accept job offer @ VA - questions

Published

I just accepted an offer for acute care RN at a VA, and have questions.

I am not military, veteran nor anyone in my family I am close to so I am very inexperienced with the system. My MIL is a retired federal employee, and my BIL is former marine and vet - but I am not super close to either of them. I LOVE the veteran population and have done volunteer work with vets my whole life and am excited for the opportunity!

My hiring manager told me to take my resume and rewrite it with all of my experience vs. just my hospitals and dates. She said that I have far more experience than my time and education alone shows that need to be considered for paygrade.

I am an ADN with 5 years of acute care, however, I have been a travel RN for years and during much of those years I worked 48-72 hour assignments, and floated to nearly every unit. I have charge experience and some unit based and hospital based counsel projects plus non nursing volunteer work. 

Are there any resources for how to write my resume so that I can make sure to get properly graded?

Are there any resources to explain to me what the grading system is even? 
I guess the goal is to start as a Grade II, Level 5...? I have no clue! 

Thanks in advance for any help!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, you can Google VA nurse 2 proficiency examples online, something should come up. The VA will offer you more pay for the experience you have. Try to show examples of how you have done thing that impact the entire department in your career ( perception, charge, helping to change a unit policy, a project to reduce cautis...) be very specific of what you did, why, time frames, and the outcomes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks. Will Do!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Whatever Arr-tistRN said. But I don't know how other VHA work but I believe ADN is a Nurse 1.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion