Advice for VA Employee

[BishopLPN, BSN]

I am currently an LPN working in an outpatient mental health clinic at the VA. I left a job that I loved and that paid more to come to the VA. I came to the VA for several different personal reasons.

My problem is that I'm not working in the function that I applied for or the function that is noted on my functional statement. I'm not working in a nursing capacity (I understand LPN's are looked at differently at the VA). I am working as a Medical Support Assistant. My supervisors refer to me as a MSA. The position I applied for was for a Tele-Mental Health Nurse. It's also my position title on my functional statement. I'm suppose to assist the providers and veterans with various aspects of computer video technology (CVT). Instead, I have various reports that I'm responsible for generating, which isn't bad. The part that irritates me is that I'm getting direction from 4 different people and no one seems to be keeping track of my work load. It's getting to the point where all the reports I must generate daily is becoming unmanageable.

The clinic coordinator refers to me as her assistant. She's constantly giving various task such as scheduling patients. This leads to one of my biggest issues. One of the main jobs of an MSA is scheduling patients. They utilize me as an MSA but the VA views me as an LPN. I don't have access to schedule patients or have been trained on how to schedule people appropriately (the providers have specific appt times they use depending on the type of patient). So, what ends up happening- I contact the patient and find an appt date that works for them. Then I have to find another MSA to schedule the appt for me. Which frustrates them and me. Some of the MSA call the patient again to verify and others will just make the appointment. Sometimes I schedule the patient inappropriately.

I'm getting so frustrated with my job. I'm not sure what to do. I want to continue working here for personal reasons but I don't think I can keep working in this capacity.

I'm still on a year of probation. How can I broach this issue with my supervisor without rocking the boat too much?

[MediKateRN, MSN, APRN]

Is it your nurse manager that is expecting you to function as an MSA, or other staff? I'm an RN in a CBOC and I continually have to remind folks that I cannot schedule. I usually say something like "you know RNs can't do that, but I'll happily forward your request to (insert name of MSA here). In the future, will you please send sheduling requests to her?”

Seriously, talk to your nurse manager about what his/her expectations are and let them deal with the clinic coordinator. Good luck!

[nishali78]

Go to your union. If you don't have scheduling keys or access then you are not a scheduler. If you are doing tasks outside of your functional statement then they are using you. VA is not managed well. I know, I currently work there and my workload is insane.

[BishopLPN, BSN]

Go to your union. If you don't have scheduling keys or access then you are not a scheduler. If you are doing tasks outside of your functional statement then they are using you. VA is not managed well. I know, I currently work there and my workload is insane.

Thanks for the advice! I actually left that position 6 months ago.

They were using me inappropriately and outside of my functional statement. The hired another LPN for my position after I left and she left within a month.