VA Nurse Salary

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Hi! Can anyone provide me with good info on the starting pay for VA nurses? I am applying in both Kansas (Leavenworth VA) and Missouri (Kansas City, MO VA). The salary range for both locations is about $46,000-$88,000. I know salary is based on experience, but I'm wondering if most nurses start somewhere in the middle. I have about 1.5 years med-surg experience. I can easily make more than the $46k at my current hospital position, but I'd like to work for the VA and the benefits can't be beat! Just wondering if I'll have to take a big pay cut. Thanks!

Sorry I just want to ask a quick question here....Marshall1 I have read some of your posts about the hiring process for the VA system...I have interviewed they have checked my references and when I called HR they said my application was sent to her supervisor...do you or anyone else know what that means? I understand the process if very long and tedious from what you and others have posted...it would be nice to connect with someone who could shed some light on my hiring process...if I get selected that is....Thank You:)

How it worked for me after I applied was I was contacted for the interview - it was a panel of 3 people - then it took 3 weeks for me to find out I was the one selected. I then went for the physical, completed Vetpro and something else - I can't recall the name of it. After 3 more weeks my info. was sent to the nursing committee who looked at the totality of my education/experience/certifications and decided on a salary..I was then contacted again w/that info and the job offer - then orientation was set up. I applied at the end of Nov. and started in March - which evidently is fast. My advice would be to contact HR again and ask who, exactly, your info. was sent to and then contact that person directly and ask if there is anything that person needs from you and what the status is of your application. I would contact them every week or 10 days. You will get a lot of voice mails so just leave a message then wait and call again - if you can get a hold of their emails you can email as well. References are usually done through Vetpro and the other program but I can't recall what it was......they did not and don't get references w/the VA around here by phone. The VA where I worked the HR dept. was SLOW and not particularly helpful - which I'm told is not unusual. If you really want the job be polite, but stay on them and also, if several weeks pass you want want to contact the person you interviewed with and politely tell them you are still anxiously awaiting some news.

I have 12yrs, but all of it from same place. Certificates can prolong as well. With my job, there are different department in HR that is involved in the verification. If your references take long to respond, that could be a barrier. One of the certificates, they couldn't verify so I had to supply additional info--this is another barrier. When I received my dimension there was no time limit, but it is needed to be sent to the board once verification was done. It won't hurt, here are the questions, not sure if it will change--

- Describe your recent clinical experience. What setting are you currently practicing and for how long? Describe any specialty expertise areas, if applicable, that you have practiced in lately and explain. Describe any leadership expertise areas, if applicable, that you have practiced in lately and explain. How do you use the nursing process in providing patient care? What types of documentation systems have you used? Describe your experiences in guiding and directing others who provide nursing care.

- Describe a couple of ethical situations in patient care in which you have been involved. What was your role? What was the outcome?

- Describe your experience with assessing educational needs at the unit or program level. Based on the needs assessed, what educational plan for self and/or staff did you implement, if applicable? Describe any educational goals, if applicable.

Describe your experiences in evaluating others who provide nursing care. Provide any examples of experience in working with professional standards, relevant statutes, and/or regulations

- Discuss any experience in working with students, orienting new employees, and/or serving as a mentor/preceptor. List membership in professional organizations and describe your role, if applicable. Describe any professional recognition that you have received (what and when), if applicable.

What is your experience in working with groups of staff? If you have experience, what actions have resulted from the group work and what was your role? List your participation in nursing or hospital committees (include your role and outcomes

and question on quality/outcome..

It was about 2 weeks after my interview that I got a tentative offer.

I posted this under the VA hiring process as well---

Hi all. Got my offer of my base salary. I asked for the weekend to think it over. I can't afford to take a pay cut, so I'm trying to be sure I understand all of the variables. If anyone has answers to the following questions, I'd be very appreciative.

I understand you get paid for all federal holidays, whether you work them or not. Do you get paid for 8 hours or your normal shift of 12?

The health benefit options are overwhelming and costs vary significantly. Do most people just choose the Blue Cross option for a standard family plan? We have a child with medical needs, so this is important to us.

