PhD in Nursing, MSN, BSN VA salary

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I have a PhD in nursing, MSN and BSN with 15 years RN experience. I received my TO on 5/15/23. I have completed physical, drug test, vetpro equip and all other tasks sent to me. HR advised that they are awaiting a couple clearances and will send a salary offer once received. My question is whether I will be boarded as a nurse III solely based on the fact I have a PhD? Or is there a time frame for having it. I completed it in 2021. If I am boarded as nurse III, how would the steps be determined?

anxiously awaiting a FO

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MSN is the criteria to meet nurse 3. You need to have it 3 years to be graded in as nurse 3. You'll still need to complete the proficiency essay for the board, make sure you answer thoroughly because any extra points is money added to your offer.

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Thank you for your answer to my question! I have not been contacted yet to write an essay. Last message I received was that we were awaiting NPSB review for salary determination and with that info they have not requested me to write anything. Is that something that is typically done prior to FO being given?

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Yes you complete the essay when you are applying for the job, that way the board can review it and grade you.

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Specializes in Research.
GoodAlwaysWins said:

I have a PhD in nursing, MSN and BSN with 15 years RN experience. I received my TO on 5/15/23. I have completed physical, drug test, vetpro equip and all other tasks sent to me. HR advised that they are awaiting a couple clearances and will send a salary offer once received. My question is whether I will be boarded as a nurse III solely based on the fact I have a PhD? Or is there a time frame for having it. I completed it in 2021. If I am boarded as nurse III, how would the steps be determined?

anxiously awaiting a FO

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You could start as a Nurse 3 or 4, depending on prior experience. Definitely would not start as a Nurse 2.

After I got my PhD in Nursing I started at the VA as a Nurse 4, though a couple other PhD nurses I know who went to the VA started as Nurse 3. I think I got Nurse 4 due to prior years of experience doing research as a Study Coordinator at the university, while my friends only had the research experience they gained from their PhDs.

I had to wait a a few months (maybe 5?) from when I got told I was getting the job to the actual formal offer. It was a long wait LOL

 

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Thank you for your reply.

I was actually offered Nurse 2 Step 7. Which is the same pay as nurse 3 step 2. I feel as if they are lowballing me because of the position. I will not have hand on patient care. The position is home telehealth (remote).

Most of my 15 years RN experience is case management and no research experience other than PhD study research.

I've been waiting so long for this offer and I don't know if it will be beneficial requesting a board review as it will prolong even longer.

I'm considering accepting but in doing so, I'm wondering how fast I can move up and what's the process?

 

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Specializes in Research.
GoodAlwaysWins said:

Thank you for your reply.

I was actually offered Nurse 2 Step 7. Which is the same pay as nurse 3 step 2. I feel as if they are lowballing me because of the position. I will not have hand on patient care. The position is home telehealth (remote).

Most of my 15 years RN experience is case management and no research experience other than PhD study research.

I've been waiting so long for this offer and I don't know if it will be beneficial requesting a board review as it will prolong even longer.

I'm considering accepting but in doing so, I'm wondering how fast I can move up and what's the process?

 

Oh that is *very* surprising they offered you Nurse 2. I mean, the requirements for Nurse 3 are:

Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience.

You have the doctoral degree and 15 years of nursing experience, so it should be an easy Nurse 3 offer imo. 

If you are not in a dire need of getting a new nursing job asap, then I would definitely request a reevaluation for Nurse 3 and reject it if you don't get it. This of course depends on your current situation and if you have leeway with not taking a job for a while longer.

My main concern with accepting this offer is that since it is a tele/remote position, you may find it quite difficult to move up to Nurse 3 in the future. Going from Nurse 2 to 3 requires you to demonstrate how you have had an impact on the hospital outside of the department you specifically work in, and this could be difficult in a remote role.

 

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All nurses are reviewed by the board automatically upon hire, you can try to request a redo but at my VA they don't grant redos, not sure if that's a national standard or not. ? 

I do know that the board is very critical of how things are written in the resume and look for explicit descriptions and outcomes of what nurses have done in their careers. It's a very obtuse process. I hope it works out for you.

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