wrong. The woman’s liver enzyme levels normalized after an acute viral illness resolved. Still, having Campbell as a resource was immensely helpful.
“Healthcare is a team sport,” Miller said. "You can take care of a patient better if you ask for input from others.”
“That’s why I was so thankful to have the onboarding program that Sentara offered,” Miller said. “To have such a structured learning program and resources, and to have a mentor—that is what has made me successful.”
Miller is among the first group of advanced practice providers to complete Sentara’s new onboarding program for primary care APPs, or advanced practice providers.
The one-year program, which launched July 2024, is designed to bridge gaps in training while improving retention and job satisfaction. Sentara has also started APP onboarding programs in pulmonary and critical care, hospital medicine, and walk-in care.
APPs are advanced health care professionals who can perform many of the same medical activities as physicians, including conducting physical exams, prescribing medications, and making referrals to specialists.
The most common types are nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), but the term also includes certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
On-the-job learning and mentorship
The new, one-year onboarding program is like a medical residency in that it offers on-the-job training, said Stephanie Zeiber, a physician assistant and Sentara’s director of advanced practice provider development. Currently, around 50% of medical staff in Sentara Medical Group are advanced practice providers.
“We recognize that unlike physicians, APPs don’t undergo a post-graduate medical residency, which offers enhanced on-the-job learning between medical school and independent practice.”
“This highlighted the need to support our advanced practice providers in a different way with our own transition-to-practice program.”
The new onboarding program includes weekly educational units on clinical topics ranging from chronic disease management to wellness visits. It also covers professional development topics like enhancing patient experience and communicating effectively.
In addition, participants meet regularly with mentors, undergo professional competency evaluations, and shadow experienced providers in different specialties.
A fast-growing part of the healthcare workforce
In the next decade, nurse practitioners and physician assistants will be among the top 10 fastest growing occupations in the country. In contrast, physician jobs are projected to grow at an average rate, leaving a national shortage.
As a result, advanced practice providers have been seen as key to expanding access to healthcare, especially in rural areas.
Last year, Sentara Medical Group announced plans to double its number of advanced practice providers as part of a new, team-based approach to primary care
.
The initiative should give patients better access to care. Each advanced practice provider added to a physician-led team increases primary care capacity by over 70%.
‘Healthcare is a team sport’
Briana Campbell has been a nurse practitioner since 2016 at Sentara Volens Family Medicine, which is in a rural area near Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital.
Campbell mentors Miller through the new onboarding program. They talk regularly, including phone check-ins during their commutes.
According to Campbell, the program makes new advanced practice providers feel welcome and gives them a sense of community, in addition to offering helpful resources.
“It’s scary when you come in as a new person,” Campbell said. “It eases some of those fears when you have someone you can reach out to.”
As she adjusts to her new role as a nurse practitioner, Miller is grateful for the support system. She described Campbell’s mentorship as “invaluable.”
Recently Miller had a young female patient with elevated liver enzymes, which is unusual. Miller made a list of tests to run, then checked with Campbell. She suggested another test.
Fortunately, the tests found nothing wrong. The woman’s liver enzyme levels normalized after an acute viral illness resolved. Still, having Campbell as a resource was immensely helpful.
“Healthcare is a team sport,” Miller said. "You can take care of a patient better if you ask for input from others.”
By: Clancy McGilligan