How to get a job at Veterans Affairs.

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How to get a job at Veterans Affairs.

Do you work at Veterans Affairs? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?

Any advice for someone trying to get in?

I am convinced that 99% of the jobs that are advertised are filled from within. I have tried for 6 months on a variety of fronts and most of the time, they either never respond or they find some minute red tape reason for accepting the application.

VA does not have a policy against hiring new grads, but it IS a tough market, and the more qualified the candidate, the better his or her chances are. Many VAMCs have student nurse residency programs, designed for BSN students during the last couple of years of school--summer programs. Those who participated are the most likely to get coveted new grad spots; after all, they spent a year or two learning VA and networking.

The residency program at VA is the Veterans Affairs Learning Opportunity Residency, ("VALOR") program. VALOR students are usually brought in for the summer between their Junior and Senior years of a BSN program (I don't think they take ASN students, but you might want to check). The pay rate for one that I know of (this summer) is $18.00 per hour, and it's VERY competitive to get in. It doesn't always translate into a slam-dunk job offer upon graduation, but if you show that you are smart, willing to work hard and you get along well with staff and patients it usually does lead to being hired.

Ok well thank you I appreciate. I found the information earlier on their website. This is my first interview just a little nervous

Ms. Tammy,

Thank you so much for the encouraging words. I am a new-grad with zero medical experience. I loved my clinical rotations at the Veterans Affairs hospital and I was aiming to get a job with them. But it has been impossible to get anyone to notice me. I have applied for everything that I find. nursing homes, rehab centers, clinics, health departments, correctional facilities, mental health facilities, hospitals. No luck yet but I will keep trying. I can let my RN license go to waste. Thanks again!

The residency program at VA is the Veterans Affairs Learning Opportunity Residency, ("VALOR") program. VALOR students are usually brought in for the summer between their Junior and Senior years of a BSN program (I don't think they take ASN students, but you might want to check). The pay rate for one that I know of (this summer) is $18.00 per hour, and it's VERY competitive to get in. It doesn't always translate into a slam-dunk job offer upon graduation, but if you show that you are smart, willing to work hard and you get along well with staff and patients it usually does lead to being hired.

Bingo :)

Networking matters.

And around here, they don't take ASN, which is why I focused on BSN. Some of the students come back both summers, then apply upon graduation.

Ok well thank you I appreciate. I found the information earlier on their website. This is my first interview just a little nervous

So....the info you found was on PBI, yes? I was going to suggest, like pfchang did, that once you put 'PBI questions' into Google, the va.gov site is the first one that turns up.

Nervous isn't bad. Anxiety attacks are. Have a scenario worked through for each question in in the sample group (in your 'level') and you'll be fine.

Good luck!

.... No luck yet but I will keep trying. I can let my RN license go to waste. Thanks again!

LOL....No, you CAN'T ;)

And you won't. Keep plucking at it, follow the tips and suggestions, pay attention to solid advice, and you'll find something!

Thank you for your help. I will continue with your suggestions.

In the meantime, do you have any suggestions where I could volunteer or intern to keep brushing up on my skills such as IVS and assessments. The hospitals I contacted said that they couldn't let me do anything hands on if I volunteered, that for clinical experience and skill schools have to have contracts with hospitals.

I met a woman at the VA who got her job there by volunteering. She is not a nurse but if you volunteer in some capacity, it may help to get to know people for when the vacancies do occur.

I would love to volunteer there. I am going to look into that. Thanks!

I don't think there is anywhere that will allow practice of skills like IVs if you are not an employee. They would be liable for any problems you may have. Keep looking and network. Volunteer in health related facilities, organizations, etc. Talk to people. One of the biggest mistakes people make when job hunting is to throw resumes and applications around w no follow up or networking. Ask people to write you reference letters now before you need them. Include them when you apply and follow up.

Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.

For new grads: There is a possibility of getting hired, I'd say not likely, mainly because the VA is requiring new grads with less than 1 year experience to go through a 1 year residency program during which time you cannot operate as a nurse on your own. It's my understanding that this is a nation wide program, I know the VA that I'm at is required me to go through the 1 year orientation, I'm halfway through, and I've been an LPN in the ER for the last 4 years, going on 5 years with the VA and since it's a new position, I have to go back on a 2 year probationary period just as all new hire RN's have to do. And this VA doesn't like to hire 2 yr RN's, they prefer BSN's and with the overabundance of nurses, 80 applicants for every 1 opening, they have their pick of the litter.

I'd keep applying, but my advice for a new grad would be to get at least 1 year, better 2 years, experience and apply at the VA then, bonus, if you have 2 years exp and BSN and if you can show enough good things on your resume, you can start at a high level, Nurse II, I'm just a Nurse I, step 3 with a BSN, no RN exp, 5 yrs LPN exp, here that equates to $47,200 base salary annually.

Good luck

Tony in TN

BTW, local area hospitals are starting new grad BSN here at $34,000 base annually

Specializes in Cardiology Nurse Practitioner.

I work at the Indy VAMC and even though we go through the "residency" program, we still are able to work on the floor on our own (I will be in a couple weeks) so orientation isn't a year long. The bonus is that the Nurse One Step Three here is $53,000/year which is awesome for a new grad. The VANEEP program that I was in actually has been suspended until 2015 due the the saturation of RNs in Indy.

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