Can non-citizen RN student do clinical at VA hospital??

U.S.A. California

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Can non-citizen RN student do clinical at VA hospital? I just checked the VA hospital web page, it says if you want to work for VA, you must be US citizen unless special waiver is approved.

It makes me worry, even though I'm not "working for VA" ... but our school will send us to VA to do our clinical, so in that case, do I still have to be citizen?

Right now my status is permanent resident in US.

Does anyone know about this?

thanks :)

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I actually had clinicals at a VA, and one of the students in our group was not a citizen, because of this they had to "apply" for a special waiver. The waiver took so long, that after a month of waiting, they ended up switching that student's clinical site so he could finish. Our school however was not very organized and should have filed the paperwork MUCH sooner. I would just ask your school, they probably have encountered it before and are aware of their requirements. They just need to get on the paperwork early.

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Nicki,

thanks for your info. That's a bummer, even though I don't work for VA, it's just clinical, and I still have to file " special waiver"??!! ahhhh.... oh well, I guess i will talk to my school and get this started asap....

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Yeah we were just there for clinicals too. There's just a waiver they require of anyone doing any sort of volunteer work or anything. The school should be on top of it, though you can remind them.

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Even though I'm permanant resident of U.S, I still have to do that waiver? my school will start on mid Oct, i'm so anxious right now, I don't know if i'm gonna have enough time to file it or not.

I actually just email my program director, she said she will do some research on that, sounds like they never encounter this problem before :(

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Nicki,

I just called HR department in VA hospital, the stff told me that if I will just do my clinical in VA, I don't have to be citizen. That's so strange! Where is the VA hospital located when you were doing your clinical? I'm in Sacramento, CA, maybe different area has different policy?

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

This was at Palo Alto, they may have different requirements. Sorry, I was just giving the information they had. That's great though for you! :)

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Dont worry about it, it's not a big deal, I know you were trying to help ! :) thanks for your info, and glad it all worked out :)

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