Indian Health Geriatric Nurse Fellowship FAQs

A: To be considered for the fellowship, you:

• Must be an RN, APRN, or LPN.
• Must work in an IHS, tribal, or urban Indian health program.
• Must be a permanent employee (temporary or contract staff are not eligible).
• Must have an endorsement from your clinical supervisor and CEO/health administrator.
• Cannot be currently enrolled in the IHS GeriScholars Program.

A: During an open application period, you can download and complete the application form. As part of the application, you must also:

• Get an endorsement from the CEO or clinical supervisor of your sponsoring facility.
• Select your core and specialty trainings (or an alternative approved curriculum).
• Provide a short description of your proposed geriatric-focused project.

You may choose to select additional optional training or certifications. Send your completed application to the Triad Team.

A: After acceptance into the fellowship program, enroll in an approved training course through your IHS, tribal, or urban Indian health program's usual process.

• Follow your sponsoring program's usual training request process.
• The IHS Division of Clinical and Community Services will reimburse your program after you complete the training.
• Do not pay for the registration personally. IHS DCCS cannot reimburse you directly for registration and can only refund your IHS, tribal, or urban Indian health program for these costs.
• Final acceptance as a Geriatric Nurse Fellow requires proof of course enrollment.

A:You can request alternative geriatric training that better fits your role. However, you must show that you have already completed training covering all core curriculum topics.

• The $1,000 budget limit still applies.
• Alternative training must be submitted and approved with your application.
• You can customize a specialty curriculum using courses from these or other sources:
• HIGN course catalog Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association online library Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association e-learning center Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

A: Choose a specific, measurable, and achievable project that fits within the 4–6–month timeframe. Here are some tips:

• Keep it manageable—don’t overcommit.
• Discuss ideas with your supervisor, manager, and/or clinical leadership.
• Pick a project that benefits your clinic or health system.

Here are some examples:

• Integrate memory or fall risk screening (e.g., Mini-Cog© or AD8) into routine care.
• Host a community health presentation at a senior center or meal site.
• Lead a unit in-service training with short knowledge checks.
• Create a medication safety brochure for older adults and caregivers.
• Conduct a baseline knowledge assessment of staff, patients, or the community on a particular health topic.
• Set up a geriatric health table at a local health fair and provide screenings or health education.
• Develop a local implementation plan for an evidence-based, risk-reduction intervention.
• Design a medication process with pharmacy staff
• Perform chart reviews or audits to gather data on your patient population.
• Update a policy or protocol based on current research.

A: If you're unsure about attending in-person training due to scheduling or work commitments:

• Mark "Maybe" on your application.
• Briefly explain any possible conflicts.
• Once dates are confirmed, you will receive an email notification.
• You will then have 30 days to decide whether to attend and accept the travel reimbursement.
• You will be required to participate in the meeting virtually if you cannot attend in person.

A: Please email the Triad Team to connect with a staff member who can help.