Military/VA RN's - Please post experiences for Students

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Nurses Month 2024 | Discounts & Freebies AORN Celebrates Nurses Month

I would like to help our student nurses recognize the value of entering into military service or working for the VA system. To do this, I would ask all of our members that are military or VA employed to lend your experience here. Please take a moment to post information for our students that you might think is helpful for them.

Would love to see information about dealing with recruiters (military ... that is) and how to effectively negotiate with them. Would like to see information posted about experiences that you have and any recommendations you have about entering military nursing or the VA system. THe VA can be a difficult place to navigate and any information on how to get into the VA would be helpful also.

We have many students that monitor this thread and I think this information would be very helpful to them.

Also, for the students reading this thread, please feel free to add your questions. We have many experienced military and VA nurses that view this thread and I am sure they are willing to help answer your questions.

I will make the thread a sticky in the hopes that it does become popular. Thanks for your help.

Hello AtomicWoman!

Regarding your question's about the VA:

Yes, they do hire new graduates

Anyone can get a "Veterans Preference", although I am not entirely sure how many "points" it totals up to....

And Girl, "age is just a number". I was 51 when I started at the VA; 49 thisclose to 50 when I became a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army Reserve Nurse Corps

Lastly, ask just about anyone that frequents All Nurses.com....NO LEGITIMATE QUESTION IS DUMB

athena

Thank you! Offhand, do you know if 50 is the cutoff age for joining the Army Reserve Nurse Corps?

Do you/did you like working at the VA?

Thanks for your kind words! :)

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

atomicwoman:

actually, for the reserves the cut-off is 47 years of age but you can request an age waiver. i did.

and yes, i did enjoy working at the va. i liked the specific patient population (wwii, korean, vietnam and 1st gulf war vets)

i submitted my packet to go active duty in december and was accepted in february 2008. age is just a number.....

best of luck to you,

athena

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Specializes in 2900/1945E Navy Nurse.

Athena55 is right. The military can waive anything, but the answer is always 'No' if you don't ask. So request the age waiver and I bet you get it. Civilians aren't the only ones hurt by the nurse shortage.

Best of luck.

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actually, 53 is the cut off for rn's with a bsn in the active duty air force. i know this because i was on a recruiters "hit" list for recruitment. i had contemplated reentering the military (air force only) after i complete my bsn, but quickly remembered why i left to begin with.

age and weight are defiantly waiverable in the air force medical field. the pay is higher in comparison to other branches (except navy but i am unsure about their waivers) along with the everyday perks.

good luck and enjoy whatever you do!

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][/size]actually, 53 is the cut off for rn's with a bsn in the active duty air force. i know this because i was on a recruiters "hit" list for recruitment. i had contemplated reentering the military (air force only) after i complete my bsn, but quickly remembered why i left to begin with.

age and weight are defiantly waiverable in the air force medical field. the pay is higher in comparison to other branches (except navy but i am unsure about their waivers) along with the everyday perks.

good luck and enjoy whatever you do!

how is the pay in the af higher then the other branches? perks and weight :) i can see that.... pay is standardized until you add specialty pay ie jump status, sea duty etc.

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Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond to my questions. Dang, I don't feel so much like an Old Coot any more. LOL!

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Hello AtomicWoman!

Regarding your question's about the VA:

Yes, they do hire new graduates

Anyone can get a "Veterans Preference", although I am not entirely sure how many "points" it totals up to....

And Girl, "age is just a number". I was 51 when I started at the VA; 49 thisclose to 50 when I became a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army Reserve Nurse Corps

Lastly, ask just about anyone that frequents All Nurses.com....NO LEGITIMATE QUESTION IS DUMB

athena

How long is the orientation/training for new grads? I am being offered a position in Tele and my nurse manager told me six weeks. Is that the standard or is that too short. any thoughts.

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How long is the orientation/training for new grads? I am being offered a position in Tele and my nurse manager told me six weeks. Is that the standard or is that too short. any thoughts.

Someone in another thread mentioned that they got a 3 month orientation for their Telemetry position at the VA.

Read here for more details:heartbeat: New Grads VA Hospital

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Someone in another thread mentioned that they got a 3 month orientation for their Telemetry position at the VA.

Read here for more details:heartbeat: New Grads VA Hospital

thanks. Are you working at the VA too?

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thanks. Are you working at the VA too?

You are welcome. No, but on my wish list this year for Santa:clown:.

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Kool,

what program did you get your commission through. I am currently in the navy. I am in the process of starting my aplication for the MECP program. Is there any advice you can give me about this program. I will be graduation from a LPN program on DEC 15. Which program would be better STA-21 Nurse corps or the MECP program.

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Does the VA offer tuition assistance?

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