Anyone work at the VA?? Need info

I'm looking into applying at the VA here , and I know a nurse manager that works there. She is going to see what she can do to get me an interview. I know the application process is a bit lengthy there, but I currently have a job.. so I guess there isn't a rush.

I've never been to the VA, so I would love some information about it.

Are there floors/units just like a regular hospital?

Are the hours for a floor nurse the typical 12 hr shift, 7am-730pm?

Are there more holidays there to get time and a half?

Any other info would be great. Those are the only things that popped up in my head.. I already read about benefits online.

Thanks :)

Sorry I have no clue what your VA is, but our VA here is the V & A Waterfront and is not like a hospital at all...it's a tourist venue...

Sorry again, couldn't resist that :)

I'm an LPN at a VA hospital. In Minnesota. Its known as a psych hospital but we are expanding our services at a very fast rate. The benefits for full time are awesome, this is true. The pay is good, and the hours are like any other hospital. Rotating shifts. Day/eve day/noc or I do just straight noc. I wouldn't work anywhere else....

Its got its own culture though that's for sure :)

I currently work in the emergency department at a VA and have for the past 7 years. It is a wonderful, rewarding place to work! To answer your questions:

1. The units are similar to civilian hospitals although we do have better equipment for the most part. We are expected to be fiscally responsible, however if the Veteran needs a test or medical supplies we provide it. It is a nice change from the civilian world where each supply used or test ordered has to be explained to an insurance company.

2. On the floors here we work a standard 40 hour work week. They have "approved tours" for 12 hour and 8 hour shifts. Most work three twelves a week with an additional 8 hour shift every other week. There is no "clocking in and out", you are assigned a tour and if you don't show up you are considered "AWOL- absent without leave", which is quite different from civilian hospitals.

3. We get 11 paid holidays a year and if you work the holiday you receive double time verses time and a half.

I cannot speak for all VA's, but here we have very little turn over. I only know of 2 nurses in 7 years that left the VA, many move around to other departments but hardly anyone leaves. The greatest reward in working at the VA is being able to care for those that sacrificed so much for the rest of us! How often do you get to meet men that stormed the beach at Normandy or jumped out of planes in Belgium?

I currently work in the emergency department at a VA and have for the past 7 years. It is a wonderful, rewarding place to work! To answer your questions:

1. The units are similar to civilian hospitals although we do have better equipment for the most part. We are expected to be fiscally responsible, however if the Veteran needs a test or medical supplies we provide it. It is a nice change from the civilian world where each supply used or test ordered has to be explained to an insurance company.

2. On the floors here we work a standard 40 hour work week. They have "approved tours" for 12 hour and 8 hour shifts. Most work three twelves a week with an additional 8 hour shift every other week. There is no "clocking in and out", you are assigned a tour and if you don't show up you are considered "AWOL- absent without leave", which is quite different from civilian hospitals.

3. We get 11 paid holidays a year and if you work the holiday you receive double time verses time and a half.

I cannot speak for all VA's, but here we have very little turn over. I only know of 2 nurses in 7 years that left the VA, many move around to other departments but hardly anyone leaves. The greatest reward in working at the VA is being able to care for those that sacrificed so much for the rest of us! How often do you get to meet men that stormed the beach at Normandy or jumped out of planes in Belgium?

Is where you wrote AWOL... that doesn't mean like calling out sick right? That just means not showing up period w/o calling out?

How are the pay increases?

Oh, I see the application process is long. I do know someone who is some sort of nurse manager there and she's going to help me out where she can. With the transcripts for college, do I need to get transcripts from ALL the colleges I've been to or just where I completed the nursing program at? And if the college sends me a copy of my transcripts, it's unofficial.. is an unofficial copy ok?

Thanks for responding.. I'm sure I'll have more questions

I am currently in the pre-employment process. Yes, the paperwork is lengthy and if you get called in for an interview, be expected to complete more paperwork. Once you are done with the interview, if you are luck (and I hope you are) HR will call you in for the pre employment physical and background..my physical was deep (ekg and all) and I had to do fingerprinting on site. The next step - which took the longest is getting my online background done.

This is the step I am currently at and I was told by the recruiter, this is the longest step. As for the transcripts, you will be asked to bring a copy (unofficial) however if HR calls you, be prepared to get the official sent directly to them and I am "assuming" it is only for the school you completed nursing. But I do know that the background will ask for information 5 years back. Also I had to supply 2 reference letters from my nursing professors and they had to be on school letterhead. Good luck...I think it will be worth it.

I am currently in the pre-employment process. Yes, the paperwork is lengthy and if you get called in for an interview, be expected to complete more paperwork. Once you are done with the interview, if you are luck (and I hope you are) HR will call you in for the pre employment physical and background..my physical was deep (ekg and all) and I had to do fingerprinting on site. The next step - which took the longest is getting my online background done.

This is the step I am currently at and I was told by the recruiter, this is the longest step. As for the transcripts, you will be asked to bring a copy (unofficial) however if HR calls you, be prepared to get the official sent directly to them and I am "assuming" it is only for the school you completed nursing. But I do know that the background will ask for information 5 years back. Also I had to supply 2 reference letters from my nursing professors and they had to be on school letterhead. Good luck...I think it will be worth it.

mswhitern:

May I ask how long you waited for a reply after the interview? I was called for an interview...and now the wait..

Thanks.

AWOL is absent without leave. You get AWOL for not not calling in for your tour to ask for leave; you also get it from taking time off (SL; CB) without accrued leave available to apply.

The VA where i'm employed- I was hired on an open interview day. I applied and interviewed on the same day( practically promised the job too). 2 weeks later I was offered the job officially via a call from HR and 2 weeks after that I was sitting in orientation.

The regular hiring process can be long and daunting so I've heard.

It can take a long time from start to finish to get a job at the VA, but very few places will offer benefits even close. I get a higher rate of pay since I have a BSN. Most other hospitals in my area do not care, since they say an RN is an RN. Not so in the VA. I get higher shift differentials for evenings, nights and weekends. I also get double time if I work a Federal holiday, which is nice. I get great tuition reimbursement ($5000 per year/local benefit) and up to $625/cr hr for graduate school (national--must apply and be accepted to this program). Certified nurses (in a particular specialty) also get awards for passing. I have raised my salary significantly since I started with the VA. I could not have done this in the private sector. I plan on staying in Federal service forever. And yes, where else could you actually meet some of the people you meet at the VA? I have worked with famous doctors, nurses, and patients. Everyone in the VA is in your network, and I've had lots of success talking to nurses from around the country. Every day, I pinch myself. I am so thrilled I work at the VA.

What is the process for searching for a postition with the VA?

nursinadream

You can check on the USAJobs website, they post most job openings there. You can also go to the VA you want to work at and there is usually a job posting board in one of the main traffic areas (ours is by the cafeteria). Our VA has a job fair for nursing once or twice a year.

OP

I have worked at the VA for 2.5 years now as a nurse practitioner. I really enjoy my job and love working with the Vets. As far as the benefits go, they are excellent. All Federal Holidays are paid + 26 days of paid vacation a year and 2 weeks of sick time a year which you can rollover to the next year if you don't use it. Medical, dental and vision benefits are also quite good. They have a regular retirement program, plus a program called the Thrift Savings Plan that works like a 401k, the VA matches up to 5% of your contribution each year. Most of the people I have worked with at the VA truly enjoy their jobs and love working with Vets and there is a very low turnover rate for nurses and medical staff. I would highly recommend the VA to anyone.