Anyone using VA VOC Rehab...

Nurses Disabilities

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I was wondering if anyone on this forum is currently or has used the VA Vocational Rehab program to go through nursing school? I am in school for my RN and looking at becoming an advanced practiced nurse (apn). I need help with making a plan for my initial meeting with my VRC.

Have your disabilities limited you, when it came to making the initial goal with your Voc Rehab Counselor (VRC)?? Any information that can be given would be helpful.

Irishluck, Like yourself, I am a USN veteran. I went to my VA voc rehab appointment yesterday and my counselor denied me on pursuing a nursing degree "do to it aggravating my disability" in your experience, is what she said the truth or is it a way of nicely denying my request? Do you have any pointers on how I can change her mind?

Viki... Show proof of other nursing jobs. Get a doctor's note or another nurse's professional opinion on paper that this career choice will not aggravate your conditions.

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Great information guys, thank you! Here is my situation if anyone wants to give me advice or information: I am currently using my post 9/11 and have 2 years left on it. I was just accepted to graduate school for a master's in nursing so I went ahead and applied using the Vocational Rehabilitation 28-1900 form through VONAPP. Was that correct, is that the Chapter 31 you guys are talking about? I am rated 50% so I clearly meet the minimum mark and was honorably discharged.

JMU - Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

"Effective August 1, 2011, those who are entitled to both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) benefits AND Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits are able to choose payment of an amount equal to the Post-9/11 GI Bill's monthly housing allowance instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance. This means that you may be able to receive the case management supportive services and other benefits of the Voc. Rehab. program but elect to receive the housing allowance amount under Chapter 33 if it is higher than the Voc. Rehab. subsistence allowance. If you choose the housing allowance, the monthly amount will be based on an E-5 with dependents in the zip code where the institution providing rehabilitation is located.

If you're eligible under both Chapter 31 and Chapter 33, please talk with your counselor to determine how to make the best choice for your particular situation."

How long before someone contacts me? Does someone have a direct number or email I can use to contact them while I wait? I applied last week.

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Specializes in Primary Care; Child Advocacy; Child Abuse; ED.

The times depends on where you are and the counselor you are assigned to. I think patience is something you are going to have to have. I don't know how it is going to work since you have so much time left with your other benefit. I just made sure I was prepared when I went to see him, I brought my transcripts and reasons why nursing won't hurt my current disability. I think every counselor is different so the experience may be a little different for you. Once I received the letter in the mail with my first appointment time and after I talked to him it went pretty fast. I think it took 4 weeks from application to get the meeting.

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Specializes in OB, Postpartum, Nursery.

Be persistent and patient! Also, keep in touch with your counselor. I had several different counselors...it got kind of crazy. Save all your documents too.

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Great information guys, thank you! Here is my situation if anyone wants to give me advice or information: I am currently using my post 9/11 and have 2 years left on it. I was just accepted to graduate school for a master's in nursing so I went ahead and applied using the Vocational Rehabilitation 28-1900 form through VONAPP. Was that correct, is that the Chapter 31 you guys are talking about? I am rated 50% so I clearly meet the minimum mark and was honorably discharged.

JMU - Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

"Effective August 1, 2011, those who are entitled to both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) benefits AND Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits are able to choose payment of an amount equal to the Post-9/11 GI Bill's monthly housing allowance instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance. This means that you may be able to receive the case management supportive services and other benefits of the Voc. Rehab. program but elect to receive the housing allowance amount under Chapter 33 if it is higher than the Voc. Rehab. subsistence allowance. If you choose the housing allowance, the monthly amount will be based on an E-5 with dependents in the zip code where the institution providing rehabilitation is located.

If you're eligible under both Chapter 31 and Chapter 33, please talk with your counselor to determine how to make the best choice for your particular situation."

How long before someone contacts me? Does someone have a direct number or email I can use to contact them while I wait? I applied last week.

Hey there. I applied using VONAPP and the paper application back in 2011 I think. Try googling "(state) department of Veterans Affairs" it wouldn't be at your VA hospital, but some other building that deals with education and training. If you can find a phone number to the closest one to you, call them. You're looking to speak with a Voc Rehab counselor. Now, MAKE SURE YOUR GOAL FOR THE MSN IS CLEARLY DOCUMENTED. You don't want to switch from GI Bill to Ch. 31 Voc Rehab and have your counselor tell you that goal isn't a good match for you or make up some excuse to not approve it. Remember, it's all about your GOAL to make you EMPLOYABLE. I.e. I want to be an entry-level CRNA, but to get there I must have an RN, I must have an MSN...

Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck

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Thank you everyone! Yes I already got an appointment scheduled in 3 weeks or so, they got a hold of me pretty fast. So in others experience I will have multiple meetings? And I should bring school records i.e. transcripts and my acceptance letter to the initial meeting to show the path I am on and that I have already been accepted somewhere for this fall and that this Voc Rehab will give me a great education and make me employable? Not to mention cover the out of state tuition in which my post 9-11 will not?

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I have an appointment soon also and I'm scared to choose nursing because my disability is for my knees. They sent me a packet to fill out and asked me to bring my transcripts and resume

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I have an appointment soon also and I'm scared to choose nursing because my disability is for my knees. They sent me a packet to fill out and asked me to bring my transcripts and resume

Just go into a field of nursing where you can sit a lot... Do some research. Fyi if you do have knee pain often, keep in mind that nursing school has clinical and you will be on your feet for that.

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Thank you everyone! Yes I already got an appointment scheduled in 3 weeks or so, they got a hold of me pretty fast. So in others experience I will have multiple meetings? And I should bring school records i.e. transcripts and my acceptance letter to the initial meeting to show the path I am on and that I have already been accepted somewhere for this fall and that this Voc Rehab will give me a great education and make me employable? Not to mention cover the out of state tuition in which my post 9-11 will not?

Yes bring all that stuff and remember the focus is to make you employable as an NP, advanced practice nurse, or whatever you are trying to do that happens to require an MSN

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Thanks!!! I'm an lpn now I was wanting to get my RN but I didn't think they will approve me since nursing is nursing I was thinking they may say if I can't do lpn how can I do rn? So I was going to choose healthcare management but my heart is NURSING!! I will research reasons rn will open more oppurtunities

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Yes bring all that stuff and remember the focus is to make you employable as an NP, advanced practice nurse, or whatever you are trying to do that happens to require an MSN

Okay I have yet to receive anything in the mail and actually yesterday they called to reschedule for a couple weeks later and said I should have already received mail from them....hope it comes soon. I will definitely make a case that MSN will make me employable in the career that is right for me and that the GI bill will not cover enough and will cause more unnecessary financial stress and take away from my studies

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Okay I have yet to receive anything in the mail and actually yesterday they called to reschedule for a couple weeks later and said I should have already received mail from them....hope it comes soon. I will definitely make a case that MSN will make me employable in the career that is right for me and that the GI bill will not cover enough and will cause more unnecessary financial stress and take away from my studies

At your first appointment you will most likely do a skills survey to see what career field matches your skills. What is your end goal? What do you want to do in nursing?

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