VA Proficiency Nurse III Frustration & Appeal

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I am feeling frustrated with the entire VA NPSB proficiency process. At my hospital, it is a good old boys system in which board members promote their friends and the other managers and shut the door on others. I am a staff RN with a MSN and years of experience. I applied for my nurse III after completing a hospital wide project and doing other work that met the 9 dimensions.

This whole process has me frustrated beyond words. My profIciency has been lost by HR multiple times. My initial NPSB review said I didnt meet 7 of the 9 dimensions. Before submitting my proficiency, I had it reviewed by 3 former board members who all said I would meet for a 3. I submitted a request for reconsideration after the initial denial, and suddenly I met 6 out of 9 dimensions. I am now appealing my denial to VACO. Has anyone ever done this? What was he outcome, and how long did your appeal take to be answered after it was sent off?

I have been repeatedly been told by my own manager "you cannot get a 3 without working in management" and "it takes multiple submissions to get approved". I do not think this is correct. It may be harder to find the time and get approval for a project, but staff RNs cannot be essentially "blocked" from promotion. The dimensions are black and white, yet a subjective system is used to approve or deny proficiencies. It seems so unfair at my hospital. I've seen other nurses get promoted who were friends with board members, while other truly deserving RNs who meet the dimensions and make lasting changed within the hospital are shut out.

Any guidance and other nurses experience with this would be greatly appreciated. I love working with our Vets, but the good old boys club and the oppressive bureaucracy had me ready to bash my face into something. I feel defeated. Thanks all

Specializes in Utilization Review.

cryblyr, yes i think its system wide, which leaves many us deciding are the benefits and pay worth it? Currently my pay is high due to the area I live in, there are very few jobs that will pay me what I am making, with these hours, and no management duties, so that being said I don't want to complain too much I am just frustrated with leaderships lack of ability to decrease the waste and abuse. If the nurse is not working find out why and fix it!! Is it a training issue or they truly just don't care to work? I think many of my coworkers fall into 3 categories work their butts off and are fast and efficient, lazy and don't care, or just slow and under trained. they all end up decreasing moral and leading to a miserable work environment. I sent you a PM, its a little messed up but good luck.

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RN4KU Can you send me also your proficiency as well? Much appreciated!

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Please help me with a sample of yours as well. 10 years with the VA . 34 yes of experience . RN,BSN, MASTERS IN SPIRITUAL CARE IN HOSPICE . ASSISTANT NURSE MANAGER, ACTING NURSE MANAGER, NURSE MANAGER, LEAD OF AN EEO PROGRAM. What else I need to prove them? It is always a no. It is who do you know! I am appealing now with a dead line of April 14th . I am desperate, depressesed and frustrated in addition to c o ns tanto bullying. It is very sad to see people management and board members acting in very disreputable ways.

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corrections to previous comments: constant bullying/disrespectful. Depressed . 34 years of experience .

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Can you send me an example ASAP? PLEASE JUST TO KNOW AND

HAVE AN IDEA ON HOW TO PRESENT MINE!!!!!!

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PLease! Can you provide me with a copy of a nurse III proficiency that I can use as a guide as well? I have been stuck the in the land of II forever.

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Specializes in Family medicine, Cardiology, Spinal Cord Injury.

I understand this frustration about writing my own proficiency for promotion as well. And it's that time of year again that I dread where my manager asks for my proficiency. I finally got my Nurse II after 5 years at the VA. I understand that some nurses stay Nurse I their entire careers at the VA. A coworker I started with (she was a new grad BSN and I had 2 years previous experience in 2011) is now our patient care service chief at a Nurse IV or V. I don't care for getting my Nurse III at this time. I just finished my MSN-FNP program this month and will be applying to primary care as an NP (I want to be a clinician, not a manager). I agree that it's all about who you know and how well you get along with those in the position to advocate for you.

Good luck to you all going for your Nurse III.

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Specializes in Utilization Review.

Congrats on finishing your program. I started in 2011, I had a BSN and MSN with 9 years of Nursing various areas mostly ICU. I was boarded at a Nurse 2 step 2, I was promoted to a 3 after 1 year and an appeal. But in the past 4 years there has only been 1 Nurse in all the Consolidated Patient Account centers across the nation promoted to a 3, because we are now boarded by VACO instead of a facility. I am planning to start my Post MSN FNP Cert program this fall, I don't know what I want to do with it. My job is OK is boring but pay and benefits are good. Just don't like leadership and all the stuff I decided is just made up!! I don't feel I do a real job, its odd. My supervisor has a grandfathered in Associates in nursing. She is a Nurse 2. But I believe she thinks she can change the rules and they will promote a nurse with barely and ADN to a 3. I used to apply for other jobs but would never get selected or even an interview. I assume if you are willing to move all around and take any random Nurse IV job you can get promoted but I can't move around. Its sad when I have way more education and leadership then my supervisor, not that I want the job I would run from her job it sucks, you could never pay me to deal with her tasks, but I would love a manager that has a better understanding of a good leader. Instead of a yes man kind of person.

I understand this frustration about writing my own proficiency for promotion as well. And it's that time of year again that I dread where my manager asks for my proficiency. I finally got my Nurse II after 5 years at the VA. I understand that some nurses stay Nurse I their entire careers at the VA. A coworker I started with (she was a new grad BSN and I had 2 years previous experience in 2011) is now our patient care service chief at a Nurse IV or V. I don't care for getting my Nurse III at this time. I just finished my MSN-FNP program this month and will be applying to primary care as an NP (I want to be a clinician, not a manager). I agree that it's all about who you know and how well you get along with those in the position to advocate for you.

Good luck to you all going for your Nurse III.

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Hi RN4KU, BSN, MSN

how are you doing. I'm having a similar problem and I was wondering can you help. I work really hard on projects hospital wide. I have a BSN currently in grad school for education and my NP. I have 9 year experience in med-surg/tele and step-down. I submitted my proficiency in all I'm missing is the Ethic portion and I was wondering can you help. thank you in advance.

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how are you doing. I'm having a similar problem and I was wondering can you help. I work really hard on projects hospital wide. I have a BSN currently in grad school for education and my NP. I have 9 year experience in med-surg/tele and step-down. I submitted my proficiency in all I'm missing is the Ethic portion and I was wondering can you help. thank you in advance.

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I'm in the process of writing my first proficiency and would love to see a sample. It's a very intimidating and frustrating - as I don't want to miss out on any increases. I'd love to see other proficiency write ups if anyone would like to share. Thanks so much!!!

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Sarah918

I can understand your frustration. I am very curious as to what your outcome has been on your appeal. I was just offered a job and was sent the proficiency to fill out. I have a MSN in Informatics and a post master's in Nursing Education with 14 years of experience in various areas of nursing. This is the first time I've ever had my pay based on my accomplishments versus my education and years of experience, so I have been stumped by what is needed to ensure I am paid for my qualifications. I have been researching and there is very little information to help with the process of writing your proficiency statements. You are lucky to have resources to turn to. I hope the appeal has been in your favor.

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