Anyone work for a verterans hospital?

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Greetings Allnurses! Does anyone out there work for a veteran's hospital? How might it differ from a civilian hospital? I know the pay is not so great, but there are good govt. benefits. Please let me know! At this point, I know little, for instance, do all former veterans qualify for care, or are the patients recent soldiers?

Thanks much,

Diahni

Specializes in behavioral health.

Also, don't they have tuition forgiveness if you work there for a certain amount of time?

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Specializes in Psych/Rehab/Family practice/Oncology.

I have a question re this thread, something I've always wondered. If you work for the VA, but you are not, and never have been a VET, do they provide treatment/hospitalization for you if it's required? Or does this question even make sense?

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Specializes in MICU/SICU.

I work for VAMC in Milwaukee. Everything everyone has said has been pretty accurate as far as the patient population, benefits, etc. Our VA has tuition forgiveness for RNs who sign up for particular units and/or shifts. Personally, I worked for 2 civilian hospitals as a NA and I like the VA SOOOO much better.

For students who want to work for the VA, I strongly suggest checking out their Student Nurse Tech program. It's normally a summer program. Many new grads get hired that way. If you are interested in ICU nursing there is a program called VALOR (Veterans' Affairs Learning Opportunity..can't remember the R sorrry). I got hired through this program. I can't say enough great things, even if you aren't interested in the VA or the ICU it's an unbeatable learning experience.

Only one thing to add, not ALL veterans qualify for care at a VA. For example, my husband had 20 years US Navy, but because he is gainfully employed with health insurance, he can't go to VA. If his circumstances were to change his eligibility would change, at least that's how I understand it.

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The VA benefits can't be matched: 26 days paid vacation, 13 days sick leave, double time all holidays, 10% for off -tours, 25% for weekend days. A salary scale comparable to any area where you are.

Tuition benefits.

There is a policy and procedure for everything.

you can get just about any type of nursing you wan (except usually pediatrics--:).

Superlative opportunities for advancd practice nurses.

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Is it just our honorable war vets eligible for care or any former enlisted?

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What are the opportunities in the DC area? I've looked at several government agencies such as NIH, CIA, FBI, FDA, Walter Reed, Bethesda Naval, etc...My goal is to get accepted into a CRNA program, hopefully paid for. I am disqualified for the uniformed services due to diabetes.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Is it just our honorable war vets eligible for care or any former enlisted?

Any former enlisted. Can also be family or people who were employed by the military who meet qualification rules.

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Daytonite:

It sounds like the particular VA hospital I asked about desperately needs nurses. How could they afford the luxury of taking a month to hire if this is so? Diahni

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P.S. Govt. benefits sounds like a dream come true - my husband works for the state of Mass. and has similar benefits.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Daytonite:

It sounds like the particular VA hospital I asked about desperately needs nurses. How could they afford the luxury of taking a month to hire if this is so? Diahni

It's the red tape. They have to follow their own procedures. People who are in charge will sometimes know ways to shorten the wait a little.

As for the benefits, oh yeah. Every government holiday is paid (about 15 of them). You only get 6 everywhere else. People racked up sick time because we got so much of it. Calling off sick was a no-no though as in any other job. Sick, vacation and holiday time was thrown into a bank and the hours built up quick, so people were taking time off all the time, it seemed. And the retirement system was the federal government's own for its workers. They add matching funds more than any employer I ever worked for and if you chose the max amount (15% of your base salary) that racks up fast also. If you leave and ever go to work for them or any federal agency ever again, no matter when, you pick up your years of seniority as if you never left, even if it was 20 years before.

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Is it also correct that if you work for the VA for at least 5 years, you will lifetime medical benefits? And that you can retire after 10 years? A nursing colleague recently hired by a VA Outpatient Clinic reported that these were part of the benefits!

Thanks,

Sage

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The way I understand it is that all veterans that meet the requirements are eligiable for VA medical care.

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/

Here is the website for VA jobs.

http://www.va.gov/JOBS/index.asp

Sandy

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