Is the VA a good place to work?

Juliefin, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 22, 2015

Has anyone had any experience working as a NP in the VA (Cleveland); I'm considering a position there, have interviewed and it looks good but it's a 45 -50 minute commute in good weather...trying to decide if benefits etc would make it worth the drive...

PG2018 · Jan 23, 2015

I'm doing a lot of my intern work, for my APRN program, at a VA facility. I really like it there. I'd like to go to work there. However, they pay about 65% of what I could make elsewhere, and regardless of insurance, retirement, that's not a lot of money comparatively speaking. Yeah, I know you go to work there to help, etc., but still the salary needs to be more competitive.

roso614 · Apr 15, 2018

I recently started working at the Orlando va medical center and i love it. They are very self aware of the public's opinion on the va and try their hardest to fight that reputation.

OUxPhys, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2018

I recently got hired full time at the VA after spending 2.5 years at a large hospital. I loved my old unit but they just didnt pay well. I got a pay raise by switching to the VA. Additionally, I am a vet so I can buy back my 4 years of military time towards my retirement. A lot of senior nurses on my floor and we all get along great, help each other out. Another perk of the VA is if you want to transfer to a different VA in another state your license is covered.

tt2323, BSN · Apr 18, 2018

The VA does have a lot of great benefits and the pay is comparable or better then outside. Of course every VA is different as well depending on what time of area you are working in.

BrendaH84, BSN · Apr 24, 2018

i keep reading about the great retirement benifits. what are they? most large companies match IRA contributions at 6%, and i have good health insurance. also only a VET working at the VA gets a pension in 2018, so what is good about retirement benefits an R.N. who is not a former military person?

boywithacoin, BSN · Apr 25, 2018

i keep reading about the great retirement benifits. what are they? most large companies match IRA contributions at 6%, and i have good health insurance. also only a VET working at the VA gets a pension in 2018, so what is good about retirement benefits an R.N. who is not a former military person?

Where are you getting this information about pensions? VA employees (including RNs) get access to FERS, which a 3-tiered retirement plan that includes a pension ("basic benefit") if you stay long enough to be vested. One of the tiers, TSP, which is the 401k equivalent, has the lowest management fees out there, and your contributions can be matched up to 5%. Over the long run, the VA benefits beat a lot of what's out there.

BrendaH84, BSN · Apr 25, 2018

oh wow. ok, i misunderstood? by the way, thanks for answering my post. on the website when I was applying it has retirement benefits laid out for the "public" when hired (as opposed to a vet). it said, a match upto a certain percent, soc sec, and the flexible spending that you use for meds and dr appts. even my dad read it and said, "you either get a pension OR you get soc sec, you wont get both. so if they'd give you soc sec, you won't get a pension".

then i read about all the lengthy paper work to prove myself to get a certain pay level, and or to ever get a raise, even before i start.

then i thought , geez is it worth it? How many years do you work there before you qualify for a pension?

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2018

You are vested in the pension after 5 years of service. Depending on your age now you could retire as young as 55 with a pension.