Key VA partner receives award for collaboration with school
March 18, 2024
Kim Heckmann, MSN, FNP-C, SCRN, PHN, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency program director at the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System (MVAHCS), was named the recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Education Academic Collaboration with an Affiliate Award.
The award recognizes an educator who strengthens the academic affiliation and educational collaboration with training programs at affiliated institutions with an emphasis on quality of care.
Heckmann was recognized for her work in partnering with the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in the development and implementation of the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency Program at MVAHCS, which provides a seamless transition from academia to practice for newly graduated nurse practitioners.
The Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency Program is the most recent collaboration between the school and MVAHCS. In 2021, the MVAHCS and University of Minnesota celebrated their 75 years of academic affiliation with the announcement of a new Collaboratory aimed at improving nursing practice, education and patient outcomes.
In 1996, the school and MVAHCS began educating nurse anesthetists together, which led to the first Doctor of Nursing Practice program in nurse anesthesia in the United States. Other key collaborations included the VA Nursing Academic Partnership and the VA Quality Scholars Program.
Media Contacts
Related Stories
The Center for Nursing Equity and Excellence (CNEE), which was launched through a partnership between the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State, was awarded a $740,000 grant from the Department of Employment and Economic Development's (DEED) to launch a Pre-Licensure Nursing Apprenticeship pilot program.
Associate Professor Rozina Bhimani, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, CRRN, Long Term Care Professor in Nursing, received the Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education Award and was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers.
Clinical Professor Sherry Chesak, PhD, RN, and Clinical Associate Professor Dorcas Kunkel, DNP, RN, PHN, CNE, CPHIMS, were inducted into the National Academies of Practice (NAP).