In a time when abortion care is becoming increasingly less accessible, and attacks on the legal right to healthcare are seemingly never-ending, NSRH is doubling down on our commitment to creating a world where all people have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH). NSRH's Training in Abortion Care Residency (TAC) is a part of that commitment. The TAC residency is the only clinical training opportunity for registered nurses in abortion care in the nation!
TAC’s first cohort was established in honor of Helen Pearl Lay Watson, a registered nurse and pro-choice supporter who practiced for 54 years, mainly in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. Helen’s granddaughters, Julie Watson and Katie Watson, are honoring her legacy by supporting the development of the TAC residency. Check out Helen’s amazing nursing legacy.
About
As the nation's only hands-on abortion training residency for registered nurses, this residency aims to develop robust cohorts of nurses who are equipped to provide comprehensive SRH healthcare and advocate for expanded access in their communities. The TAC Residency accomplishes this through a combination of hands-on clinical experience, advocacy-building workshops, and individual, self-paced education. This program also aims to build local advocates, which is why residents must already live in the states of our clinical partners. See the FAQ section for more details.
Clinical Experience
Residents will be paired with a partner clinic that specializes in abortion care. The clinical experience will be hands-on learning where the nurse will be expected to assist in the daily routines of the clinic. Each resident will complete a minimum of 80 hours of clinical experience over 6 months. NSRH is committed to developing community-based, region SRH providers, therefore, only nurses living in the states of our partner clinics will be eligible to apply.
Participants will recieve a $1,000 stipend to help offset the costs incurred from participating.
Group Learning
In addition to the clinical experience, TAC educates residents on broader issues surrounding abortion care, SRH and Reproductive Justice. Every month residents meet as a group with content area experts to delve deeper in their local abortion access landscape or a specific patient population that experiences unique barriers to patient-centered care.
Independent Study
Each month residents will complete a unique package of education to enhance their ability to advocate and provide abortion care from an evidence-based lens. This is a combination of webinars, academic journals, and interactive modules that residents will complete, self-paced, on our Online Institute.
Apply
Applications for the 2025 cohort are now closed. Check back in spring 2025 for news regarding the next application cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2025 cohort will run from Jan-Jun 2025. The hands-on clinical training will be determined by the nursing scope of practice as defined by state law where the training takes place. Clinical training topics may include:
- Patient assessment
- Options counseling
- Preparation and intraprocedural care
- Post-operation abortion care
- Maintenance of patient confidentiality
- Sedation administration
- POC evaluation
- D&E training
- MVA training
Some training sites may have specific requirements for trainees. These specific requirements will be communicated to applicants during the application process by NSRH. This is not an employment program and participants will not be paid any compensation by the training sites. NSRH is not a health center or clinical site and does not provide any direct patient care. NSRH works with providers to coordinate and provide training opportunities to trainees.
In addition to clinical experience, learners will commit to 3-4 hrs/week of non-clinical education including: participating in monthly group workshops and networking sessions, self-guided education through NSRH and our partners, and local community engagement.
In order to provide the most accessible training experience, NSRH will provide trainees with a modest stipend to offset any costs associated with participating in the residency program.
The TAC Residency is 6 months. Residents are expected to complete 80 hours of clinical training within that time as well as 3-4 hours/week of non-clinical education. The 2025 cohort will run from January - June 2025. Participants will coordinate their clinical schedules with our partner clinics directly.
In addition to clinical training, the residents will also receive a one-year membership with NSRH (additional free year to existing NSRH members); a one-year membership to Clinicians in Abortion Care (CIAC), a program of the National Abortion Federation (NAF); advocacy skills building opportunities with local community partners, and exclusive access to various tailored online education.
Our 2025 clinical partners are Desert Star Institute of Family Planning in Phoenix, Arizona; CHOICEs Center for Reproductive Health in Carbondale, Illinois; and Partners in Abortion Care in College Park, Maryland.
This program aims to build SRH advocates and providers within their local communities; therefore, applicants must live in the state or region of our clinical partners.
- Arizona
- DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia)
- Illinois
- Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, or Tennessee*
*NSRH is expanding this opportunity for nurses in AR, IN, KY, MO, & TN to ensure nurses in banned states still have access to abortion training.
Applicants must be LVNs/LPNs or RNs (bachelor or associates) licensed to practice in the states of our clinical partners.
Applicants must be BLS certified, have reliable transportation to get to the clinic and be self-motivated. NSRH will be prioritizing NSRH members.
We will accept 4-6 trainees for the 2025 cohort.
There is no cost to apply for the residency. However, participants may incur some expenses related to travel or clinic-specific onboarding requirements. NSRH provides participants with a modest stipend to offset these possible costs.
Applications for the 2025 TAC Residency are now closed. Check back in spring 2025 for news regarding the next application cycle.
For the 2025 TAC Residency, we will only accept RNs and LVNs/LPNs who are licensed to practice in Arizona, Maryland or Illinois. If you live in AR, IN, KY, MO, or TN and need assistance getting licensed in IL, there will be space to indicate that on the application.