VA Nurse Practitioner

Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP · Dec 31, 2017

Unfortunately, I believe the NP's will always be governed by the nursing system within the VA, I have almost no contact with nursing or nurses and I work almost exclusively with the Doc's. For all intents and purposes, we should not be a part of nursing as we do not function as nurses, we function as providers and should be treated and managed as such. The problem that I'm finding, is that my supervisor doesn't know what the rules are for Nursing and therefore, I'm missing out on the normal management functions of a supervisor to supervised, as it pertains within the VA system, so my career may suffer as a result.

Jules A, MSN · Dec 31, 2017

Unfortunately, I believe the NP's will always be governed by the nursing system within the VA, I have almost no contact with nursing or nurses and I work almost exclusively with the Doc's. For all intents and purposes, we should not be a part of nursing as we do not function as nurses, we function as providers and should be treated and managed as such. The problem that I'm finding, is that my supervisor doesn't know what the rules are for Nursing and therefore, I'm missing out on the normal management functions of a supervisor to supervised, as it pertains within the VA system, so my career may suffer as a result.

Have you thought about getting a peer group together and discussing? I bet it would propel VA NPs out of the dark ages, especially with full practice authority, and likely attract bright new talent. I know what they pay psychiatrists and it sickens me to see how little they pay psychNPs.

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP · Dec 31, 2017

Have you thought about getting a peer group together and discussing? I bet it would propel VA NPs out of the dark ages, especially with full practice authority, and likely attract bright new talent. I know what they pay psychiatrists and it sickens me to see how little they pay psychNPs.

Government jobs generally pay less than private sector jobs. That's true across the board, from the military to civilian government jobs at the federal, state, and local levels. No one is forcing anyone to work for the government. For people whose primary concern is gross income, the government is not a good choice. However, other people place more importance on benefits and job security, and for them, the government may be a good choice. In addition, some people work for the government because they are committed to public service. Moves to raise government salaries to parity with private sector salaries will cause a public outcry and complaints of wasting taxpayer money. Taxpayers foot the bill for government salaries.

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP · Dec 31, 2017

Here is the information I found on federal government websites regarding VA nurse classification and pay. The federal government publicly posts all salary and benefit information.

1. The federal Office of Personnel Management defines the nursing classification and equates each level to the corresponding GS level. A new grad NP applying to the VA is the equivalent of a GS 9. An experienced NP applying to the VA is the equivalent of a GS 11. Each GS level has steps, just like the nursing classifications have steps. GS 9 is pretty high, and GS 11 is definitely a high "rank."

Nurse Series

djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 31, 2017

I currently work for the VA as a pain nurse. I'm a veteran and have enjoyed the past three years helping other vets. Unfortunately I'll be leaving now that my fnp is done.... Not because of the psi scale but because the model my hospital uses doesn't include NPs in primary care. They only hire of subspecialty and acute care. As others have noted, the past can be lacking to a degree. I was hired as a nurse 1 due to no bsn despite mute doing a job made for a nurse 2 or 3. Since VAs can be by the book on education to pay rate despite work experience. But the system is set up to accommodate either way of your va values the experience.

The value imo is in the benefits. I've never worked in a nursing position where leave was so plentiful and easy to take. I won't say the health and dental are * better*... But being a federal entity, they have to pretty much offer you everything. So you have lots of options and flexibility.

RN4KU · Feb 23, 2018

Following this thread, I am a Nurse 3 step 4 at the VA as an RN. I am finishing my FNP this year. My pay scale is high in my area, south texas has high pay scale and low cost of living. I would get a decent pay increase making maybe 130K at the VA in an OP clinic 8-4:30. I currently make almost 98K as a nurse now, only because I am a nurse 3, i was lucky and was promoted, but I have heard that some NP's are nurse 2's which is horrible.

Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP · Feb 23, 2018

Following this thread, I am a Nurse 3 step 4 at the VA as an RN. I am finishing my FNP this year. My pay scale is high in my area, south texas has high pay scale and low cost of living. I would get a decent pay increase making maybe 130K at the VA in an OP clinic 8-4:30. I currently make almost 98K as a nurse now, only because I am a nurse 3, i was lucky and was promoted, but I have heard that some NP's are nurse 2's which is horrible.

A co-worker was a Nurse 3 as an RN, when she got her NP, they started her as a Nurse 2, but she subsequently got her Nurse 3 again as an NP, moral of the story, they don't have to hire you at all and they don't necessarily have to start you at the same pay grade that you are now.

Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP · Feb 23, 2018

Here is the information I found on federal government websites regarding VA nurse classification and pay. The federal government publicly posts all salary and benefit information.
1. The federal Office of Personnel Management defines the nursing classification and equates each level to the corresponding GS level.
2. The VA website provides pay scales based on location.
Step 1, Grade 1 salary in San Diego is $84,947, the lowest possible NP pay in San Diego. The maximum possible NP pay in San Diego is Grade 3, Step 12 at $150, 356.
https://www.va.gov/OHRM/Pay/
Here in San Diego, for a new grad NP, typical private sector starting pay would be $100K to $110K. The VA does try to offer competitive compensation packages. So I doubt they are paying NPs the bare minimum.
My family mostly served in the military and in the VA. I never heard them complain about pay. They did it to serve their country. government employees were all out the door at 5 pm, while I had to work late every single night and come in on weekends, too.

Great information, however it's somewhat misleading, the Office of Personnel management is for GS nurses, which we are and much of what is on the OPM website doesn't apply to VA nurses or NP's because we are Title 38 employees, not GS employees.

This post is about VA Nurse Practitioners and as I am a current VA Nurse Practitioner, I can specifically tell you, yes the VA can indeed start you at the bare minimum as a new grad, because that is what that person is in the eyes of the VA, a NEW GRAD, so if you don't write a good packet, they can start you at $86,xxx in San Diego and with the high cost of living in SD and the ridiculous CA income tax, that would be a very low wage, and your salary is wholly dependent upon how you write up your packet and how it looks to the professional standards board!

And as far as working for less money and serving your country, I have 28 years serving this country, from Antarctica to the North Pole (literally) and didn't make squat during that time and yes we VA Nurse Practitioners serve our fellow Veterans within the VA and yes it's not all about the money, but a person looking at working for the VA as an NP, needs to consider lifetime earnings, and paying back student loans, because if they don't, they would be negligent in also taking care of themselves and their family. Another point about all of those VA programs, they exist in many locations, however, each medical director can modify who gets the benefits and how, when and even IF they are offered at their facility.

And I would like to point out, that VA NP's in primary care are extremely dedicated and many work late hours, well past 5pm, and on weekends, often for no extra pay, because, their is often more that needs to be done then there is time to do it, so my hat is off to them. That is why their is such a high turnover for PCP in the VA system, they get burnt out.

I will repeat my advice to any NP's with the future in mind, get your initial licks on the outside and then apply to the VA, if that's your intended place to work, just keep in mind the pro/con's of working for the federal government, overall it's well worth it, but it's not the only show in town :-) but I like it.

Tony

RN4KU · Feb 23, 2018

I have never heard of an individual taking a new job and being dropped a step. I would never take a job as an FNP in the VA upon graduation if they dropped me to a nurse 2. I guess it is possible to be different at every VA, but where I am I have verified with HR when I applied for other jobs that were technically Nurse 2 jobs, when I am a 3. I was told you can't ever be dropped to a nurse 2 once you are a 3. I applied for PACT Team jobs which are Nurse 2 or 1 jobs just to get some patient experience, but I was told I would still be a 3. After over 8 years I learned they can do whatever they want and not follow the rules. I know the FNP's have a different pay scale separate then the RN. I keep a close on on our pay scales.

A co-worker was a Nurse 3 as an RN, when she got her NP, they started her as a Nurse 2, but she subsequently got her Nurse 3 again as an NP, moral of the story, they don't have to hire you at all and they don't necessarily have to start you at the same pay grade that you are now.

WinterWolf90 · Feb 24, 2018

I know where I live at in Northeast TN, the RN pay at the VA is amazing. When I left the public hospital to go work at the VA, where I am now, i got a 20k raise. The midlevel pay grade is the opposite. It is not as much as the outside. Most physicians get offered jobs in the ER, to work for the VA instead of staying with the contractor, but they decline due to the huge pay difference.

AutumnBlaze · Feb 24, 2018

I know where I live at in Northeast TN, the RN pay at the VA is amazing. When I left the public hospital to go work at the VA, where I am now, i got a 20k raise. The midlevel pay grade is the opposite. It is not as much as the outside. Most physicians get offered jobs in the ER, to work for the VA instead of staying with the contractor, but they decline due to the huge pay difference.

This is true in my VA too. I have been an NP for 16 years and I make less than some of the RNs. I was astounded when I first found that out.

Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP · Mar 13, 2018

I know where I live at in Northeast TN, the RN pay at the VA is amazing. When I left the public hospital to go work at the VA, where I am now, i got a 20k raise. The midlevel pay grade is the opposite. It is not as much as the outside. Most physicians get offered jobs in the ER, to work for the VA instead of staying with the contractor, but they decline due to the huge pay difference.

NE TN? VA ER? Seeing as how I left a certain NE TN VA and I had previously worked in that ER, hmmmm, I wonder who you might be? :-)

Not that it matters, I'm hoping that I get to get back there one day!! I'm working in the Seattle ER now on the weekends.