I interviewed today and was offered one of six resident positions. I lost it. The panel laughed and said my reaction was the best one so far. ?
I was asked nine questions. They were along the lines of "Tell me about yourself; How will you contribute to VA care; Flexibility and describe a time when it was required; Career goals; Rate yourself 0 - 10 in the following aspects, etc.". I was sweating the whole time, but displayed a cool (I think) exterior.
It starts towards the end of September, so plenty of time for me to go over all my material from school and beef up my knowledge so I don't look like a total dunce.
I will periodically update this thread with all my trials and tribulations for those who are interested in applying for a spot in the future and want to know what the year will look like.
I received official offer Thursday, then on Friday received the orientation schedule for the next 5 days. Started Monday, the last 3 days have been a general orientation for all new hires and trainees. Day 4, RN and NP residents were together for orientation. Day 5 is a campus tour and computer training. We are suppose to receive our schedules day 5 as to where we will be for the next few months. Thats where I am at so far.
We have not received the final offer letter. We were supposed to start on 9/12. The Friday before is when I was told not to report. Nothing was completed by HR. Not sure when we will start at this time.
I am doing primary. The HR person is very stressed out. She said one of the candidates is really upset because the tentative offer stated that we were to start 9/12 but did not. I am thinking sometime in October to be honest. She said we still have to do fingerprints and stuff like that.
I heard HR is so backed up which is slowing things down, plus everything is a process at the VA. It sounds like it maybe closer to October. Yes fingerprints have to be done, the background investigation, preemployment physical etc.., there are some TMS trainings, CPRS trainings, and the onboarding that have to be completed before starting.
I got my letter about 1 hour after I posted about not receiving it. I briefly skimmed it. But we so have to report at 0745 to the education building, so far the start date is still 9/26.
Last week, I received the official HR job offer and accepted it. Today, my program coordinator emailed a schedule of phase one of the residency, up to end of October. It is now feeling real and I cannot wait to start on Monday?
I hope everyone else is doing well!
Very nice! Can you tell us what your schedule is like for those of us, left in the dark about what we will be doing?
Of course?. Mileage will vary per program, of course, and as always, subject to change.
Week 1: Mon and Tue is dedicated to finishing up loose ends with HR, presentations on benefits, leave, Privacy/HIPPA, etc.. I will be with my cohort in person at the hospital for these days. Wed is new provider training (virtual). Thu is home site orientation and observation of clinical experience. Fri is syllabus review, general housekeeping rules, and weekly reflection at one of the outpatient community clinics (not mine).
Week 2: Monday morning is clinical experience at our respective home site and afternoon is TMS Travel training. Tuesday morning is clinical experience and afternoon is some more TMS training along with one hour of didactic (Whole Health). The rest of the week is essentially the same. Clinical experience in the a.m. and then some type of orientation classes in the p.m..
Week 3: This is when the orientation hours start to slowly drop off and we will start ramping up clinical and didactic hours. I thought didactic would be on Fridays all day. Instead, it is split into half-days on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.
Happy for you guys let us know how it goes. It is taking so long not sure if I want to continue with this or just get a regular job. I just completed my finger prints Friday.
The first day for me was all policies, benefits, who to call and and when. I fell asleep twice I was so bored. I hope I don't do this tommorrow. We are still with everyone that was hired, so nothing specific to NPs or nursing.
For those of you who chose to do this residency instead of just going straight into a non-residency job: Did you decide on this route because you felt your school did not give you the best training? Or you felt "okay" but wanted to go into your first non-residency job, after the VA, more confident?
It's my understanding everybody comes out of FNP school feeling less than prepared for the most part. I guess I'm just wondering the pros and cons of going through a residency, such as the VA, versus getting employment (less practice) right away and "hoping for the best?"
Jazzy MSN APRN NP
8 Posts
I received official offer Thursday, then on Friday received the orientation schedule for the next 5 days. Started Monday, the last 3 days have been a general orientation for all new hires and trainees. Day 4, RN and NP residents were together for orientation. Day 5 is a campus tour and computer training. We are suppose to receive our schedules day 5 as to where we will be for the next few months. Thats where I am at so far.