ORTech2RN

My apologies if this has been posted to the incorrect forum. Mods, please move if so. I was recently interviewed for a position in primary care. I currently work for the VA, so this would have been a lateral move, but a good chance to develop more experience. I was rejected for the position. However, I note on the interview panel, there were: 2 RN's (one being the NM), an LPN, social worker and a medical support assistant (clerk). Am I missing something, isn't the case that a Nurse should be interviewed by fellow RN's or leadership?

It's honestly the worst experience I've had with a hiring process. If your not interested in hiring someone, don't waste time with physicals and the like. It's really mystifying why a company would do this.

Really don't know where to start, other than to say that the post title is probably misleading, since I don't even know if I *was hired.* Here's my story-I was looking for a PRN job to stay busy a couple nights a week and make extra income. I currently work in a 8-4 clinic job. Found a job through a local organization that provides hospice/private duty and transitional care coaching. Anyway, here's the fun part. I applied online, never heard back. Called HR and was told by a baffled HR person that they needed help bad. One hour later get a phone call requesting an interview an hour away. Take off work early for said interview and apparently all goes well. Easy dosage calculation test, basic questions and then explanations on how the process works. Sent home with orientation papers (HIPAA, fire safety, sexual harassment etc etc) and told to complete and mailed back. Packet mailed back, never heard back. Of course when I called back the packet "just got there." Was told physical/UDS form would be emailed. Call the main office and was told by original HR person that the next person in line is "awesome" and would get to the bottom of things. "Awesome' manager never calls back. I call again (2 days later) and finally reach awesome manager. She proceeds to put me on a three way phone convo with hiring manager who informs me that she didn't know why I was upset, and oh, by the way, your titer is negative for measles. Nothing like calling to find that out. Awesome manager and first hiring person tell me to get that taken care of and yadi yadi yadi. A couple of extra fun tidbits for added context-my friend also applied for similar role and has had regular phone contact with a different mgr. She even has an orientation date next week. Sorry for lengthy post, just needed to unload this frustration. Just not sure why these people would spend money on physicals etc and then ghost someone.

Update.....I'm thinking I will call my previous Nurse Manager today and try to come back, even if it's nights. I just can't deal with this level of boredom. I have done, maybe, 30 minutes of work in the past two days. This is a new position with very few job duties. I think they anticipated that the duties will grow as the NP's base grows. One of two things will happen, I will just move on, or they'll eventually figure out that I do absolutely nothing and move me. Either way, I'm a short timer. Also, to reiterate, next time anyone feels that they would love a job where they kick their feet up for 8 hours and draw a check, think again. It makes me very annoyed to be useless while everyone else serves a purpose or function.

It's mental health, and kind of a new concept here.

Anyone ever make a job change within the field and feel like they have made a mistake? I think I have! I went from being a night shift RN in an ICU stepdown to a very useless feeling outpatient clinic RN. Let me explain. I was on night shift for the last 4 years or so. I knew my job, coworkers and patients well, but felt it was time to explore other areas. Also, I was tired of night shift. I could no longer sleep during the day, we're talking 2-3 hours max. One day, my body said enough and I decided to peruse the job listings within the hospital. Low and behold I found a position for an outpatient clinic RN with essentially banker hours. The job is 8-4, no holidays or weekends. A dream, right? Not so fast, I'm only on day 4 and I'm wondering what exactly my job is. I'm working for a NP, who is also only a few months in the position and the NP isn't exactly sure how to use me. So, I sit in my own little office area. I look at work related training online until I get bored to tears, watch the clock religiously. I try to volunteer my services although I'm not sure what I'm doing. I feel like I should have been paired with another outpatient RN from another clinic for a week or two. And so I sit here and wonder if I should swallow my pride and go back to my old unit and learn to live on sleep deprivation and plan on working holidays until I retire or just stay here longer and feel absolutely useless

I'm a 40 something year old guy with deep acne scarring and putting on a middle aged gut. If I ever had years I looked good, they are probably long gone. Here's the thing: I don't care. I'm married, have kids, a damn good job with benefits and enough money to provide for my family and put food on the table. Here's another thing. Most people don't really care either. Your patients are sick and in a dark time of life, most likely. They want someone with compassion, someone who knows their stuff and will advocate for them. For example, when a new MD wants to pump your patient with 2 liters of fluid and you know their of history of CHF and risk of overload, you will advocate and question the order. Compassion, knowledge, integrity and advocacy. Those are qualities of a good Nurse, not how much foundation you can apply to hide your acne scars. I want those qualities in my coworkers, I don't care how good they look. Not to mention someone who will show up to work on time and is somewhat competent.

