[rebeccainlv]

I'm finishing my 3rd year right now and I was accepted into the VALOR program. I was active duty Air Force for 8 years so I'm familiar with the government's idea of health care.

Is anyone else in this program? It sounds so much better than the civilian hospital's nurse apprentice programs. I just hope I'm not going to be too stressed out caring for 6 of my own patients. The most I've had during clinicals is 3.

Any suggestions or tips for me as I go through the new employee hiring process? I had my employment blood work done today and have my physical on Monday.

I'd like to hear from others who are in the VALOR program or who know about it. I'm worried about not having a clue of what I'm doing. How do you figure out how to get organized to get everything done? That is my biggest fear.

[cmv35167]

Hi Rebecca-
I'm not in the VALOR program but I am an ADAF nurse in LV and was wondering if you know if you'll be at the MOFH. I'm on the AF side of the hospital but am vaguely familiar w/the VA. I did my nursing school preceptorship at a VAMC in Omaha and really enjoyed my time.

I hope you get some answers from others on here but if not I wish you well
Cara

Originally Posted by rebeccainlv

I'm finishing my 3rd year right now and I was accepted into the VALOR program. I was active duty Air Force for 8 years so I'm familiar with the government's idea of health care.

Is anyone else in this program? It sounds so much better than the civilian hospital's nurse apprentice programs. I just hope I'm not going to be too stressed out caring for 6 of my own patients. The most I've had during clinicals is 3.

Any suggestions or tips for me as I go through the new employee hiring process? I had my employment blood work done today and have my physical on Monday.

I'd like to hear from others who are in the VALOR program or who know about it. I'm worried about not having a clue of what I'm doing. How do you figure out how to get organized to get everything done? That is my biggest fear.

[rebeccainlv]

Originally Posted by cmv35167

Hi Rebecca-
I'm not in the VALOR program but I am an ADAF nurse in LV and was wondering if you know if you'll be at the MOFH. I'm on the AF side of the hospital but am vaguely familiar w/the VA. I did my nursing school preceptorship at a VAMC in Omaha and really enjoyed my time.

I hope you get some answers from others on here but if not I wish you well
Cara

I was ADAF and NCOIC of Family Advocacy. I was a psych tech. I separated from AD in Aug 2003 so I could finish my BSN. I was stationed at MOFH from Apr 2000-Aug 2003.

I will be assigned to MOFH VA. I believe I will be on VA med surg and rotate to step down, ICU, ER, recovery, etc.

I am doing my employment blood tests and physical and haven't heard when orientation or my start date is. That's frustrating. I have child care to plan for.

I liked MOFH as a hospital but my clinic (LIfe Skills) was just not a good place to be. I think they have cleaned house (they were started when my contract was up) so it may be 'functional' vs. dysfunctional now. But glad I took the risk to separate and finish my BSN. One year more to go..........

What area do you work in?

[cmv35167]

Good for you finishing your nursing degree! I hope you get a ton of different experiences throughout your time w/the VA. I'm currently on AFMSU and will be here a while. I'm in NTP (nurse transition program) and have been able to rotate through a ton of areas (ER, ICU, OR, lab, clinic, etc). My first assn is 3A though so I'll be up there till something changes.

I hope you're able to get a schedule soon so you can plan your life too. I do think it'd be hard to start in a clinic of any sort (as a tech or nurse)...then again I guess it depends on what a person wants. I like the hands-on pt care and have so much to learn that I'm thankful not to be in a clinic yet (b/c initially that was where I was supposed to go).

Are you considering AD at all or going to stick w/civilian nursing?

[rebeccainlv]

What is the transition program? Is it like a new grad program or something?

I don't think of all the times I went to family practice clinic that I was ever seen by a RN. It was always a med tech, civilian LPN, PA or MD. I think the only contact with an RN I had was through the ask-a-nurse line for rx refills and for begging for a sick call appointment.

I am anxious to do patient care. I have experience from school clinicals, but it's not the same as having patients that are MINE to deal with and make decisions about. That's the scary part. I feel like I don't know anything. I'm doing very well in classes and clinical, but the 'big picture' is still fuzzy for me. I am more the type of person that learns by doing things hands on. So until I have a patient with a certain condition that I am responsible for managing, then I won't truly understand what I'm doing. I don't know if that's good or bad.

