Hospital Veterans Administration facilities do not have to consider "Veterans Preference" for certain medical specialties (Physicians, Dentists, Podiatrist, Chiropractors, Optometrists, Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants, and expanded-function dental auxiliaries) due to Title 38 USC 7401. Some VA facilities are using Title 38 USC 7401 as a loophole in order NOT to hire the above mentioned specialties in their facilities because professional Veteran Employees would not allow VA facilities to cut corners when providing care to Veterans.
As a Service Connected Veteran and Masters prepared Registered Nurse, I believe that Title 38 USC 7401 should be amended to include Veterans Preference for medical specialties. The Federal Government has a long standing tradition of including Veterans Preference when hiring Federal Employees.
Myself and several Veteran RN employees have attempted for 5+ to gain employment at the MEDVAMC in Houston, Texas but despite our education, experiences, etc. we have not been successful. The salient issue is that many of our former RN colleagues who are not Veterans and have less experience/education are hired. My colleagues and I have applied for a variety of positions (even staff level RN jobs that do not require Masters Degrees and Certifications but are still unsuccessful). Due to Title 38 USC 7401, we cannot inquire or obtain information with regards to candidates that were selected instead of us in order to ascertain whether or not they were more or less qualified.
On November 9, 2009, President Obama, issued an Executive Order for the Federal Government to increase employment initiatives and hiring of Veterans. MEDVAMC and many VA facilities are going backwards when it comes to hiring Veterans. The MEDVAMC is mandated to employ 40% Veteran at its facilities they are currently at 20% and have been shrinking over the last 5 years.
Veterans Preference is not an AFFIRMATIVE ACTION program. Veterans often times are automatically labeled and overlooked for jobs we are well and often times over qualified for simply because we are Veterans (example: Vietnam). Some employers discriminate against Veterans who are active Guard and Reserve members because of the weekend drills and two week annual training requirements. (Been there and witnessed with my own eyes.) Many Iraq War veterans are experiencing an extremely difficult time obtaining employment NOT because they are unqualified but due to discriminatory practices of hiring Veterans.
I remember a conversation I had with an RN Colleague and she assumed that many Veterans are mentally unstable and have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Military Sexual Trauma and often abuse drugs and alcohol due to the stress of being in the military. Sadly, I fear that she is not alone in her assumptions although they are false.
If you are a Veteran and you are having difficulty obtaining employment at VA Hospitals please comment on this thread. I would love to hear from you.
You can also contact your local or National VSO and submit a formal complaint with the:
[COLOR=#333c41]
National Veterans Legal Services Program
P. O. Box 65762
Washington, DC 20035[COLOR=#333c41]Phone: 202.265.8305
If you are not a Veteran and you are interested in having Title 38 Amended requiring VA facilities to include Veterans Preference I encourage you to contact the NVLS above, your congressman, and/or a local VSO organization. Thank you.
There is more to the hiring of someone other than qualification.
Thanks Einstein!![/quote']
For example... attitude... you display a lot of it here. You've received an interview, weren't hired, and now they don't seem interested. Now you've demanded investigations and are also asking the internet to get try and get laws passed to ensure you get hired? I thought you said you didn't want affirmative action?
I don't know all the details, perhaps they are also illegally discriminating against you, but the picture you present on this forum suggests you should look at yourself first.
In the meantime, could you please tell me why you have the right to individually examine the credentials of all competing applicants? It is one thing if a regulator looks at it in a discrimination investigation, but no private sector company would you to do any such thing as an individual! It makes no sense for you to complain that this is not permitted by Title 38.
For example... attitude... you display a lot of it here. You've received an interview, weren't hired, and now they don't seem interested. Now you've demanded investigations and are also asking the internet to get try and get laws passed to ensure you get hired? I thought you said you didn't want affirmative action?
I don't know all the details, perhaps they are also illegally discriminating against you, but the picture you present on this forum suggests you should look at yourself first.
In the meantime, could you please tell me why you have the right to individually examine the credentials of all competing applicants? It is one thing if a regulator looks at it in a discrimination investigation, but no private sector company would you to do any such thing as an individual! It makes no sense for you to complain that this is not permitted by Title 38.
First of all, I was never interviewed for a position I was found "Ineligible" for a staff nurse position despite having a Masters Degree and Critical Care Certification.
Second, I have been interviewed and hired for civilian hospitals within the area. I have no problem finding and maintaining employment. I am simply illuminating an obvious flaw within the VA system.