More pros than cons, that's for sure. Best pay I've ever had. Benefits are hard to match. 5 weeks of Annual leave per year. Separate bank for Sick leave in which one accumulates 4 hours of SL per pay period. FERS is Federal retirement system and is a major benefit. Beyond that, you work with a great population of veterans who are mostly tough as nails and just want someone to take care of them. In seven years of nursing, three on the outside and the last four at the VA, hands down I enjoy working with VA patients the most. Management can go either way. A good manager hardly spends time on the floor as they are pulled into different directions, and often detailed to manage other areas. Unions can be beneficial but also a detriment as problem employees literally get away with most anything. Change is SLOW to come by as most areas of the Government are. It's really a lesson in hurry up and wait. There are a diverse amount of nursing jobs available and you can apply and transfer (if hired) to literally anywhere in the country. I applied for a CBOC (outpatient clinic) and was hired after working for four years on an inpatient unit here at my local VA. I'm scheduled to transfer there later in July. The M-F day hours will be a welcome relief from the last few years of nights, weekends and occasional holidays. Although I will miss the big shift diff pay and holiday pay for sure.

Did not want to piggy back on the earlier thread, but my experience with this process is very frustrating. My Nurse manager submitted mine back in August 2017. I still had not heard from the board by October, so I emailed the point of contact for the board-it was never submitted, or it had been misplaced. My NM supposedly submitted it the following week. Here we are, the end of January and nothing. In my department I am the only remaining Nurse 1. I have seen a fellow RN with less time come in and receive her Nurse 2. Said RN and I also worked on a unit project that we both submitted on our proficiency. Even if, by miracle, the board receives the 2017 evaluation, it will get the shredder treatment. No way, no how will they approve a 2017 proficiency and allow me the retroactive pay to June, 2017. I feel the union would be useless in this matter. I had asked our union rep the previous year about my 2016 rejected proficiency and received a lukewarm response. More or less, not interested. I'm at a crossroads of sorts. Bottom line, I can't just leave. My earnings and benefits exceed what I would expect from an outside facility. However getting blown off by own management is disheartening. Any insight?

Boy, do I have experiences in this area. I recently have been shot down for promotion to Nurse II. I wrote a very similar proficiency to another coworker (whom had less time in the VA), and was shot down. I also found out that my former unit manager sat on my review, which I thought was prohibited. My third appeal has been sent to the VISN, but I'm already 1-2 months away from submitting my proficiency for my third year. My current manager has been supportive and feels confident that this will be a success this time. I'm not so sure, as I feel the system is more about subjective than the objective. One thing is for sure, it has dampened my enthusiasm to work. I still work 100% for the veterans, but when I see yet more hoops to jump through, such as more TMS learning stuff, changes to ACLS/BLS, I almost shrug it off.

I think this is the only recourse. However, I don't expect a clean resolution. I would expect retaliation and I wonder how management will treat this. I work for the federal government, where they allegedly take EO complaints serious. I've had a recent offer from a friend in home health. Taking this job would give me a day job, and I would be close to home, but a significant cut in pay and loss of my benefits.

I am heterosexual, I'm pretty sure she is aware of this. Unless s he perceives something else, I don't know. I'm honestly stumped. I'm 43, and have worked various job since I was 16, never had an incident with a coworker trying to harass me. I'm generally a laid back person and have always gotten along with coworkers. Maybe she's threatened somehow? Insecure?

That's where, inevitably, I think this will lead to. I have no idea why she suddenly decided to target me. It's growing old and I'm pissed that she feels she can walk in to our unit and insult me for a laugh from others. I hold my tongue, because I feel that my words can be used against me, although she has instigated this situation. Not overly thrilled about using the chain of command,as I feel she will attempt to retaliate. For what it's worth, I have documented this, and have someone that can back me up, if this goes formal. Not sure why people just can't go to work and leave others alone. Live and let live.

