VIRGINIA NURSE ADVOCATE HEALTH POLICY FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5 PM ET, September 30, 2014.
FELLOWSHIP PURPOSE AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
The Virginia Nurse Advocate Health Policy Fellowship provides nurses with graduate degrees and
graduate nursing students with an inside look into Virginia government, both in policy formulation and
execution as well as the politics inherent in both. The goal of the Fellowship is to familiarize the Fellows
with policies and politics in order to assist them to become more informed and involved in the processes
of both.
By the completion of the Fellowship, the participants will be able to describe the basic infrastructure of
the Virginia political system; understand the process of bill consideration by the Virginia General
Assembly, including the legislative protocol for bill-making including fiscal considerations and the
influence of stakeholders in bill formulation; analyze the impact of the state budget on healthcare policy
decisions; compare and contrast the roles of lobbyists and grassroots advocates in influencing agendas
in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors; craft language for bill drafts and fact sheets; communicate health
related information with state legislators and other policymakers; evaluate policy implications of bills
and/or regulations affecting nursing practice and/or health status of Virginians; and evaluate one’s own
communication patterns and their impact on advocacy.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Nurses1 with an interest in policy decision-making and implementation and the political context for
these activities should apply. Nursing is the largest healthcare profession; yet, relatively few nurses are
actively engaged in the policy and political processes. This experience will expose individuals to the
process and offer them the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities to hone their advocacy
skills.
Registered Nurses with graduate degrees or enrolled in graduate-level courses will be given preference.
A prospective Fellow must:
 Be a Registered Nurse (RN);
 Demonstrate a commitment to developing as an advocate; and
 Be supported by his/her employer (or if part of a course requirement, the faculty advisor), to
participate fully in the Fellowship.
FELLOWSHIP DESIGN
The Fellowship begins November 15 and extends through March 15 of the following year. This time
frame encompasses weeks leading up to the annual General Assembly in Richmond and several weeks
following the Session. The experience takes place in Richmond, and the actual days and hours will be
constructed as agreed upon by the Fellow, the employer or (if a student) faculty advisor, and the
Fellowship faculty member.
Fellows will be expected to develop a set of deliverables that will vary depending up the
employer/course requirements. Examples include, but are not limited to, a case statement for a policy
change, a paper for publication; fact sheets for advancing a policy issue; a presentation to a specific
audience about a policy issue (poster or in-person); or a written analysis of a bill or a proposed
regulatory change.
1
Graduate students in health-related fields may inquire about the availability of a Fellowship experience. Email
address: VNAHPfellowship@gmail.com.
FELLOW RESPONSIBILITIES
Fellows must commit to the following:
 Participate in a four-month immersion experience totaling 300 hours.
 Assure that one’s faculty advisor and/or employer support participation.
 Attend each activity agreed upon in advance.
 Have easy, individualized access to a computer and/or tablet with e-mail and web browsing
capability.
 Complete assignments in a timely manner.
 Communicate regularly with Fellowship faculty member.
INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT
The employer/graduate program advisor must commit to the following:
 Provide release time for Fellow to participate in agreed-upon activities.
 For educational credit, commit to approving the assignments as part of coursework upon successful
completion of the Fellowship
 Employers may consider an additional stipend to offset Fellowship expenses.
FELLOWSHIP AWARD
The Fellowship awardees will each receive an award of $1,000 to help defray costs associated with the
Fellowship. These might include parking, meals, and lodging. The award is administered through the
Virginia Nurses Foundation.
HOW TO APPLY
A complete application includes:
 Typed and signed application form, including two (2), brief essay questions.
 Current resume.
 A signed Nomination Form from your employer and/or educational program director or his/her
designee.
NOTIFICATION
Applicants will be notified of their selection by mid-June. Fellows must accept the invitation to
participate in writing by October 15, 2014.
Applications must be received via email to VNAHPfellowship@gmail.com by 5 pm ET.
Incomplete OR faxed applications will not be considered by the Selection Committee.
***
Questions regarding the application and other materials may be emailed to
VNAHPfellowship@gmail.com.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Fellows who withdraw from the Fellowship prior to the completion of the Fellowship will revert
unexpended funds to the Virginia Nurses Foundation.
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APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5 PM, September 30, 2014
Applications may be obtained by emailing VNAHPfellowship@gmail.com. Complete the
application using Word, selecting responses that apply to you and typing your answers in the boxes
below. After completing the application in Word, then (1) save the application as a Word file (use your
first initial and last name as the file name) and email it to VNAHPfellowship@gmail.com.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
NAME
HOME MAILING ADDRESS
(street/city/state/zip)
CITY/COUNTY OF RESIDENCE
HOME PHONE
HOME EMAIL
CELL PHONE
Please list professional affiliations,
memberships, honors and
certifications (spell out all
acronyms).
Are you enrolled in an academic
program?
Click to select your response.
If YES, what program?
Click to select your response.
What school are you attending?
What is your anticipated
graduation date?
Click to select your response.
Please attach a current resume’ to your application.
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WORK INFORMATION
JOB TITLE
CLINICAL AREA OF PRACTICE
EMPLOYER
WORK MAILING ADDRESS
(street/PO Box/city/state/zip)
WORK EMAIL ADDRESS
WORK PHONE NUMBER
NUMBER OF YEARS IN YOUR
CURRENT ROLE
PRACTICE SETTING
Click to select your response.
EDUCATION
Please check each type of degree you have earned and provide the year you completed the degree.
Type of Degree
Year Completed
Type of Degree
Year Completed
Diploma
MSN
ADN
MS/MA in another
field
BSN
Doctorate in
Nursing (PhD/DNP)
BS/BA in
Doctorate in
another field
another field
APPLICATION ATTESTATION AND SIGNATURE
I am applying for admission to the Virginia Nurse Advocate Health Policy Fellowship, an immersion experience
that includes activities in Richmond, VA, in addition to other assignments that may be accomplished remotely.
If accepted, I will commit to designing and completing, with approval, the 300 hour experience over 4
months. I understand that my Certificate of Completion will be made available to my employer and/or
directing faculty member upon request.
_
Applicant Signature
Date
By checking this box, I am providing my electronic signature approving all of the information entered
above (Please enter name and date on signature and date lines above).
Virginia Nurse Advocacy Fellowship Application 2014
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Please limit your total response to the two essay questions below to one (1) typed page per question.
The boxes will expand as you type in text.
1. Why do you want to participate in the Virginia Nurse Advocate Health Policy Fellowship? What do
you hope to learn or improve during the Fellowship experience? What outcomes do you hope to
achieve for yourself, your organization and your community by participating in the Fellowship
experience? Please be as specific as possible.
2. Discuss a critical policy issue or problem facing nursing or health care in general. What are some
of the internal and/or external factors that contribute to the issue or problem? How will honing
your advocacy skills help you to make a difference in the issue that you select?
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