Background: The VA Quality Scholars (VAQS) program is an interprofessional fellowship that provides a unique opportunity for predoctoral nurse scientists to embed their work in quality improvement learning "laboratories" to inform their scholarship, science, and research.
Purpose: To describe the VAQS program in relation to promoting nursing science and predoctoral nurse scientist (PhD) career trajectories, and to propose policy implications.
Method: Data were collected on all predoctoral (PhD, DNP) nurses who entered and completed the VAQS program nationally.
Findings: A total of 17 predoctoral nurses (11 PhD and 6 DNP) have completed the VAQS program. Ten predoctoral PhD nurses (91%) completed their degree while in the program. Nine predoctoral PhD nurses (82%) entered a postdoctoral fellowship, and many obtained positions as faculty at research-intensive universities postfellowship.
Discussion: The knowledge, skills, and experiences gained by predoctoral nurse scientists from the VAQS's program contribute to their nursing research and professional career growth.
Keywords: Nursing Research; Nursing Science; Predoctoral fellowship; Quality improvement.
Published by Elsevier Inc.