Prior service and looking to work at local VA Hospital

[doubledown_58]

Hi all. Just found out today I passed the RN boards. I have six years prior service as a 91K in the ARMY. I am seriously considering a position at Mather Hospital in Sacramento, CA. I'm wondering what benefits I should be eligible to receive. (ie. how do they compute retirement, seniority, and pay for prior service.) I would also like to know what you like and don't like about your benefits. If any of you could comment on your experiences at Mather Hospital and the VA system in general it would be greatly appreciated and help me in my decision. Also if any of you can give me a ball park figure for starting new grad RNs at California VA Hospitals. I can not find any info on the pay scale for the area. Looking forward to hearing your experiences and thoughts about the VA.

Thanks in Advance,

Steve B. RN

Basic Training - Ft Sill 8/1993

91K - Ft. Sam Houston 11/1993

M4 - Ft. Knox 5/ 1994

WRAMC - 6/1994 - 8/1999

[doubledown_58]

Any VA nurses out there .

[Corvette Guy]

Any VA nurses out there .

Are you referring to the Sacramento VA Medical Center?

[doubledown_58]

Yes. The VA in Sacramento. Got any info?

[Corvette Guy]

Yes. The VA in Sacramento. Got any info?

Sorry, no info. I just wanted a clarification because there is a Mather Hospital in NY.

[shel_wny]

Ok, as I understand it, your prior service in the military would count toward your time for retirement. The VA loves to hire veterans. I would definitely go for it and put in an application with human resources at the VA that you would like to work. Applications and job information can be found at www.usajobs.com. Good luck! If you have any more questions I'd be glad to try to answer them. I'm very proud to be a VA nurse.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I have worked at the VAMC in Indy and loved it. In fact, I'm applying for a director position tomorrow at my local VA and truly hope I get it in order to get back to the retirement system. I am also prior enlisted - US Navy.