VA hospital job offer

Specialties Government

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Hello, I am fairly new to the site. But I do have questions about the VA hospital in Murfreesboro, TN if anyone could help out. I was offered a job with the VA and am supposed to start orientation on October 9th. Just wondering if anyone knows any details about the facility: nurse patient ratio, pay scale, shift diff, specifics on staff morale, things of that nature. I am excited about the opportunity as I am a new grad nurse. Just looking for a little feedback. Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in ED, Cardiology.

Congrats on your new job, as no one has answered yet I willadd what I remember / know. I worked for a little over two years at a differentVA and moved to Germany with the US Army as a civilian nurse around 8 monthago. Nurses have a pay scale from nurse 1 to 5, with most of as falling into1,2 or 3. When I was hired I was placed into a nurse 1 step 7 spot, I argued alot as I thought I should been a nurse 2but I was told if I did well during the next year I would be placed into aNurse 2. I do need to admit that they did take a chance on me, as I was hiredas a Cardiac cath lab nurse with NO prior experiences other than ED. Anyways, Idid get nurse two after "proofing" myself. Shift differential was 15% nightsand 10% weekends, so if you work weekend nights it is 25%. On call pay isoutstanding...10% of your overtime pay, so if your base pay was $25, and OT was37.50 my on call pay was 3.75 an hour (and I was on call a lot). I would ask HRfor a copy of the current pay scales...you have a right for it but for somereason they make a big deal out of it. The VA was also part of the GovernmentalUnion, just fyi. Other benefits are also outstanding, as you will be a titel 38employee...more vacation and other benefits. Patients for the most are wonderful,and I truly loved working with them, of course exceptions exist everywhere.

The co-workers were great, both in the ED and the cath lab,but if not the same for you, you have the power to make a change.

In short, it was the best place I have ever worked for.Great manager, great pt and co-workers, good pay and lots of opportunity forgrowth. I hope you will have similar good experiences at your VA, good luck!

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Specializes in ED, Cardiology.

sorry, not sure why I have so many spacing issues :(

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sorry, not sure why I have so many spacing issues :(

OMGeee!!!! Thank you sooooo much for all the info!!! I'm so excited to start... Lol. Don't worry about the technical issues, (I never noticed any).... My smartphone makes me sound like a complete idiot ALL the time.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

When I worked at the VA weekends were 25% & the federal government rate only has to pay 25% for working Sundays not Saturdays. But the VA included Saturdays in its payscale for shift diff.

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Thanks a lot!!!! That's good to know!!! ?

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Hi, BVFD 333!

I found your post by searching Germany and VA. I'm hoping you can give me some insight to your process of getting over to Germany. I'm extremely interested in working as an RN over there. I have a few questions:

1. You said you worked at a VA and then got a job as a civilian nurse in Germany. Do you think being employed at a VA helped your chances at getting a job for the DoD?

2. How much experience as an RN did you have when the DoD hired you?

3. Did you apply for a position through USAjobs? If not, where did you apply?

4. Were you ASN/ADN or BSN when the DoD hired you?

5. Do you have any advice? (Or contacts -- lol ;))

I'm an ADN working on my BSN (I finish this fall). I have one year experience in a brain and spine unit in California. I have all the ubiquitous certificates (BLS, ECG, PALS, ACLS, NIH).

Thank you so much for any help or direction. I'm thinking that getting past the USAjobs resume selection process may be difficult. I wish I knew someone on the inside!

Have a great one - Sean

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Informatics.
Hi, BVFD 333!

I found your post by searching Germany and VA. I'm hoping you can give me some insight to your process of getting over to Germany. I'm extremely interested in working as an RN over there. I have a few questions:

1. You said you worked at a VA and then got a job as a civilian nurse in Germany. Do you think being employed at a VA helped your chances at getting a job for the DoD?

2. How much experience as an RN did you have when the DoD hired you?

3. Did you apply for a position through USAjobs? If not, where did you apply?

4. Were you ASN/ADN or BSN when the DoD hired you?

5. Do you have any advice? (Or contacts -- lol ;))

I'm an ADN working on my BSN (I finish this fall). I have one year experience in a brain and spine unit in California. I have all the ubiquitous certificates (BLS, ECG, PALS, ACLS, NIH).

Thank you so much for any help or direction. I'm thinking that getting past the USAjobs resume selection process may be difficult. I wish I knew someone on the inside!

Have a great one - Sean

Look at medcell.army.mil for info

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Specializes in OR and ER.

I have some questions for you about working as a DoD nurse in germany. I am hoping you may be able to help me.

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