momathoner09

I finished in 2023. I was offered a job early on and have been working there since 8/23. That being said 8/25 is when my probationary period is over so I'm crawling to that finish line with all these RIFs right now. The VA isn't what it was even a few years ago. I have a feeling it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better. I'll leave it at that. I don't really know if I would recommend taking a job here right now with all the uncertainty to be honest. If you are in the residency, best to take that experience and use it to apply on the outside. It's still a valuable experience. All of the people in my group got jobs and are all still working there as of now. There's already been a push to do more with less and I already work 10-12 hour days plus at least one day of the weekend 6-8 hours every week. I mostly cover all of my sick time and leave time which the exception of maybe 7 days/year. The money is good but I would be happy, I think, making less and having less stress and really working less hours. It's always something. I have yet to learn, I guess, is that just being a NP or being a NP in primary care at the VA? Because this is all I know. Besides school and I even did school rotations here. My plan was to have my career here. It's all I wanted to do. But I'm burnt out and it's not even been 2 full years yet (plus residency so 3 I guess) plus everywhere online and IRL hates us. The VA sucks and we don't do anything right. It's unnerving and I have a pretty thick skin but it's just a lot to take..especially on daily minimal sleep.

I think the ultimate goal for everyone is to employ the residents. It really sucks if that doesn't work out because it is wasted time all around for all involved. I will say I have noticed they have employed more RNs recently into NP positions. So they are VA RNs without NP experience getting hired in the departments they are working in. They have been NPs awhile but working as RNs. Do I think that's necessarily fair? Not exactly. At the very least we should have been allowed to interview for that position along side them. But it is what it is. I know that I've gotten as far as I have from networking from my brick and mortar grad school. Mind you I am still waiting on a formal salary offer and am supposed to start the end of August. It's just the way it is with the federal govt though. .If that's going to bother you, than this isn't the place for you. Out of 9 of us, 4 have jobs to my knowledge. We are starting our last month!

Ready to be finished! That is for sure. I am finally able to work in my "real" job which officially starts the end of August. The other 2 people in my program were offered jobs as well. So in that sense it was worth it. There's no other way to get into the system without experience. But some of my time, truly, has been wasted. Some people just don't want to teach. I found this more in the speciality rotations which I had to do in a row. It's fine....but we are constantly either called students or thrown into seeing patients in specialty areas with no time to prepare or know what we are doing. It's 2 extremes. It's very exhausting. I like to be prepared. But having my nursing experience to draw from has allowed me to "wing it,” when I need to. Working with Veterans allows me be honest and say I have no idea what I'm doing at times and for us all to get through it with no hard feelings. I don't feel like you can do that with other patient populations. Of course we figure it out and I get them what they need but I just hate that feeling. I need to be better at time management. I allow them to ramble too much. But it's geriatrics. Some of them have no one. I can't help it. Plus I am a sucker for some good war stories.

I just finished the 6 month mark yesterday! So glad to be done with all of the required rotations. I was offered a job within the VA a few months ago. So far only 2 of us out of 9 (PCP, MH, and Geri) have jobs. The other person worked at this VA before as a nurse. This was always what I wanted to do and why I went back to NP school. I did 4 rotations at the VA in school. I have been networking and working towards this goal for some time. People say there is such a learning curve to working with Veterans and working for the govt. But being married to a Vet for 15 years and life as a military spouse none of this is new to me. It's very familiar and I think that has been to my advantage. I'm used to the hurry up and wait and rules making no sense. Some people have lost their minds over little changes. I'm like chill out it's not that big of a deal. You have to be flexible.

You didn't ask me but I think I can answer this. Yes I think if you are willing to relocate you can absolutely find a job. I wanted something very specific and wasn't willing to relocate because we've already moved a million times with the military. But if I was younger I would have. As far as substituting, it would depend on the requirements from the OAA. You need a certain number of hours of patient care to complete the program. For me, that means in geriatrics. But after our required 6 month rotations, we have more freedom within the specialty rotations. Pay grade depends on years of nursing experience and your CV. A federal resume, from what I've been told, should not be the traditional 2 pages and made to look pretty. Mine is 4 pages right now. You want every thing on there because it affects your pay. Pay grade will vary person to person.

Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health and Caring for Older Adults and Caregivers with Dementia. Posh looks at surgical optimization from a medical standpoint of chronic condition. We also asses risk of delirium and sometimes (often) recommend delaying surgery. Coach is very social work driven. We work a lot with the caregivers connecting them with resources that they need to care for their loved one at home who has dementia.

I interviewed last month. Everything moved pretty fast. Received a formal tentative (pending completion of the residency) job offer last week. There is one other person in our group out of 9 total that has a job. It is possible but you have to network, get on USA jobs, and work on your PBI interview skills.

I understand what you are saying that it is in no way perfect. I didn’t go to the VA for a “cushy” job though. I wanted to give back and I wanted to work with Veterans. My husband is 100%sc with 3 combat deployments. He’s been through hell and I’ve been by his side for 15 years. I don’t know exactly what they have gone though- you are right. But I know what their family members have. And I know a small amount from my husband but I would never claim to fully grasp what he or any other MM has been through. As corny as it sounds, I want to help. I don’t want to be one more person mindlessly thanking them for their service.

That’s your opinion but not fact. All I’ve seen is providers going above and beyond for Veterans and caregivers. We have financial freedom to order labs, imaging, consults, etc. When compared to the private sector, that is way less red tape. Yes it is socialized medicine so that comes with barriers but if anything the ability to consult all specialties and disciplines (OT, PT, speech, pharm, etc) under one roof is unmatched.

I started in the fall and am halfway through my second rotation. We rotate every 2 months for the first 6 months. The second 6 months we have specialty rotations (not quite sure how this is going to work honestly). Anyway at first it was a lot but I think I’ve found a rhythm. It’s as much or as little as you want to get out of it. I have really tried to do what I can an utilize all the resources that we have available. For our residency we are in lot of different clinics throughout the week. So right now I am in CLC, POSH, COACH, and Geri Pact clinic. For Geri pact we have a panel and we are the PCP. That for me has been the most work beyond that clinic appointment. Lots of f/us, consults, med refills, med changes, etc. But I feel like I have learned the most from that rotation.

Did you come here just to leave a snarky comment ?

So I interviewed mid May Received a verbal very informal offer from the director 3 days later Then I heard nothing from HR months The director was in communication with myself and other residents though Completed E-quip background check end of July Received a tentative offer pending that background on August 10th Sept 2 received and accepted formal offer Start date is September 12 Definitely cutting it way close. I live in the area though so it was not a inconvenience to me. Although I did not seek other employment so if this didn’t work out, then I would have been back to job searching and all my classmates have job offers or have started working at this point. It would be very difficult, I think, to move out of state for these positions.

I am starting a VHA residency next month as well. Extremely long process.

I guess I wish I knew more about the APEA predictor exam before taking/using it as a tool. I still think that if you have no experience with it then it isn't the best tool/study guide out there if you are *only* using the predictor exams.

I agree about the predictor exam- that was stupid to take it right before! My issue with this whole process is that our instructors/school gave us zero input or advice. And this is a reputable brick and mortar school. I understand that they don’t *have* to hold our hands but a little direction would have been nice.