Any NPs working for the VA?

Specialties NP

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Are any of you guys working for the VA as NP's? I have just gone through an 11mos processof back and forth with them and just got my offer. I am personally and professionally offended at what was offered. I am so shocked right now at how low they went I cant see anything but red. Please let me know if there are any NPs out there who are happy working at the VA.

daktari36,

If you dont mind... what state, specialty and please keep us posted on the offers!

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That makes me happy to hear! I'm in school to be a psych NP, and my RN salary is low 30s. It's sad, but I think I'd **** my pants for 70 k a year so 120 sounds like hitting the lotto! :)

yeah I think I was making 120k but that was because it was contract work with no benefits. I have worked as a contractor since becoming an NP so my view of salary range is a bit skewed. That being said I would not get out of bed for 73k.
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You might want to change your pants because I make more than $120k with full benefits. lol!

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i'm going to need a whole new outfit;)

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You might want to change your pants because I make more than $120k with full benefits. lol!

I think that's the going rate around here too. Where are you zenman?

I dont get benefits or anything but I think I will clear 170k this year. Yeah I do tons of hours but I also take tons of time off when I want and get to make my own hours. Need to get a "regular" gig though with some bennies though next year.

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Specializes in Clinic NP.

Just be careful megan, your job is up to you to convince these people you're worth it...

seventy is very very reasonable out of school though.

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I think that's the going rate around here too. Where are you zenman?

I dont get benefits or anything but I think I will clear 170k this year. Yeah I do tons of hours but I also take tons of time off when I want and get to make my own hours. Need to get a "regular" gig though with some bennies though next year.

holy crap I cannot wait to graduate. Need to go study!

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Depends where you practice though. I moved to AZ knowing there was money to be made out here. Where I was in NY they were offering 80k. I was already making 70k as a RN.

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Salary range is soooo variable by state. I regularly stalk psych NP job postings on Indeed and I never see a range that goes over 115k, starting is 75k-95k where I'm at. We don't have NP independence but it's possible to start your own practice in my state.

I do plan to stay in the same city longterm once I graduate. I hope we get independence so that salaries go up, but really I'm okay not making 120k. If I decide I can't bare it, I suppose I could move to Arizona or Oregon or somewhere out west.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

In North Dakota the VA and IHS offered pitifully low salaries out of the gate, but the salaries did go up tremendously after a certain number of years of service. I don't recall exactly, but I believe for IHS it was something akin to 35% after 8 years, and it keeps going up steadily in rather large increments like that. At the top end, after 20+ years of service, those employees do make nearly comparable salaries to local norms I believe; PLUS they get federal benefits that are unmatched in the private sector, including student loan forgiveness which can be a big benefit for some. There were an insane number of vacation days after 10 years in service as well, so it was like getting 12 months of salary for working 9 months. From what I have heard, it is nearly impossible to be fired by the VA and it is a low pressure job. There isn't any pressure to churn fee-for-service visits every 8 minutes, or amp up HCC codes, and no Press Gainey! There are other things to consider besides money, but I agree, 70K is laughable.

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In North Dakota the VA and IHS offered pitifully low salaries out of the gate, but the salaries did go up tremendously after a certain number of years of service. I don't recall exactly, but I believe for IHS it was something akin to 35% after 8 years, and it keeps going up steadily in rather large increments like that. At the top end, after 20+ years of service, those employees do make nearly comparable salaries to local norms I believe; PLUS they get federal benefits that are unmatched in the private sector, including student loan forgiveness which can be a big benefit for some. There were an insane number of vacation days after 10 years in service as well, so it was like getting 12 months of salary for working 9 months. From what I have heard, it is nearly impossible to be fired by the VA and it is a low pressure job. There isn't any pressure to churn fee-for-service visits every 8 minutes, or amp up HCC codes, and no Press Gainey! There are other things to consider besides money, but I agree, 70K is laughable.

Thanks BlueDevil! I'm thinking of maybe applying as an RN just to get in there. I would probably get the same pay from what I've heard. Same pay and less responsibility? Hmmm sounds like a more doable position. Then again I dont really want to work as an RN again.

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Does anyone have a clue about this: I applied for a VA job, but the job listing doesn't close until March 2014! It opened in March 2013. Do they really keep the jobs open for that long, and what happens if they find someone right away that they want to hire? And yes, those Federal benefits are very appealing to me. I guess it all depends on your age and where you are in your life. ;)

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