Description/Overview: The VA Boston Healthcare System in conjunction with the Northeast Region VA Nursing Alliance (NERVANA) has developed and implemented a Post Baccalaureate Nurse Residency Program. This academic practice partnership, which includes the VA Boston Healthcare System and 6 School of Nursing, is an effort to merge theory and practice and improve patient care outcomes while supporting the newly licensed nurses entry into practice. The residency program aims to develop effective decision-making skills related to clinical judgment and performance while incorporating research-based evidence into practice. Demonstrating a knowledge of evidence based practice (EBP) is essential to providing safe, high quality care to our nation's Veterans. In conjunction with the CCNE standards, residents must have knowledge of best care practices and be able to identify the key concepts of EBP, access and appraise nursing literature, and develop and disseminate an EBP project based on the needs of the institution. During the one year program, Nurse Residents develop and present a project based on identified Veteran patient care concerns. The residents work with the Research Librarian and are assigned a research mentor to assist in the process. A sample of the recent projects will be detailed in this Symposium and include projects related to barriers to end of life discussions, development of an exercise program to be combined with behavioral modifications strategies on an acute psychiatric unit, and implantation of team huddles to improve situational awareness on an acute psychiatric unit. By providing the entry level, advanced beginner the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude, the VA Boston Nurse Residency program is developing facilitators to expand and enhance evidence based nursing projects within the institution. A commitment to the implementation of evidence based practice will enable the nurses of the future to transform health care and provide safe, high quality, patient-centered care to the Veteran population.