Hey guys, strangest situation I've probably found myself in. Been an RN since 2011, and worked health care since 2003, never had a problem working with women. Not one. I have an RN on our unit, well, now she's moved on to another clinical area. For whatever reason, insists on greeting me as "girl." And, to get a show, she'll address me as "what's up girl," in front of other people. Initially I blew it off as just jokes,whatever. However, I'm pretty sure she knows it gets a rise out of me, and does it to jerk my chain, and humiliate me. The ironic thing, I'm 6'1, 230lb and obviously have very little resemblance to a female, lol. Here's the thing, I can confront people, but sometimes I come off as being too aggressive In other words, I take crap and try to blow it off until I lose it. I have a federal job, so don't really feel like losing it for completely going off an idiot. Plus, I feel with the feds, they wont take any complaint serious, considering I'm a male, a white at that. Opinions?

I didn't know anyone either. I was on active duty (US Army) from 99-03. I know it's stated that prior service gets points in the hiring process, but I doubt how much weight that really carries. I was hired in to stepdown unit, with 3:1 patient/RN ratio. At my previous civilian job, I worked in the exact same capacity. That's the only reason I got interviewed, and hired. It's tough to get on, I had applied for open and continuous jobs on the USA jobs site, and never received one interview. I applied for a stepdown unit job, thinking I had nothing else to lose, and got a call to interview a week later.

You pretty much need to sell yourself to the board. They look for things like: education, leadership, teamwork. etc. Were you ever a charge nurse? Make sure you list that on the dimensions of nursing packet that has to be filled out. Make it clear as day that you are interested in continuing your education. I came in the VA almost a year ago, still only 1/3 through my BSN, never charged on a floor, but was boarded Nurse I Level 3, step 7. Pay, like the military, is totally based on locality. So each VA within each VISN may vary in salary ranges. Even if you get lowballed on boards, know that people move up in pay and grade. In one year I received a Critical care adjustment raise and the standard 1% across the board for all Federal employees. Overall, folks make pretty darn good money within the VA. More importantly, you'll get to work with some of America's best. Before, in my old job, i was burnt out with the nonstop entitled attitude that I seen with patients. Nearly everyone thought they should have been handed narcotics on admission. It was sickening, and I was at the point of throwing in the towel and making a career change. Most of the vets are appreciative of care. And quite a few have awesome stories to share. I had the privilege of taking care of an older guy who was shot down over Germany and held POW-in 1944. Talk about neat. You will see a good share of sad stories. Many of our vets are homeless, or are not getting appropriate care for mental or substance abuse issues. Moral of the story, and I have to remind myself of this. While we are well paid and provided with great benefits, we serve a very important role in taking care of veterans.

One thing though, its harder to walk into a job at HBPC or CBOC (community clinic). I'm working third shift at the med center in Lexington, biding my time until I get a job at a nearby CBOC. Could be a long wait.

The VA still has a pension. FERS is social security plus pension plus TSP. I even logged into mypay to check this

I started working at the VA last June. Won't even consider leaving a federal job for a private position. I can write an essay why, but I'll hammer it down to some key points 1. The pay in most areas exceeds other health care facilities. Since June I've had two raises, one for an adjustment to critical care Rns, and the across the board federal gov raise in January 2. Best benefits I've ever had. Blue cross Federal employee is a great plan. 3. You never get marked off or sent home. At worst you will get floated or even take a reduced patient load, on Christmas night, I literally had one patient , who was very low maintenance and I was making holiday premium plus shift diff. Try that at a private hospital. 4. You can transfer anywhere in the USA and not have to acquire a nursing license in that state. You belong to uncle Sam. 5. Again benefits. Nurses rack up 8 hours of annual leave per pay period and 4 sick hours. That's five weeks of leave per year. 6. Retirement is solid. FERS is your social security+pension+TSP (401K) in one package. I wouldn't say you were crazy, but the VA is the best job for nurses period

