VA Nurse Salary

[kclindsay]

Hi! Can anyone provide me with good info on the starting pay for VA nurses? I am applying in both Kansas (Leavenworth VA) and Missouri (Kansas City, MO VA). The salary range for both locations is about $46,000-$88,000. I know salary is based on experience, but I'm wondering if most nurses start somewhere in the middle. I have about 1.5 years med-surg experience. I can easily make more than the $46k at my current hospital position, but I'd like to work for the VA and the benefits can't be beat! Just wondering if I'll have to take a big pay cut. Thanks!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Promoting a ADN to nsg 2 is subjective to who is looking at the ratings. There is nothing that states a ADN has to be promoted to nsg 2. They also hired new BSN's as a NSG 2 not a nsg 1 like some facilities do.

The lesson to be taken for this discussion is that if you are working at a VA that refuses to promote you to nurse II because you don't have a BSN then you must know that they certainly CAN promote you, but are choosing not to. I would keep that in mind when deciding where to work.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Its the same in the GS system, why are some nurses a GS 10 and others a GS 11 when they have the same education, responsibilities but work in different departments. Sometimes the GS 10 have more responsibilities etc.

Its like a lot of federal rules that are open to interpretation depending on who is reading them and what page since 2 different pages can say the opposite for the same issue.

[ORSuite]

Does anyone know the on call pay at the VA's operating room??

[ArmyTwin, CRNA]

Does anyone know the on call pay at the VA's operating room??

It's 10% of your OT rate (time and a half) every hour.

[ORSuite]

It's 10% of your OT rate (time and a half) every hour.

Thanks!!!

[jacksonleo]

I just got hired at Long Beach VA. I have 1 year of acute care experience and a BSN with good academic history. I was classified as a Nurse I, Level III, Step 6. One more year of experience and get promoted to Nurse II. Took 3 months from application to official offer. I was on top of it though, getting docs done and sent right away, having references ready, etc. I am excited. I start in 2 weeks. Hope its worth it!

[LisaNP]

So I after four months of waiting I was finally offered a position at the VA working in primary care as a Nurse Practitioner. I have been a nurse since 1992 and an NP since mid 2012. I was offered a salary of$80,100 annually. That s 10k less than what I am making now. They want to bring me in as a Level 2 step 6. I feel this is too low but was told they will not reconsider. I have student loans that a salary this low will really make things very tight. Any advise on whether it is still worth pursuing?

[PMFB-RN, RN]

So I after four months of waiting I was finally offered a position at the VA working in primary care as a Nurse Practitioner. I have been a nurse since 1992 and an NP since mid 2012. I was offered a salary of$80,100 annually. That s 10k less than what I am making now. They want to bring me in as a Level 2 step 6. I feel this is too low but was told they will not reconsider. I have student loans that a salary this low will really make things very tight. Any advise on whether it is still worth pursuing?

Why would you even consider it?

[SydneyJo1]

The VA is so tempting because the benefits are good, so I understand your dilemma. I am a PMHNP and was offered 76k, which is easily 20-30k below market for my specialty where I live. I had to turn it down, which is unfortunate because I would have loved working with the vets. The VA really needs to do a better job of aligning their salaries with the local market for NPs. They make it hard to accept a position there.

[LisaNP]

Considering it because it is foot into the va door and the pension.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

One thing you need to look at is what is your long term pay look like. With the VA you will know what you will be making in 5-10 years down the road because of step increases; will you get pay increases at the same rate at your present position? Also, how does the cost of your benefits compare. Your offer might be 10K less a year but after your cost for health insurance, retirement, etc. what is the difference in take home pay. Once you factor these and others the VA might be more attractive or the offer could be even worse then what it looks like on face value.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Considering it because it is foot into the va door and the pension.

The pension isn't that good. You get 1% for each year of service calculated on your highest three years of BASE pay.

So if you made $100K BASE (not counting any OT or differentials) average your highest 3 years, and worked for them for 20 years you would get $20k/year as your pension.