Finally got an interview

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Hi Allnurses, I finally got an interview with the VA Hospital setup for next week. I put in plenty of applications with them online and someone finally called me back. The thing is, is that they said that I will receive about 20,000 less of what I am making now. They said that what I make now, their RN's make and I would take a huge pay cut. I wanted to know your advice on if you would take the chance of a pay decrease to get your foot in the door to finally get a nursing job? What I am doing now is not nursing (what I should be doing) but it is still with the government and I've worked my way up, it pays the bills and it has good benefits. I don't want to miss out on an opportunity of finally utilizing my nursing skills :nurse: or because is paying way less. WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO?:confused: Also they will be asking Performance questions, is there a website where I can go and study up on these Performance questions before my interview?

Thank you sincerely Allnurses for any and all replys!!:redbeathe

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Hi! I have had a few 'behavioral' type interviews and have a pretty good idea of how to survive those now. Send me your email and I'll send you some tips and a list of questions I've compiled from my own actual interviews.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

You have listed your pros and cons in your post. Can you afford the pay cut?

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

I don't think any of us can answer this question for you, because it really depends on what your personal priorities are. If what they would pay you really is the going rate for new grad RNs, then obviously they can't pay you more just because you happen to make more in your current, non-nursing position -- that's irrelevant, because you wouldn't be working in the same field.

You need to ask yourself if you can afford the pay cut, and if so, do you want to be an RN badly enough to accept the pay cut? If the answers are "yes", and "yes" then go for it!

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$20,000 is a lot of money.

I think I would keep the job I have, and get a job on the weekends in an LTC

to get some nursing experience.

How long would you have to work as an LPN in the VA system to get back to the

pay scale you are on now?

Do you like what you are doing? You may find that nursing in the VA is not what you want to do.

Good luck.

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Hi! I have had a few 'behavioral' type interviews and have a pretty good idea of how to survive those now. Send me your email and I'll send you some tips and a list of questions I've compiled from my own actual interviews.

Hi StillSeeking I have sent you a PM with my email address!!

Thank you so much!!

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You have listed your pros and cons in your post. Can you afford the pay cut?

Not Really (Single Parent :scrying:) I just did not want to pass up an opportunity of finally practicing my nursing skills and working in the field I went to school for.

Thank you for your response lkwashington!!

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i don't think any of us can answer this question for you, because it really depends on what your personal priorities are. if what they would pay you really is the going rate for new grad rns, then obviously they can't pay you more just because you happen to make more in your current, non-nursing position -- that's irrelevant, because you wouldn't be working in the same field.

you need to ask yourself if you can afford the pay cut, and if so, do you want to be an rn badly enough to accept the pay cut? if the answers are "yes", and "yes" then go for it!

you are so right noahsmama! the thing is, is that i am an lpn and for what i make now at my non-nursing job, i make what the rn's make there!! they start the lpn's out with $31,000... can't really afford the pay cut but i was going to try it because i do believe in "where there is a will there is a way". i know with the economy

going crazy and normal bills keep rising and rising, i will probably be putting finances at risk being a single mom. it's hard getting an lpn job right now, so i was going to jump at the opportunity (guess i better really think about this one :uhoh3:).

thank you noahsmama for your advice!!!

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$20,000 is a lot of money.

I think I would keep the job I have, and get a job on the weekends in an LTC

to get some nursing experience.

How long would you have to work as an LPN in the VA system to get back to the

pay scale you are on now?

Do you like what you are doing? You may find that nursing in the VA is not what you want to do.

Good luck.

Hi Mulan,

I really don't know how long it would be to work as an LPN at the VA before I get back to the pay scale I am currently in. I was going to ask them or wait until they bring it up in next weeks interview on how long before one receives a pay raise there.

I do like what I do, I work in IT helping people with computer problems, but nursing is where I should be. All the time I spent in nursing school and than finally passing the NCLEX, I feel I need to get right to it if someone finally offers me a chance to gain the experience needed to move forward somewhere else maybe. I do work at an Adult Daycare now only on Saturdays as an LPN but I am not utilizing my nursing skills. I think they consider an Adult Daycare, like a LTC!! So maybe I should just stay put at my non-nursing job until my son graduates and expenses are down and I will be able to move around more :o

Thank you Mulan for your advice!!

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Thank you everyone sincerely for your advice on this thread.

I guess I should go to the interview anyways to see what they are talking about :confused:

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

I would definitely go to the interview -- at least you can practice your interviewing skills!

What about doing an LPN-RN bridge to get yourself up to the RN pay scale? I don't know if those programs require that you have experience as an LPN, or if just having the license is enough? -- but might be worth looking into? Can you afford to work as an LPN for a year or two before doing a bridge? Can you do part time IT work on the side to help close the income gap?

As to the question of how long you'd have to work as an LPN to get back to your current rate of pay -- from $31,000 to $51,000 is a 65% increase! And don't forget that you would (I assume) also be getting raises if you stay in your current line of work. I think the timeline for getting back to where you were before would pretty much be "never" -- unless you can manage to do the LPN to RN bridge at some point.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

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V.A usually have great benefits, and a system in which you can move up quickly.

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