VA nursing

Jules A, MSN · May 3, 2015

From what I have heard it varies quite a bit from facility to facility. While I enjoyed being a VA nurse, was paid well and didn't work very hard it wasn't my favorite experience. The benefits were good with a fair amount of paid time off which we rarely got to use but I did get paid for when I resigned. The cons were that there was not an abundance of super smart people like you mentioned and instead there were many there who basically could not be fired and were happy to remain fairly miserable and stagnant. Although I loved caring for the vets the amount of waste and difficulty to institute any change was discouraging.

mvm2 · May 3, 2015

I had my CNA clinical in a VA home. It was a really neat experience. I would think the daily things are mainly the same as any other nursing home is ran. Though they had a lot more activities they could do, and even had a big art room where they could paint, carve woodwork, sculpture work. It was really neat and much of their artwork would be on glass cases all around the facility and you could purchase their artwork and the person would get the money for it.

One of the saddest things I saw was what little space they had for personal items. One little end table by their beds and such tiny tiny closet space. You were lucky if you could hang 3 shirts in it. Our vets and frankly all our elderly deserve so much more.

I found it an honor to be surrounded by so many men and omen that had served our county with such pride, and then it was my turn to be able to give something back to them.

RNerica12 · May 3, 2015

Thank you much for the responses!!!! That is acrumt very encouraging! Sad to hear people are there and don't exacfly want to be... But I guess I'm reality that could be found a lot. Would you recommend this for a new nurse? And if you don't mind what unit were you on Jules A? The particular job I am referring to would be and operating room nurse? Any thought??

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 3, 2015

I think you'd find, like Jules said, that experiences will vary considerably depending on what VA, in what VISN, in what State. Leadership in each facility drives quite a lot of employee satisfaction and when it's good, it's very very good, but when it's bad, it's horrid

There's a saying in VA: "When you've seen one VA, you've seen one VA".

Pretty sure the experiences will vary from VAMC to CBOCs (outpatient clinics) and back again. Wouldn't be fair to say "VA nursing is great" or "VA nursing is awful". Much like any facility, it can be really nice on one unit or department and really miserable in another. Thankfully, people can apply to move jobs within a facility....and do it all the time.

I do believe, based on my experiences in talking with fellow RNs at many VAMCs, that the one thing that doesn't seem to differ is the respect given to Veterans; dignity and honor are stressed EVERYWHERE. I find this to be much different than the average patient interaction, response to patients that I found in the private sector. I'm proud of my VA :)

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · May 4, 2015

I agree with what Jules said. I still work in the VA and LOVE working with these folks. In fact I would like to keep working here after I get my NP and work in Palliative care. There are some people who are very smart and just like anywhere else there are some who aren't. The problem is that it is a union shop, and it takes an act of congress practically to get rid of someone.

RNpearls1908 · May 4, 2015

I am a new grad RN working for the VA and I absolutely love it. I am in their RN transition to practice program. Each facility varies. But the nurses I work with our very smart, our Veterans have their own private rooms on our floor, the benefits are great, we do self scheduling so you do have opportunities to use all that PTO.

Jules A, MSN · May 4, 2015

I agree with what Jules said. I still work in the VA and LOVE working with these folks. In fact I would like to keep working here after I get my NP and work in Palliative care. There are some people who are very smart and just like anywhere else there are some who aren't. The problem is that it is a union shop, and it takes an act of congress practically to get rid of someone.

Unfortunately in my experience although my pay was very good as a RN the offer they made me as a NP was ridiculous. At that time NPs were still considered nursing staff and not medical staff and their highest grade, after something like 100 years of service, was as I recall, only $129,000. That was $30,000 less than the job I accepted right out of NP school and while VA benefits are good, they aren't that good! I was disappointed because I would have like to continue working with vets but no way did that make sense. I hope things change in the future.

RNerica12 · May 4, 2015

Unfortunately in my experience although my pay was very good as a RN the offer they made me as a NP was ridiculous. At that time NPs were still considered nursing staff and not medical staff and their highest grade, after something like 100 years of service, was as I recall, only $129,000. That was $30,000 less than the job I accepted right out of NP school and while VA benefits are good, they aren't that good! I was disappointed because I would have like to continue working with vets but no way did that make sense. I hope things change in the future.

Thank you for the honest feedback. I'm just a new adn grad at the moment. Maybe one day NP could be in my future but as of now I'm just struggling to to find a job as a nurse... Period lol if I do get there one day tho, I hope they have implemented some changes as you said! ðŸ’°ðŸ’°ðŸ’°

BlueeyesRN · May 4, 2015

A friend told me when she went to work as a nurse aide at a VA. She said in orientation one was a nursing student orienting as well. She said that this student made a point (instructor was out of the room) of saying, 'you can't get fired if you do not show up for work'--like that was something to be proud of!

Disgusting attitude and to do to the patients/veterans, and the co-workers. I hope they reported her. Personally they need to screen out people very closely to see if they have a history of quitting, ditching work. Unfortunately this post shows that same attitude is passed around. But I am glad to see so many of our nurses love their job and the vets.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 4, 2015

A friend told me when she went to work as a nurse aide at a VA. She said in orientation one was a nursing student orienting as well. She said that this student made a point (instructor was out of the room) of saying, 'you can't get fired if you do not show up for work'--like that was something to be proud of!
Disgusting attitude and to do to the patients/veterans, and the co-workers. I hope they reported her. Personally they need to screen out people very closely to see if they have a history of quitting, ditching work. Unfortunately this post shows that same attitude is passed around. But I am glad to see so many of our nurses love their job and the vets.

LOL...of course you can! And they are. Nurses have a TWO-YEAR probation period, meaning that there is no grievance to file and no expectation of union backing if someone is getting fired before probabtion is up. And work histories definitely are screened, but you can't do much with someone who is still in school and hasn't yet BEEN a lousy employee. Don't worry: if her plan is to be cruddy, lol, she'll be shown the door

There is a misconception that once you're in, you can't be fired, and while it's true it IS harder to fire someone once probation is up, I assure you that I absolutely have seen subpar employees fired within their probation time. I'm sure that individual VAs go about removal/terminations differently, but at mine they definitely take all the steps to remove an employee whose time has come.

RNerica12 · May 6, 2015

Oh wow lol who would say that?? I mean maybe she was kidding??? It seems crazy you would think its ok to just not show up?? Geez. I am glad to hear about the probation period. 2years seems like a long time! But I guess its for the best, especially of those types of thoughts are floating around lol