Competitive or Excepted position with VA?

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Hi. Which job position is better to accept with the Dept of Veteran Affairs (VA), competitive or excepted? Thanks!

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Specializes in MICU, CCU, CVICU, Medical/Surgical, Nursing Admin.

Most VA nursing positions are in the Excepted Service. If you compare the benefit, leave, and promotion capabilities, you want to stick with the Excepted service.

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Competitive for longevity and "legal" protection/safety. All LPN and most competitive RN jobs (GS v. VN) fall under Title 5 or Title 38 hybrid. The excepted RN jobs are usually Title 38s, excepted. VA RN managers et. al. use and abuse Title 38 to their own advantage. We will just leave it at that. Title 38 excepted service is great for RNs who are "friendly" with their managers and who their managers "like." It doesn't hurt to be friends and in a good light with people on "The Board." If you are a nurse (RN or LPN no matter), a political junky, and like Game of Thrones, the VA will be a great fit for you.

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