CodeBrownResponder

Private sector's idea of brutal efficiency and 8 patient per nurse ratios is wretched and far from honest or accountable. Government has its problems sure but it isn't any less honest. Worked to the bone and unable to have a voice is what I think of as the private sector.

What additional qualifications would becoming a nurse at OIG require? Additional degree in accounting or something else?

With 20 years of RN experience, not including other things like NA, and having a BSN, a nurse on grade II or III gets an automatic step raise every 2 years (assuming you don't get a Dissatisfactory rating on a performance eval). This would mean Nurse II Step 10. You might be lucky enough to get placed as high as a Nurse 2 Step 10 but will probably be placed lower than that. Every VA boards differently. My last VA lowballed hardcore. I came back to the VA later at another VA and their offer was great. I wasn't allowed to negotiate either so you may just have to take what is offered or keep applying elsewhere.

The 72/80 is a very cool plan but good luck getting it in a time of fiscal restraint since the VA has been in spending reduction mode. I know of several VAs in the country that implemented it but it represents an increase in cost for them. It also isn't always implemented in every unit of a hospital but sometimes in just one or a few units. With the 72/80 plan, you basically work 8 hours less and receive a 10% increase in your hourly rate of pay so that your overall yearly salary remains the same. It does affect your leave accrual so that you still have the same percentage of time off from work but you do accrue the overall rate of leave at a slightly lower rate. In addition, I believe it impacts your retirement calculation as well. You also only get paid for federal holidays if you work on the holiday. No longer will you receive federal holiday pay as "in-lieu of holidays" even if you don't work the holiday. But overall it's a great plan. You get an extra day off every pay period and your rate of pay goes up 10% to account for that loss of 8 hours.

It depends on the VA. I worked at one VA where there was not a single Nurse III except one who had it earned from another facility. Another VA facility was much more reasonable in promoting staff nurses to III. I met many IIIs there. It's 100% not true that you need to be in management. Unfortunately if the NPSB at your hospital tends to block nurses from becoming III then there isn't much you can do other than perhaps move to another VA facility and earn it there. Once you have it, you keep it from VA to VA as long as you remain in the system (don't leave the VA for a period of greater than 12 months, otherwise you will be reboarded). One of the core requirements is doing a project that affects multiple units (not just your own) or multiple service lines. In addition, having an MSN or higher used to be a requirement as well but then they introduced an education waiver that you could use one time for a grade scale jump and you could get the waiver back if you later earned the degree required for your grade but I heard the waiver would planning to be removed. NPs follow the same grading scale as RNs. In fact, if you are already a Nurse II or Nurse III as an RN and transition into a NP role while still in the system, you will become a NP II or a NP III.

Is the annual salary for nurses shown in the pay tables including federal holiday pay? For the Veterans Affairs system, sorry

And sometimes job postings are pretty opaque. If multiple job openings exist that you're interested in, apply for all of them. See which one gets a response first. Some VAs are very good about responding quickly. Some are not. You may wait a little while to hear back for an interview. I think I waited a couple months before hearing back for some of my applications. And in other cases, I was contacted within a week.

VA has educational programs that I believe roll around on a yearly cycle that you can apply for and will offer tuition assistance/scholarships. I don't know of many people on it so I'm not sure how accessible it is. Nothing special about applying. Just realise the process takes months usually. For my first VA job I waited about 9 months from initial application to first day of work. For my second VA job, I waited about 7 months. After your interview, if you are accepted, you'll get a Tentative Offer and then a Firm Offer. Yes, in general, they SHOULD use those guidelines to determine your placement; however, because it's the VA, you may not have that experience at some VAs. My VA did and I was pleased with my offer. Best thing to do is just apply and not worry about it. Just see what they offer and go from there. I'm not sure if they allow for negotiation.

Your offer will vary depending on the facility. Some facilities pay boards will lowball you and some will put you in the appropriate grade. You should be probably maxed out at Grade II Step 12 or at least close to the max step (I've seen a facility go up to Step 14) assuming you're talking about 30 years as an RN.

Your offer will vary depending on the facility. Some facilities pay boards will lowball you and some will put you in the appropriate grade.

Never did unfortunately

Anyone know what WakeMed pays per hour and what the shift differentials are? Thanks!