How hard (and how long) is it for a new grad RN to get into goverment nursing?

[sourapril]

I have a master degree in public health and always want to work for a health department. I don't have any paid experience, only unpaid internship while I was studying public health. Now I graduated with a BSN and want to get a job at either my local health department or the VA hospital. But I heard with any goverment jobs it takes a long time to apply. Anyone had luck with getting a job as a new grad in government? Any tips would be helpful. Thanks!

[Marshall1]

There are several threads about working for the VA. I used to work for them - can tell you my experience..I applied at the end of Nov. Was interviewed in Dec. When through the process of the physical, Vetpro, etc. in Jan. and by choice, started at the first of March. When applying for them (usajobs.gov) make SURE EVERYTHING they ask for on the application is completed - parts of it you cannot go back and do again and incomplete applications are not forwarded. As far as how long, it would depend on where you live/if you want to work in a CBOC (out patient based), hospital or one of the bases. You will make more and have better benefits at the VA than a health dept. or at least where I live that's the case. My advice would be to apply for any and all jobs you are interested in at both places and see what happens. Where I live nurses tend to leave the health dept. rather quickly - yr or less - because the pay is so lousy so openings are frequent. Your lack of paid experience - I don't know how that will effect things - guess it depends on your overall resume.