Leaving the VA

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

I am in the process now. The VA I work at makes the DOD healthcare system look like it is one of the best in the country..

OUxPhys, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

That is disappointing to hear. Id love to work at the VA as a vet but I cant bring myself to apply with all the BS thats going on.

Happynurse12 · Mar 31, 2017

I'm a vet as well, that's what makes it difficult. Most of me wants to stick it out in hopes I can make a change but a past of me wonders if that's possible.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 31, 2017

I am in the process now. The VA I work at makes the DOD healthcare system look like it is one of the best in the country..

Oh geez. That speaks volumes.

pfchang · Apr 1, 2017

I am in the process now. The VA I work at makes the DOD healthcare system look like it is one of the best in the country..

Jeckrn, I thought we had communicated a while ago and you had left VA awhile back. Did you return to VA? Maybe I'm thinking of someone else on AN.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2017

I went back in November after getting off active duty. It was not the same VA I worked at before.

Happynurse12 · Apr 2, 2017

Jeck are you staying federal or leaving all together?

Devo19, BSN, MSN, APRN · Apr 2, 2017

That sucks about leaving the VA. I've worked there for about 7 years (3 as a pharmacy tech and 3 as a nurse). I definitely understand the issues the VA has but they have to many other benefits that no other hospital in the area offer (ML/AL/SL/TSP and they are paid for my BSN and will also with FNP) but I could understand why people leave but I'm going to retire from the VAMC.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2017

No, I will be going to a Army hospital.

johnpharmd · Apr 5, 2017

Well, I am a pharmacist who stumbled on this site but maybe able to help you. I am also a veteran and former VA and DOD employee. To leave the VA is a highly personal decision, but what I miss are the benefits and work/life balance. What I don't miss are the extraordinarily lazy coworkers, bureaucracy and politics which can be better or worse depending on management and the facility culture. I believe now that in order for me to have stayed and been successful for 30 years I would have had to been a VA employee first and a pharmacist 2nd. I hope this helps you.

nishali78 · Jul 3, 2018

I'm getting ready to leave the VA. I was in the transplant section before (which I loved but hated being oncall and I also couldn't stand one of my coworkers who was extraordinarily lazy) and I went to a clinic outpatient setting which is currently a nightmare. The minute I got off orientation in the clinic , the doctor with my team calls in sick for 3 weeks in a row! now she's on medical leave and they don't know when she is coming so that leaves me to deal with her patients. These patients have had canceled appointments on the same day as their appointments on more than one occasion. I literally go to work and get yelled at by at least 3 patients a day due to the clinics problems. They are in the process of getting contract providers but who knows how long that process will actually take. Meanwhile the medical director is the go to doctor for these patients however he himself sees about 6 patients a day and any walk ins will have to be seen after he sees his patients, he always starts seeing his patients late. For example a 10:30 patient will be seen at 12 or 1 . Therefore his walk-ins (if they come in the morning) have to wait all day to be seen by him and most end up leaving before they are seen. The clinic I work at is so horrible. I literally get sick before going in everyday.