Can you negotiate NP salary at the VA?

[SydneyJo1]

Can anyone explain to me how this works? I know it is based on the GS scale, but is there any room to negotiate within that scale? Based on the scale, the salary for a new NP without experience (NP experience) is pretty low for my area: around $74k. I will be graduating soon and would love to work at the VA, but that pay is about 20k below market for my part of the country and specialty (psych). I was told by a friend who works at the VA that this is not negotiable, but I would like to get some other opinions....

[NurseAllMighty]

Thank you for your prompt response. I will start a FNP program this spring. When I finish the program, I feel that after have a dual masters and FNP certificate, I should automatically be a nurse 3. But that is only a pipe dream. Will it be hard to prove a nurse 3 once I become a FNP at the VA.

[puravidaLV]

Ugg so as of right now I am getting my PMHNP and just turned in my equip thinking VA was the way to go for benefits to help pay for school and ease my way to a NP job upon graduation. Am I just being filled with older nurse pipe dreams of 20 years ago?

I want to retire and I am on 35!

[Jules A, MSN]

Ugg so as of right now I am getting my PMHNP and just turned in my equip thinking VA was the way to go for benefits to help pay for school and ease my way to a NP job upon graduation. Am I just being filled with older nurse pipe dreams of 20 years ago?

I want to retire and I am on 35!

No clue how it is now but years ago their tuition reimbursement was fairly complicated and I also recall something that needs to be in place well in advance. If you are in school now I'm not sure you will qualify. Like any place the VA has pros and cons but I would make sure you know exactly how it is going to work before you start. There is also no guarantee you will get a NP job offer in a timely manner and again in my case I was offered a salary that was insultingly low.

[RN4KU]

I am wondering this myself, currently I am a VA Nurse in Harlingen, TX. The pay scale for nurses is what I consider high in my area of the country, Harlingen and San Antonio pay scales are higher than most parts of the country. I started as a Nurse 2 step 2 making 74K, I was promoted to a Nurse 3 step 1 after 1 year, and no I am going on 5 years and I make 91k. So my salary is really high, but I am starting this fall 2015 a Post MSN FNP certificate program. Which will take 18 months to complete. Based on what I see it almost looks like a make more as and RN than I would an NP. I know our local ER pays $90.00 per hour for NP's and PA's but not sure I want to leave my federal job. 90.00 per hour is amazing no benefits and its the ER. i love my federal benefits so not sure what I will do. I miss helping people which is why I am going to finish my FNP Certificate, but not looking forward to having to leave my federal job.

[LubbockNP]

I have been working for the VA for 8 months now. I love my job more than any job I have ever had, that being said, the State of TEXAS has way better benefits than the FED does. I am still glad I made the change because my job is a dream job. But just know you can do much better in he private sect or possibly for a state (depends on the state).

And to tell you the truth, I don't understand the whole boarding crap at all. It makes no sense to me. I am FNP-BC and ACNP-BC both but the stupid nursing board did not care. But let me tell you the RNs I work with make dang good money, makes me second guess NP school.

[Jules A, MSN]

Psych NP's in Spokane WA can start at $120,000. The VA is desperate for psych.

I know this is an old post and I'm not familiar with the rates in WA but in this area $120,000 is very low even for a new grad in psych. They are desperate for mental health NPs here also but as far as I know NPs are still reimbursed on the nurse schedule.