So, I'm ambivilant about actually getting out there and being the nurse and doing ALL the nursing things (or what VA will allow me to do). I'm afraid of making mistakes.

I don't have any intention to go ADAF again. My life just isn't the same now that it was when I was 23 and had nothing better to do than join the AF. I have thought of doing the IMA program and/or nursing for VA. I plan on getting my MSN in community health or education or something like that later on. I don't intend on doing bedside nursing for a career.

[Ex130Load]

If I remember correctly, the local VA rep advertised the valor program as an externship program akin to civilian hospitals. If true, you should be matched up with a preceptor or preceptors. An acquaintance of mine was accepted into the program. He told me you weren't independently "just" assigned patients all by our lonesome. You practiced skills, developed proficiency, and gradually took over more and more tasks based upon personal abilities. The RNs' licenses are on the line; they won't turn over tasks over to you until you win their confidences. If you were selected, my hat's of to ya. I think any externship program is a good deal, much better than any of the various student patient care tech jobs I heard classmates mostly speak of derisively.

[rebeccainlv]

Originally Posted by Ex130Load

If I remember correctly, the local VA rep advertised the valor program as an externship program akin to civilian hospitals. If true, you should be matched up with a preceptor or preceptors. An acquaintance of mine was accepted into the program. He told me you weren't independently "just" assigned patients all by our lonesome. You practiced skills, developed proficiency, and gradually took over more and more tasks based upon personal abilities. The RNs' licenses are on the line; they won't turn over tasks over to you until you win their confidences. If you were selected, my hat's of to ya. I think any externship program is a good deal, much better than any of the various student patient care tech jobs I heard classmates mostly speak of derisively.

I will be assigned to a preceptor so I won't be alone...but it's still scary to take 6 patients of my own.

I applied to the VALOR program because the local hospitals tend to use the nurse apprentice employees any way they see fit. That usually means you do more CNA work than anything. I am doing the externship to improve my skills and knowledge. I am not going to make a career solely doing CNA work. The VA highly values education and guaranteed me that I will not be doing CNA work.

As for the program, they have a GPA criteria and also you have to turn in 4 letters of recommendation. That's a task in itself to get the school dean as well as 3 instructors to write letters.

Also, the VA is the only hospital that distinguishes between an ADN and BSN nurse. The BSN nurses get paid more and can advance. The ADN nurses can't advance past a certain pay level.

[cmv35167]

NTP is a program for nurses w/less than 1yr work experience. It's sort of an extended orientation. As far as being seen by RNs in the clinic...not so much. I was in Family Practice today and the nurses role is mostly behind the scenes, unless a pt requests some extra instruction or something else comes up. Lots of the work is pseudo-case mgt, putting out fires, coordinating care, etc. The techs can do so much and the providers are generally the next step so the nurses have a different role there.

You right about clinical pt care being different than having your own pts but the bottom line is that you're NEVER alone. I felt so much more comfortable after I saw all of the experienced RNs around me asking for assistance/clarifying orders, care, etc....just nice to have a 'team' to work into. Taking 6 pts is a bit daunting at first but it really comes down to time mgt on a med/surg floor. The VA side is a pretty consistent population as far as demographics. The AF side includes men, women, AD, retired, VA, peds, etc. I do well w/organizing myself till a pedi gets thrown into the mix....love kids but the sick ones are tough (I'm a bit of a softie when it comes to the lil ones) and sometimes the parents are tougher.

You will learn a ton w/the hands-on in the VA. It's a great place to pick up skills and see a multitude of pathophysiologies...pretty sick population on the floor. Don't be afraid to make mistakes...just be sure you learn from them WHEN you do. I don't know anyone who hasn't made mistakes, nor do I anyone who doesn't worry about that. Anyway I hope all is well and you're looking forward to your time on the floor

[BadBird]

Congratulations !!! I love working for the VA, it really is the best nursing job I ever had. This year I will be taking advantage of the NEI and going back to school for my BSN and the VA will pay for it.