Obviously you are not a Veteran as you would know that for decades Veterans have been discriminated against simply for being Veterans. Federal Agencies have processes in place where Federal applicants are allowed to know the qualifications and experiences for individuals hired for Federal jobs in an effort to prevent discrimination. The Title 38 provision prevents medical specialties from obtaining this information that so many other federal employees are allowed.
Obviously, you are not a veteran so you definitely do not understand how disheartening it is to see and hear about your fellow Veterans so badly mistreated at VA facilities. Ironic, when people find out that you are a Veteran they never hesitate to say "Thank you for your service". However, when the rubber hits the road and it is time to take a stand or support a cause that may be important to a Veteran you hear: "You have an Attitude", "Why should you be treated 'special' just cause you are a Veteran."
I have received several letters of appreciation from families in addition to accolades and awards for the nursing care that I have provided so don't question my qualifications or sincerity.
Finally, I will gladly admit that I have an attitude especially when the cause is something that I am passionate about. I am an "Ass-Kicker" and I also happed to be a Veteran. Trust, I have already contacted local lawmakers, several VSO Organizations, a news investigator, etc. etc. I have patiently waited 5+ years to see if things would change at the MEDVAMC. Five years ago, at the MEDVAMC there was approximately 27-29% Veterans employed at the facility. Today there are only 20% Veteran employees at the facility. I plan to get to the bottom of it and stop it.
Also, I see you have "2 Years of Experience as an RN"....I have nearly 14 years not to mention 10 years as an Air Force Medic. My advice to you RN to RN "Learn to stand up for something and don't be a doormat your entire nursing career!!" Trust me you the people around you will respect you and you will sleep better.
Well that's the problem with the Internet. You definitely don't know me or my background. I don't careto shareeither. and I don't know you.
Anyway, I am all about merit. Veteran status should be a tiebreaker for .gov. Discrimination against veterans by VA should result in someone's head on a platter.
My VAMC practically falls over itself to hire qualified veterans. If not qualified, that's a different story. But if a veteran is qualified and is STILL not hired, they have to really not like something about the applicant. Some don't do well in the interview(s) no matter HOW qualified they are on paper. The PBI style isn't one that everyone does well in, either, and vet or non-vet status won't matter when it comes down to that.
....and cracks like that won't garner you much sympathy...or support. I'm going to give you the benefit of being new here, and therefore maybe not familiar with our online courtesies.
My VAMC practically falls over itself to hire qualified veterans. If not qualified, that's a different story. But if a veteran is qualified and is STILL not hired, they have to really not like something about the applicant. Some don't do well in the interview(s) no matter HOW qualified they are on paper. The PBI style isn't one that everyone does well in, either, and vet or non-vet status won't matter when it comes down to that.
Just my thoughts on the subject.
By the way, Veterans don't look for sympathy we look for results!! Obviously, you are not a veteran. You are one of those crummy non-veteran VAMC employees that allow the mistreatment of veterans. You are part of the problem. Do us veterans a favor and retire already!!!
Wow, such animosity! Repeatedly quoting me, repeatedly quoting YOURSELF, and just getting nastier and nastier each time. All credibility now lost.
I made no personal attacks, ZERO, yet you felt the need to belittle my education, call me nasty names, and behave in a manner completely unbefitting a professional. Poor showing, indeed.
You are right in only ONE thing: we are most certainly NOT operating on the same level....although clearly not for the reasons you think.
At this point, I have absolutely NO doubt, whatsoever, why the Houston VAMC refuses to interview or hire you, even though you receive medical services there.
LOL, ok, you win, very funny. Nothing you could say at this point could possibly make me believe you are anything you claim to be. Except an embarrassment to every military professional alive.
At this point, I have absolutely NO doubt, whatsoever, why the Houston VAMC refuses to interview or hire you, even though you receive medical services there.
They have MET you.
Good point. If the OP treats the Houston VAMC staff like OP treats people here, they probably don't want the OP as a colleague. Imagine the misfortune of the OP's colleagues who may have unwittingly marked the OP as a reference in a job application. "Guilt by association" can be the kiss of death in the workplace. It would explain their difficulties in getting hired on.
Not believable... I wonder what the real linda Patton did that would make op want to libel her through fraudulent misrepresentation.
Thought of that, too. Ah well, poor thing.
It's been entertaining watching someone nearly bust a gut trying to prove a non-existent point, but I think I'll leave it for tonight. Curious, though, how I became both fat and a smoker....weird.
SummitRN, BSN, RN
2 Articles; 1,567 Posts