VA/Govt Nurse Satisfaction

va nurse · May 24, 2005

Like rnmom3x, I too returned to the VA after 8 months in home health. I enjoy the team spirit here, the organization that empowers the nurse, the better benefits. I started w the VA in 1997, and am grateful that I was able to return. Would like to know how other VA nurses are accessing the education funding for advanced practice or masters degrees.

I completed my BSN through the V.A. and I'm now completing my MSN. The program that I'm in is called NNEI. The pay for everything including parking. The V.A. has been great but being a vet myself I'm getting antsy to move. I'm curious about DOD Civilian nursing overseas in Japan and Europe.

va nurse · May 24, 2005

I absolutely love working for the US Army as a civilian nurse. I work in a TMC (troop medical clinic) where I take care of our soldiers both active duty and reservists/guard on their drills. I see the soldiers before they leave and when they return home. I'm any Army brat and my husband was active army at one time. This was the best way for me to serve my country without joining the service. The civilians make up at least 80% of the workforce in the MEDDAC. Pay is ok, benefits are good and the hours are awesome! (0700-1600 m-f, one hour lunches--no weekends or holidays)

I currently work for the V.A. I would be very interested to learn some more about DOD nursing from you if possible. I'm a veteran myself and an RN. I have 3 classes left for my MSN and would like to transfer to DOD in Japan or Europe. I was in the Air Force and really miss the people and the travel. Would you happen to have any information about such assignments?

briggswiss · Jun 2, 2005

Hey Crew

Seems as if each VA has it's own issues.. I'm a returning RN and am looking to get into the Rhode Island VAMC. Anyone out there have any info on this facility. I hear that most VA hospitals are pretty much state of the art.

lady_jezebel · Jun 2, 2005

A summer spent at the VA as a nurse tech while in nursing school was THE WORST experience. Horrible red tape just to get anything done. Lot's of incompetence. Most of the patients were neglected & in diapers, the nurses simply passed meds, and the staff was poorly trained in assessments. One pt died and was discovered in his room much later. They were way understaffed. I will NEVER work in a VA hospital. Our vets deserve much, much better. I quit the externship there early & finished the summer working in the burn center of a much better run hospital, also public but out of the VA system.

briggswiss · Jun 2, 2005

A summer spent at the VA as a nurse tech while in nursing school was THE WORST experience. Horrible red tape just to get anything done. Lot's of incompetence. Most of the patients were neglected & in diapers, the nurses simply passed meds, and the staff was poorly trained in assessments. One pt died and was discovered in his room much later. They were way understaffed. I will NEVER work in a VA hospital. Our vets deserve much, much better. I quit the externship there early & finished the summer working in the burn center of a much better run hospital, also public but out of the VA system.

Wow was this the VA in Providence?

eugenia · Jun 9, 2005

Hi,

Do any of you currently work at the Va Medical center in Tucson, AZ. What are your like and dislikes?. I'm considering relocation next

year. Thanks.

TitaniaSidhe · Jun 11, 2005

My lil bro did 3rd year Neurology Residency at the VA in Tucson, AZ. He had nothing but good things to say regarding that facillity. Like mentioned before I guess it all depends on the VISON & facillity.

angel · Jul 11, 2005

I have been with the VA for 19 years...it has improved over the years, we gained 10 new nurses to build our staff level & current awaiting a new clinic to be built..

Pros: FERS, retirement(salary 3 highest years add together then divide by 1 times the number of years worked), TSP401K, Social Security; healthcare insurance if kept for 5yrs prior to retirement can carry into retirement(self & family), can transfer anywhere in the USA(VA's) & keep seniority. If higher level of pay you get it.(many nurses transfer 3yrs before retirement to get $$$$ boost on retirement)..

Cons: NOTHING for retention, no longivity, once you reach your highest level, that's it....Nothing....criteria (VA Nursing Stds.)to go to the next level is unrealistic.

I would like to hear from VA nurses or US govt nurses. Do you like your jobs, pay and benefits? Two of my friends worked for the VA Dallas hospital and they reported the med surg/ ICU staffing was dangerous! Is that the case in your facility? Is your retirement based on the FERES system? (ie part Social Security, part 401K type matching, and small retirement supplement? How is your OWN health care;it looks like stingy HMO care, unless you pay extra? Full retirement after 20 years? Would be interesting in hearing the pluses and gripes/frustrations before I consider VA/govt hospital based work.
------------------
E. Bobinski

va nurse · Jul 12, 2005

I agree with you Angel. It seems that each V.A. hospital system has its own little fiefdom. Although the professional standards board was set up to prevent this, it is being effectively circumvented by certain hospitals. Even though I'm finishing my MSN, I've been told that this still doesn't qualify me for promotion to nurse III. You have to jump through their hoops and it leaves the appearance that those that are promoted are often members of a very cozy group of co-promoters. When I have checked at other V.A. hospital I have found that they have Nurse III's in the ICU, Telemetry, and on the floor. However, this is not the case here.

I have been with the VA for 19 years...it has improved over the years, we gained 10 new nurses to build our staff level & current awaiting a new clinic to be built..
Pros: FERS, retirement(salary 3 highest years add together then divide by 1 times the number of years worked), TSP401K, Social Security; healthcare insurance if kept for 5yrs prior to retirement can carry into retirement(self & family), can transfer anywhere in the USA(VA's) & keep seniority. If higher level of pay you get it.(many nurses transfer 3yrs before retirement to get $$$$ boost on retirement)..
Cons: NOTHING for retention, no longivity, once you reach your highest level, that's it....Nothing....criteria (VA Nursing Stds.)to go to the next level is unrealistic.

DelGR · Jul 14, 2005

VA Nurse,

I agree with you 100% about trying to get any advancement in the VA. They apply the Nurse Qual standards too strictly and are biased against anyone they have had past dealings with. Anyone who has become a thorn in managements side will not be advanced even if they are doing excellent nursing. Once you fall out of favor, it will take moving on to another facility to get an advancement. I know a friend of mine did. At a time when they wanted all nurse managers to have their BSN (which she had), they would not give her a position as a nurse manager because the Chair of the Nurse Professional Board didn't like her and would not agree to advancing her when her yearly eval came up.

newnurse2005 · Jul 24, 2005

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience with, or heard about, the Boston VA system: particularly the West Roxbury, MA acute care facility (nurse-pt. ratios, mgmt., overall morale and shape it's in?)?

Hope to hear from you! Thanks in advance!

DelGR · Jul 25, 2005

I have not. Did you look it up on the internet? Here is the url. http://www.visn1.med.va.gov/boston/

Generally, any of the VA websites gives you a general idea of the services they offer to vets and the make up of the staff.