Veterans Affairs Nursing Academic Partnership (VANAP)

The curriculum is the same for all BSN students. The only VANAP requirement is for one of the elective courses to be designated as the On the Frontlines: Caring for Our Veterans. A myriad of Veteran-centered topics will be covered in this course through lecture, seminar, discussion, and best of all, directly from the Veteran patient experiences. Typically, VANAP Scholars will have the opportunity to disseminate a best practice product that is derived from their work in the On the Frontlines course through poster presentations at local nursing and student nursing conferences.

One notable difference to the VANAP clinical experience is smaller student/faculty ratios as compared to the traditional BSN clinical experience. Additionally, VANAP Scholars benefit from onsite clinical simulation experiences that reinforce clinical content from didactic courses and built-in academic excellence programs for students to learn from VA experts in the field.  

Eligibility for the Health Profession Scholarship Program (HPSP), a highly competitive scholarship program managed and awarded directly by the VA. HPSP is a fully funded tuition program, providing tuition reimbursement as well as a stipend with a service agreement to work at a VA facility for two years following graduation as a form of loan repayment.

Information on the application process can be found by visiting the HPSP Scholarship Portal.

For further information and/or questions, email HPSPTeam@va.gov. 

Many, but not all, of your clinical rotations will occur at the Atlanta VAHCS.

Yes. After completing one year of nursing school, VANAP Scholars are eligible for the VA-Step Program. VA-Step is a highly competitive program that offers a full-time paid summer internship to prepare well-qualified students for a career as a Registered Nurse within the Veterans Health Administration. VA-STEP requirements include: 

• Rising Senior (completed or in the process of completing their junior year) in an accredited BSN program with a graduation date in December of the current year or May of the following year
• U.S. citizen
• Available for 400 hours full-time, 40 hours/week during summer months June to August
• GPA 3.0 or higher on nursing coursework

*Atlanta VA Healthcare System VALOR Program students will be appointed at a per annum training rate equal to 80% of the actual salary rate for entry-level nurses.  

As a VANAP Scholar, you are given preference to compete for positions at any of the VA Healthcare System facilities nationwide. VANAP Scholar graduates are highly valued and well-positioned for employment; however, similar to many programs, employment is not guaranteed.  

Yes, two in fact! After passing NCLEX, all students will be eligible for the Transition to Practice (TTP) and Post Baccalaureate Nurse Residency (PBNR) where VANAP Scholars are given preference for these salaried programs. TTP and PBNR informational brochures are available upon request.  

Please click here to learn more about the VA’s employment benefits.

While one of the goals of VANAP is to enhance recruitment and retention of VA nurses, you are not obligated to work at the VA after graduation unless you are the recipient of the VA’s HPSP award. 

While we strongly encourage each VANAP Scholar to complete the program, students may petition to withdraw if necessary.