Nnei

RN-NP · May 3, 2010

you have to pay tuition and then nnei funding will reimburse you. another issue with this program is that you are not guaranteed advanced nursing position after you graduate. i finished my np program 2 years ago and am still working as a staff nurse. no step increase, no pay increase, nothing... my facility is hiring outside nps while 3 of us (nnei scholarship recipients) are working as a staff rns.

CNL2B · May 3, 2010

I think what you said is correct. It does seem only fair though that if you finish your degree and continue to work as staff that you receive the same pay. The job hasn't changed, and you got your degree for free, so I don't see how you can argue with that. If you can't get a job at your facility, my understanding is that you can go anywhere in the VA system a job is available and fulfill your NNEI contractually obligated time. Not sure why you weren't hired in at your VA - but all NP's aren't created equal. Even if you interviewed for all 3 of those jobs, if they are out of your experience area when you practiced as an RN and your NP degree focus doesn't apply, I can see why they might not hire a new-grad NP. For example, say you had mostly worked in rehab as an RN and your were a new grad FNP, I would get it if they wouldn't want to hire you to work with a cardiac surgery team where you need critical care knowledge and experience. I don't know if that applies to your situation or not. It does kind of suck though. One of my good friends went through and had the NNEI pay for her NP and she ended up taking a job in the facility in a practice area she didn't want -- and it took her like a year to get that job because there weren't any other openings. She is happy there now, but still. Sometimes there is a wait.

NurseKeiKei · May 4, 2010

Hello all you VA'ers. I have been receiving NNEI-VANEEP funds for the last 18 months and I must say it has been without any major mishaps. The only problem I can think of is the slow pay issue. I almost lost my spot in my program of choice because the school was threatening to drop me with classes beginning within only a few days. I am now 3 semesters in and praying to the almighty that my last semester is just as good as the previous ones.

I was wondering if anyone knew if you are deemed ineligible for funds to pursue advanced degrees (I would like to work on my Masters next) if you have previously utilized funding. I know, I know sounds greedy right? Well a girl has got to ask. Times are hard.

LCHRN · May 4, 2010

I decided not to take NNEI. How did you RN-NP how did you get the clinicals done? I am in a Psych NP program getting ready to do clinicals. I requested flex time, which was denied. What options are there? We don't have 24/7 yet.

CNL2B · May 5, 2010

To future nurse-y: You can use the funds for as many degrees as you can get through. You do have to go through and get approved via a whole new application cycle just like you did the first time around. The lifetime cap on your funding is something like 34K BUT since the program is primarily designed to fund nurses getting their BSN if there isn't enough money to go around they can deny you, and this does happen periodically. I know people that have had to wait until the next round to get funding for MSNs. And, if you go back to school and take out more funding, that obviously cranks up your service obligation. I pretty much figure that if you use all the funding you are going to be obligated for 3 years.

NurseKeiKei · May 5, 2010

Thanks for your reply Miss Becky. I am actually a VANEEP recipient which means that I am allowed absence from work while I complete my academic program. The program not only provides tuition but also salary replacement. With the addition of salary replacement to the cost of tuition, I am well over the cap. So I am wondering if there is additional criteria for VANEEP recipients who seek future funding or if we are ineligible. I did ask my coordinator and despite her being wonderful throughout this ENTIRE process, she wasn't able to provide a concrete answer. If anyone knows where I can find this information I would greatly appreciate it. I graduate in December and I will be looking to apply for admission to Master's programs for next September. Honestly I am thinking they are going to tell me it is too soon to reapply anyway but I am curious about the guidelines.

Thirstybuck · Mar 10, 2011

you have to pay tuition and then nnei funding will reimburse you. another issue with this program is that you are not guaranteed advanced nursing position after you graduate. i finished my np program 2 years ago and am still working as a staff nurse. no step increase, no pay increase, nothing... my facility is hiring outside nps while 3 of us (nnei scholarship recipients) are working as a staff rns.

i just read through the nnei handbook and it stipulates that they have 6 months to put you into an np position from the date which you become eligible to do it. is this not the case?

jrtriley · Mar 13, 2011

I read the handbook too. Yes they have 180 days to put you into position after you graduate but I believe in another clause they do not guarantee a position. ALso, I have been trying to find information about transfering from one VA to another out of state while serving my obligated NNEI time of two years. Anyone come across this?

Fuffy Mcgee · Mar 14, 2011

I am a VANEEP recipient, it was difficult to get started but once a plan was in place my VA paid my school directly. I just had to let them know what needed to be paid and submit the OP-165. The thing that I am having trouble with is this....Between the time that I applied and got excepted I got pregnant unexpectedly. I brought this up to my education coordinator and was told (assured even) that I could take maternity leave and then file an extension. Long story short - baby girl was born and I took time off (because they said I had to take some maternitly leave). When I went to file my extension they said, "oh sorry you can't have an extension because it will put you past the 24 month window, didn't realize that before in our previous conversations." And so now I am left struggling trying to cram everything in. Doesn't seem fair, but I suppose that is the government. Don't get me wrong, I am super thankful for the VANEEP program....I just really wish the correct info was given out first.

nana2dpx2 · Jul 26, 2012

I entered into and agreement with the VA in 2009. I initially started out in a program for ACNP's then changed schools and went into a CNS program. My contract was amended. I saved them $17,000 and still had a service agreement of 2.8 years, go figure.I should have known from initiation that there would be problems ranging from taking months to reimburse me to changing the handbook without notification and after graduation, I am still at the bedside.The new contract said it must be signed by a certain date or would be deleted, neither of which occurred.I am writing my Congressman as well.The handbook was changed after I was already in the program to say that the service agreement could be served out in any 0610 position which is essentially at the bedside and I was not notified or given any options. I would not have taken a dime had I known they were'nt going to give me a job that would allow me to utilize the degree for which I received funding.I contacted NO and was told the reason it was changed is because people were failing to keep their service agreement committments.I informed her that it also still says that an NP and a CNS must serve out their service agreement in one of those positions. She agreed with me that it still does say that but added the director had to promise these jobs beforehand.I am contacting my Congressman as well because I don't believe they can hold me to an agreement that they didn't uphold. I too am willing to join your class action suit.

nana2dpx2 · Jul 26, 2012

Yes and no.They changed the handbook to say these positions have to be guaranteed by the facility director, however it still does say they have to appoint you by 180 days or you don't owe service or money.How does that work?