VA Boarding of BSN Nurse with 10 years experience

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Hello, I'm an RN/BSN with just over 10 years experience. I am also just a course away from my Masters in Human Relations (not MSN) and I am going through the boarding process for a job at the VA.

From all the literature I found, I believe I should be placed 'somewhere' on the Nurse II level. They have offered me a Nurse I/III step 12.

I have asked what was deficient and how I could make it to Nurse II...I have not accepted the job because I am quite confident the board is wrong! Maybe they don't see I have a BSN??? I am getting very frustrated with this process and they say it is a firm offer and unless there is a huge Administrative error, it will stay at this rate as it is a final decision, concurred on by the Nurse Executive.

I have NEVER met an RN/BSN with over 5 years experience who started at Nurse I.

Any advice? HR told me on the phone that in a year I would be considered for Nurse II Step 7. Just like that. ????

Should I take the position even though I feel like I'm being low-balled?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

First you said 10 years, then 5 years of experience? Either way, it does seem low. But if it's not negotiable, your options are to either accept it, or not. That's a pretty big decision based on many personal factors that strangers on the internet won't know, so whether or not you should accept it is up to you.

Most people I know who work for the VA are glad they made it through the interview and hiring process, because it seems that is the most difficult part! Once in the system, I hear there are lots of opportunities.

Personally, I have traded paycuts for happiness or new challenges throughout my adult life, and it has paid off over and over again. Best of luck to you!

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Thanks for getting back to me, Lisa! Yes, you have the facts right; actually I've been an RN in total since 2003. But the HR guy is looking into it, to make sure a serious mistake was not overlooked. (For example if they missed that I had a BSN and only my ADN shows. I am also one credit short of receiving my Masters, so they have that set of transcripts (or not) I'm not sure. He said in one year if I go through the proficiency well, on the next appraisal I'll be a Nurse II/Step 7.

I know what you mean about pay cuts for benefits and better opportunities. I left a good job as a Community Health nurse in Vilseck Germany for a 10K drop to become a school nurse for the Army kids, and it's been a good move. I still hope they realize it's a mistake and they'll come back and say they missed the BSN or something, and start me out at a II/8 or so. Are you with the VA now?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

No, I am active duty Army for another ... oh, 255 days. But who's counting? :D

Good luck with the position! Hopefully the HR guy will find that there's an error.

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LOL, well, even though you're not counting, good luck with the next 254 days! Thanks for your input, it's appreciated!

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No, I am active duty Army for another ... oh, 255 days. But who's counting? :D.

Sounds normal to me--I was counting at 400-some days and have known the day count ever since! Now I'm heading rapidly toward double-digits...here comes freedom again!

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Specializes in Chemical Dependency, Corrections.

The whole "Boarding" of VA nurses is not easily understood by those nurses that don't participate. The guidelines or the criteria that nurses have to meet to go from one Grade or Step to another is written in a manual , but it is so lengthy and complicated and has so many exceptions and the process always seemed to me rather subjective. I worked for the VA years ago and was first "Boarded" as a "Full Grade" That is like three grades up the totem above the junior grade and associate grade. My supervisor was disappointed. I do know that on a certain day the nurses that are senior management people like Associate Chief Nurse of Education and The Associate Chief Nurse of Long Term Care and the Associate Chief Nurse and the Chief Nurse plus one or two of their chosen underlings - maybe a nursing supervisor go into a meeting and go over each new nurse's background and discuss what they know about this nurse and then declare the nurse a"Full Grade" or Associate Grade" etc. there are several steps between grades. Yes, the BSN Degree certainly helps but often a Master's Degree will be given the same weight. Because my Head Nurse liked me and was pleased with my nursing care and I had experience prior to the VA that was invaluable on the particular unit, I was boarded again the next year I think. I hit the Jack Pot. I was "Boarded" as an Intermediate Grade with EQA (enhanced quality or assignment). The nurses that had been with the VA for years and were good nurses were almost all at the Intermediate Grade.

Now, why am I going on so? I think it is important to recognize the difference in salary in let's say a Full Grade RN and an Intermediate Grade RN. The annual salary for the Intermediate Grade RN is significantly higher. Thousands of dollars a year higher. That is what is so important about the "Boarding" process it sis the money.

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Hi Tom7044 thanks for th input. I think in 2009 they revamped the boarding requirements and while they have a basic rule of thumb -- Nurse Level I (ADN or Bachelors with no experirence), Level II (BSN with 2-3 years or ....) and III (Masters level nurses)...they also have some sort of Nursing Dimensions that you must meet before going from one Level to another. What I think might have happened is that they didn't see my BSN transcripts or my Masters transcripts. I got my ADN in 2002 then my BSN in 2005 and have no breaks in experience. It's a mystery I guess. My friend with less education than me and the same amount of time as a BSN came on as a Level II step 9 so I was thinking I'd be where she started, or higher since she has nothing towards a Masters. I hope to find out something more this week. He did tell me (the HR guy) that the first year I'd be a I/III step 12 (maxed out on Level I) and then go to Nurse II step 7 in one year if I had a good review.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

If your Masters is not in nursing, would they even take that into account? I have some dim remembrance of the government not really caring too much about an unrelated degree, but I am not sure. But I am pretty sure they really won't consider it until it is complete anyway.

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The VA looks for completed degrees, committees, leadership, supervisory experience, research, volunteering in health care, etc, in determining boarding. The more details and health care experience you have in your criteria, the better for higher boarding. They don't care about non- health care related education. It's more than just time as an RN.

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How does linking this to a thread from four months ago provide further information for the OP?

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