VA Hiring Process

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From the previous posts I've read the VA hiring process is pretty long and drawn out. I've applied to two different VA sites. The VA an hour away from my home I can always get in contact with a nurse recruiter and my application status for two posting says "referred to selecting official." The VA closest to my home, I can't get through to the recruiter, she emailed me back once and the status of all the apps just says "application received." I do know a nurse practitioner that works at this VA site and she tried to give my resume to the recruiter, but I had to apply online.

For those of you that are familiar with the hiring process, any idea what the next step is. In all there are around 20 RN vacancies. The two systems have two completely different online application submissions, how will I know if I've completed the application process correctly, its a little confusing :(

I've been applying since I've graduated and earlier this year I found out that I was applying the wrong way so those positions don't count. These positions closed in September.

Thanks in advance ?

Step increases are not automatic. The only automatic (read: non-merit) increase given is when the employee population of a facility as a whole is granted a COL increase. FWIW, the "COL" has no real relationship to the ACTUAL COL increase we all experience living where we do, it is simply the budgeted amount you will receive each year. It is processed via HR, is equal to all.....and in my facility was 1% this year. Don't spend it all in one place ;)

You are awarded step increases based on your annual proficiencies (performance evaluations, essentially). Your proficiencies are reviewed by the Nursing Professional Standards Board and it is their sole decision as to whether you will receive a raise, a promotion....or not. Your supervisor completes a portion of this proficiency report to put in his/her two cents (opinion, I mean) and all of it is considered at once. If you are deemed worthy of promotion/increase, you get it. If not....no. If no increase in step (promotion), then no $ increase. HR's COL one is unrelated.

Going from Nurse II to Nurse III without an MSN IS possible, but not easy. Essentially you have to have every single possible category in your competency/proficiencies be outstanding, with the only piece lacking for promotion being the degree. Same with going from Nurse I to Nurse II: some VAs are more willing to promote on a "time served" kind of thing, if the employee is a quality one they promote...and other VAs will require the employee to jump through a hundred hoops without tripping once before they will even consider the idea. Can't say how the one you are/will be at works!

Initially you'd have a performance/proficiency eval annually until you have obtained a promotion, and then it's every two years. Again, this may vary by facility, and the NPSB's whim.

Good luck :)

Thanks so much RNsRWe! I appreciate all the input. From what I have read from previous posts I'm surprised there's a lot of differences how each VA hospital run things. I'm hoping I'm going to one of the good ones. í ½í¸³í ½í¹

Thanks so much RNsRWe! I appreciate all the input. From what I have read from previous posts I'm surprised there's a lot of differences how each VA hospital run things. I'm hoping I'm going to one of the good ones. ����

You're welcome. There's a saying here, "If you've seen one VA....you've seen one VA!"

While there are some things that are absolute, across-the-board the same, there are plenty of areas allowing variables. And even within the items that are absolutely the same, the speed, efficiency, etc do fluctuate depending in what facility you are in.

Good luck!

Specializes in Critical Care.

I know this is a lot later than the thread began but I PM'd you. :)

Specializes in ER.

Hello,

I was given a conditional offer with salary quote yesterday. The nurse recruiter stated that I would get a link emailed to me so I can get vetpro started. How long did it take you guys to get set up with vetpro?

Thanks!

Hi. My experience has been a little different. l have submitted all the required documents, went on two interviews 3 weeks apart ( the second interview was for another LPN position in a different specialty) completed VetPro and have taken the pre employment physical but l have not received my salary offer. It would have been nice to know the salary before l took time off of work to take the physical. With all that being said, yet the most discomforting thing about the whole process is the HR rep who is working to fill the 2nd position has not done my background check yet. Two different background checks, for two different specialties, BUT for the same VA facility. So very disorganized. I hope this is not foretelling of things to come.

Just a quick comment: the HR recruiters don't do background checks; the one you are working with does not either. They are submitted to another gov't agency, and they work on their own timetable. Typically, takes about two weeks from time of submission to get the answers they are looking for.

Good luck!

Hi everyone. Has anyone here just got hired at VA San Diego? Can someone tell me the hiring process and how easy/hard to get in? Thanks in advance.

I know it hasn't been that long, but this waiting around for a phone call or email is grueling! In my interview they said if I was selected it would be by phone call and if not it would be an email. I really don't want the email if that's the case! :no: It's only been 31 days since the posting closed, 10 days since the interview, and 8 days since they called my references.... but who's counting right? Lol Is it a good sign that they've started calling my references (2 peers and my nurse manager)? Or do they call references for the top 3 candidates? Thanks for your input! :up:

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I know it hasn't been that long, but this waiting around for a phone call or email is grueling! In my interview they said if I was selected it would be by phone call and if not it would be an email. I really don't want the email if that's the case! :no: It's only been 31 days since the posting closed, 10 days since the interview, and 8 days since they called my references.... but who's counting right? Lol Is it a good sign that they've started calling my references (2 peers and my nurse manager)? Or do they call references for the top 3 candidates? Thanks for your input! :up:

What you're describing is typical. The wheels of the government turn very sloooooowly. Hang in there!

When applying for a job with the VA, on the Job announcement theres a section that says what is required to complete an application. If you submit all those forms and documents that applied to you then you should be ok. Also, you usually get a email back saying your application was complete from the Application manager site. I've been with the VA for 5 years now and before getting hired I applied for years only to find out I was submitting a completed application. You can always call human resources to ask about application status ( whether it's complete or not)

Yes this is normal

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