Please explain steps/promotion question too

[kerbear1969]

The position I applied for has a starting grade of 1 level 3. That said I got my informal offer of Grade level 1 level 3 step 10, since level 3 starts at step 6 that means I only got 4 additional steps?

I was a bit taken back by the offer as I have 23 years nursing experience, a certification on my license, am graduating with BSN December 8th, have been Charge Nurse, Unit Manager and am making 15k (yes 15k) more a year at a local hospital doing homecare, which is the same type of position they are offering. I told them I wanted to wait until I was boarded by the board with my formal offer before making a decision. I knew I would take a pay cut but omg. Do I have to go through all the steps in Grade 1 before being promoted to Grade 2?

Second question being that I will have my BSN in a few months do I have to wait the two years to be promoted to grade 2? I know we get COLA yearly but I heard the promotions/step increases are every 2 years.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

What this means is that they are setting your pay grade based on your ADN and experience. Once you have your BSN you should be a nurse II and the step will be the one closest to your salary without being less. You might be making less per hour than your hospital position but you need to look at your benefits and long term salary. The VA for the most part pays low to start but in the long run ends up paying more. Insurance could be less, the same, or more. The VA also has TSP which is the federal government version of a 401K and a defined pension.

[tabisadelta]

I agree w jeckm about considering benefits and long term.

Now, I haven't gotten a form offer yet, still going through the hiring process. But my one caution (that I actually just posted about) is that I was told none of my experience prior to my BSN would be considered in boarding.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I agree w jeckm about considering benefits and long term.

Now, I haven't gotten a form offer yet, still going through the hiring process. But my one caution (that I actually just posted about) is that I was told none of my experience prior to my BSN would be considered in boarding.

I think you mean none of your experience prior to holding a nursing license would be considered...yes? Only nursing experience is considered relevant, and only the experience you have had since becoming a licensed nurse is relevant.

You may come to the VA with lots of other experience, but they are only interested in what you have done as a nurse. The other experience(s) may well have helped land you the job if you were lacking in actual nursing experience, but won't be considered for boarding. But hey, at least it got you in the door!

As for the OP, there is a process by which you can request an early review by the Standards Board (not two years, you can ask for it to be reviewed six months' prior to the scheduled date. You can start the ball rolling about 8 months before to get it reviewed then...you get the idea.

And then everything else jeck said :)