lillithmaximus

I can't speak for that particular state/hospital, but starting CNA pay isn't $34,000. They operate on a GS scale based on your experience and SOME people can come in ("start") at that rate, but usually with several years of experience and/or education. (For example, MA, Combat Medic, Paramedic, etc., training- as several of the VA Hospitals do not recognize those titles and consider them either "NA" or "Health Tech"; the experience of drawing blood, inserting caths, etc, etc is taken into account when deciding on pay scale.) I will say that a fresh PN graduate with less than 6 months experience will be sorely disapointed in his/her starting pay at the VA, but the benefits are well worth it and after 6 months, you are eligible for an increase. On a personal note, I started here as a CNA, GS 4-1 (about $25,000 in my state) and after 3 years, I was a GS 5-2 (about $30,000). I opted to get my LPN after that and now am a GS 5-4 (about $33,000). Ironically, I think if I'd stayed a CNA and just gotten a couple of certifications here or there (LTC or Hospice) I might actually be making more as a "8 year NA" than I do as a "3 year LPN". Eh.. hindsight. :)

I had to throw this in- when I was in LPN school, the instructors would VERY often include material that went above my state's scope of practice. We would be tested on said material and some flunked out of the program based on the increased difficulty of those tests. Why did they do it? "You'll be glad we did this WHEN you go back to RN school!" I heard this at least a couple of times a week for the entire year and my blood boiled every time. I wanted to be an LPN because of the hands-on patient care. I had been a CNA for years and wanted to be able to provide a little more (in the way of medications and knowledge) but I had NO DESIRE for that extra headache and I greatly resented the assumption that my LPN wouldn't be good enough! End of rant- thank you. :)