VA HOSPITALS

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi,

I was a CNA in the VA system and worked in 3 different hospitals: Tomah, WI, West Haven, CT, and Milwaukee, WI. My husband also worked at the same 3. For a nurse you used to start out with 30 days vacation, I had 13 paid holidays. The benefits were there and my husband retired after 28 years. I do not work in one now as a nurse. But I did work with some great nurses there. Good Luck NA

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COULD ANY TELL ME THE ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF WORKING IN A VA HOSPITAL.

MY WIFE HAS WORKED AT A PUBLIC HOSPITAL FOR YEARS AND RECENTLY GOT A PRETTY GOOD OFFER TO WORK AT A VA HOSPITAL. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

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Hello!

I worked for a VA Hospital as a student nurse extern last summer.

My experiences were very positive. Here are some advantages:

the pay is good, the benefits are good, and the veterans are a great patient population to work for (they are very appreciative). Disadvantages: some of the hospitals and equipment are pretty old, and nurse-patient ratios are sometimes high.

I know this list seems very general, but I was only there for a summer....

Good Luck,

Julie M.

[This message has been edited by Julie,SN (edited May 24, 2000).]

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I worked in Indianapolis at the VA there for over two years and have worked in several military hospitals also. (My husband is retired military). I enjoyed it very much. The pay and benefits are difficult to beat. You do have to realize though that your population of patients is for the most part male, over age 50. I am an ER nurse and like a little more variety. However, if there were a VA in this area, I would certainly consider working there. If you want more info, just E-mail. Good luck Judi

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I worked at the VA for three years right out of nursing school. Although the pay is great, the patient load can be difficult. On some evenings I had 15 patients together with a LPN. The floors get hit with admits and you can become quite stressed! It was a great place to start and you become "seasoned" right away. The benefits are good, but I am finding better benefits in the private sector. With the nursing shortage right now, be choosy about where to go. You may end up in a position at the VA with shortages on the floors which mean patient overload!! I worked with great nurses there and am still friends with some of them.

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