Benefits are unmatched, IMO. You will have a choice of healthcare plans. We chose Blue Cross Basic Federal employees and have found it to be the best health care plan we've ever had. Dental and eyecare (FEDVIP) is solid as well. Some will say that then retirement system, FERS, is not as good as the old federal retirement plan. However, good luck finding a job these days that pays an annuity at retirement. FERS is basically social security, annuity and your thrift savings plan all bundled into one. You will accrue 8 hours of Annual leave every 2 weeks, and 4 hours of sick time. It basically boils down to 5 weeks of AL a year. If you have self scheduling in your unit, you can schedule days off around AL and come away with nearly 2 weeks off. As far as sick time, use sparingly. I see some who use a bunch of sick time as mental health days. I generally only call in when I'm sick with a stomach virus or running a fever. This year I was hit hard with pneumonia and was forced to miss 2 weeks of work. Fortunately I had some sick time banked, but anymore absences and I would have been forced to appeal for LWOP (leave without pay). Overall, it's a good place to work. We have great teamwork on my unit, and the staff are very good with the veterans.

Hello all, I posted a thread about 3 weeks ago. Basically I was sick as a dog with Pneumonia, on Levaquin and off work nearly 2 weeks. I'm doing better in regards to that I'm not running fevers, cough is at a minimum. Vital signs are great, my 02 sats are 96-98%. Been to a pulmonologist and my primary, both have said my lungs sound clear with good breath sounds. Here's the thing, I"m not feeling it, LOL. I get that malaise feeling everyday it seems, I sweat like a mule if I exert any effort. I still have pain at my right base, which I feel is probably pleurisy. I just don't know if I'm getting better or not, guys. The sweating thing concerns me, I don't know what's up with that. I am back to work, but not 100% and it is rough to complete a 12 hour shift. This is miserable, anybody with similar experiences or suggestions??

Followed up with a Pulmonologist today. No pleural effusions, and pneumonia is improving, but still have congestion in small area of lower right lung. Ordered me off for an additional 3 days. Informed my MGR, and apparently I will have exhausted my sick leave after tomorrow, and could be marked as AWOL after tomorrow. So I guess my options are to stay home and start earning penalties on my work record, or go in and feel miserable and chance a setback. Ya know, I used to get disgusted with those who intentionally screw the system to stay home and earn a check. But, maybe they have figured it out. I mean, one gets ill (and to no fault of their own) and you face the possibility of losing a job, being wrote up etc. And, no, since I've worked less than a year, I do not have FMLA.

Certainly bad news for me. I've hardly called in sick over a 20 year period, and now I'm having a long and slow recovery to a bad infection. And sounds as if I have no recourse, other than hoping that management will allow me to recover. But, legally, they don't have to.

Yuck is the best way to describe how I feel at this point. I'm going on day 6 of pneumonia,on my third day of PO Levaquin. I started feeling ill last weekend with shortness of air, fever, tachycardia etc. Been off work the entire previous week, but still feel bad. Occasional shortness of air, improving though, my 02 sats around 95-97%. deep cough, still sweating, and still feel really weak and out of sorts. I'm due back to work Tuesday night, but I just don't see myself as physically able to do this without having a relapse. I don't know what my options are. I started my current job with Veterans Affairs back in June, and I want to be reliable. But, realistically, I'm sick and need time to recover. At this point, do I consider FMLA for a couple of weeks? Do I ask my manager for PTO? In 20 plus years of work (I'm 43), I've never been this sick to call off work for a week, but I feel I need more time. What should I do? .

I received a tentative offer on March 27, with final offer about two week ago. So, roughly 5-6 weeks for me, and that seems to be the average time. If you're like me, you will think of everything negative that could happen during the boarding process. Honestly, I walked into my manager's office the day after I interviewed, I needed a work performance review for my packet and I figured she would catch on to my recruitment at any time. Don't count on any non nursing degree to help out with boarding. They go with nursing education, experience and so on. I do believe you should mention that you are starting a BSN program and definitely mention that you are pursuing future educational goals in nursing. From what I've read/heard, the board eats that kind of stuff up. I don't think you will be rock bottom, that's usually for new grads with ZERO experience on a floor. Did you receive a dimensions of nursing form to fill out and send in? If so, spend a good deal of time with it and sell yourself big time. Again, and this is from hearing other's experiences, self promotion goes a LONG ways in VA Nursing. I think you will be boarded at a decent rate. For me, I was making very low pay at my last job, so I was extremely excited when HR finally called with a final offer and salary. You should request a packet with VA benefits. During the down time you have, read up on the Health care bennies and the packet on FERS (federal retirement). You basically have several different options in regards to health insurance.