I will be working EOW, and I think the shift diff for that is .25 X base hourly rate....does that seem right?

Also, how easy is it to pick up OT, or do you think that varies per facility?

I'm currently in a salaried position at 40 hours per week. I enjoy my job, but our company was recently purchased and I don't like the change in corporate culture. I'm not super keen on going back to bedside, but would do so in the hopes that I could eventually move to something else. Does anyone know what the transfer policy is? i.e. how long do you have to stay on a unit prior to transfer.

Thanks and sorry for my endless questions !!!

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
I posted this under the VA hiring process as well---

Hi all. Got my offer of my base salary. I asked for the weekend to think it over. I can't afford to take a pay cut, so I'm trying to be sure I understand all of the variables. If anyone has answers to the following questions, I'd be very appreciative.

I understand you get paid for all federal holidays, whether you work them or not. Do you get paid for 8 hours or your normal shift of 12?--- If I remember right since I have not worked there for 4 years it was 8 hours.

The health benefit options are overwhelming and costs vary significantly. Do most people just choose the Blue Cross option for a standard family plan? We have a child with medical needs, so this is important to us.---It will vary based on your needs, depending on where you will be working will determine which health care plan you choose. When I worked at the VA Blue Cross was not the best option. Also, most of the plans you get will the federal government are better then what you get in the civilian side.

I will be working EOW, and I think the shift diff for that is .25 X base hourly rate....does that seem right?---Yes, it is. Evening night diff is the same amount for each and if I remember right it is 10%

Also, how easy is it to pick up OT, or do you think that varies per facility? --varies by facility and where you work in the facility. I worked in some areas were OT was available all the time, some time mandatory, and others where there was none.

I'm currently in a salaried position at 40 hours per week. I enjoy my job, but our company was recently purchased and I don't like the change in corporate culture. I'm not super keen on going back to bedside, but would do so in the hopes that I could eventually move to something else. Does anyone know what the transfer policy is? i.e. how long do you have to stay on a unit prior to transfer.

Thanks and sorry for my endless questions !!!

Not sure if you have call offs where you work but at a federal facility they can not make you take the day off if the census is low if you are working inpatient. The transfer policy in the facility will mainly depend on seniority and experience but each facility is different along with how long you before you can transfer. Transfer between shifts is unit based which means that before a RN from outside the unit can come in and take a job it must be offered to the nurses on the unit first. Most clinic jobs are staffed by RN's who have been in the system for a while but not always since some nurses like the weekend and off shift diff.

Thanks, jeckrn!

Specializes in psych.

What if you are msn-ARNP with cert for 1 yr, but have over 20 yrs experience?

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Nurse 3 but not sure what step.

HELP PLEASE!!

I have been an ER RN for 4 years and now I got hired in the VA system at Haley Tampa. I am fearful to make the move. Everyone tells me that the benefits are awesome but no one is able to explain it to me. Does anyone knows how the VA ER compares to regular hospital ER? Please Help!

Specializes in Operating Room, ICU, CCRN.
HELP PLEASE!! I have been an ER RN for 4 years and now I got hired in the VA system at Haley Tampa. I am fearful to make the move. Everyone tells me that the benefits are awesome but no one is able to explain it to me. Does anyone knows how the VA ER compares to regular hospital ER? Please Help!

10 paid federal holidays/yr

13 sick days/yr that can accumulate with no limit 26 vacation days/yr

Great pension plans and 401K.

Pay is based on location and experience.

You can put $$ into the Thrift Savings Plan (like an IRA) and they match up to 5%. So if you put 5% of your salary in, they match 5%. Their portion is free money to you. Some places match a percentage but I don't know of anywhere that matches 5%. You also get retirement after only 5 years of work there. Tuition reimbursement is not as good. They pay $1000 per year after you have been there a year. For me, the benefits were the deciding factor.

Also, it is hard to get into the VA. You could take the job and see how you like it. ER experience is so valuable that I think you could nearly always get a job in the private sector.

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