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It has been almost three years since I worked for the VA, and I believe a lot has changed. While I worked there, however, you had a mix. The psychiatry units had a very cohesive and team environment - I loved working there. On the medical units, I found the teamwork to also be very uplifting and supportive. There were your few rotten eggs who liked to eat their young, but I believe some of those individuals were heading towards retirement. There was a lot of new blood coming in as a I was leaving which was breathing new life into the units. South 8 particularly had great leaders - both younger and older. Sorry if this isn't current!

I was fortunate enough to be a graduate of VA Long Beach's GNT program. I still believe it was a great program for a number of reasons - lot of class room work, lot of hands on experience in the simulation lab, and the program I completed consisted of six people. Yay! This program also included a research program to help improve patient outcomes for the hospital. At the time, the program was very new, so it may have changed some since I completed it. Three months of mostly classroom work, three months of both, and then six more months of in unit training to complete their year long program. I felt very prepared by the end of the program and also felt very knowledgeable about the hospital system itself upon completion. As for the hospital system itself, there certainly are some pros and cons. Pros: small(ish) hospital if you like the "big fish, small pond" idea. Teaching hospital. When I was there, we were pushing forward for a lot more nursing control (shared governance and Pathway to Excellence). Benefits. The patient population :) Cons: very, very, very tough system to get any real change. If a nurse was under performing or did not work well with other staff and patients, management basically had its hands tied to do anything about this. *Remember: the VA property is FEDERAL property. Meaning, they do not have to abide by California State staffing levels...I still have nightmares about horrible staffing ratios (i.e. I am charge nurse with three patients and four LVN patients). I started in their inpatient psychiatry unit and then went to med-surg.

You begin with two preceptors and one mentor starting at the beginning of the program. Each unit has their own "check-list" of skills to complete before you are officially signed off by the preceptor. If I remember right, you will be basically "on your own" after three months. However, you will never work alone or without a preceptor on shift until you graduate (or at least after 6 months). Each preceptor is trained by the education department and receive a stipend for their extra work. I had wonderful preceptors, but I understand some weren't as lucky. Fortunately, the Education Department is very clear at the beginning to alert them of any problems. They really do want you to succeed! In the final 6 months, you are working full time on your unit with about 2-4 work days per month shadowing. The EBP is largely done on your own time with your group. This is NOT a Versant Program. The program is relatively new (only a few years old I believe). This program actually began at the LBVA and was later adopted by all other VA facilities. S8 is a med/surg floor that is supposed to eventually become a telemetry floor. They see a wide population and also do some chemo. I can't answer for the ratios, but I believe it is similar. My S8 friend often has 4-5 total cares and covers two LVNs. LVNs do pass a good deal of medications, but of course, RNs do IVs. Regarding the interview, most were very rigid, "Why do you want to work with the veteran population?" "Why are you a nurse?" "Tell me about the veteran population," etc. Basically, know as much as you can about the healthcare issues facing the Vet population today and what you would expect. Also, have a very good answer for why you choose to work exclusively with Vets. Best of luck!

Wow! Congratulations on both offers! I don't know anything about the White Memorial Program, but I am almost an expert on the VALB program...I graduated from their New Graduate Nurse Residency Program in December 2010. I'll try to make this as concise as I can (please feel free to message me with more detailed questions!): Pros: Year long program - First three months you spend next to nothing on your unit but sit in the library or the education department in review. They follow a course that critical care nurses must pass for certification. A really good review in some ways, kind of like studying for the boards. You will take an online exam each week or so. They have a new new grad nurse educator who is full of energy (Jennifer something) who used to work in the ER I believe. (I believe they will have more structure now...) They have a SimLab and you should have time allotted to practice there Tons of new renovations to the hospital (NEW ER!!) The hospital is working towards "Pathway to Excellence" status (the level down from Magnet Status) and should be there in a few years. "Ms. Duff" or Isabel Duff is a nurse and also the Director. (lot of nurses in leadership roles within the facility. if you do your time, you will go up on the ladder very quickly) Cons: Year long program - like I said, the program is a year. First 3 months only classroom. Next three months they work you into your unit and still classroom work. Next 6 months you will shadow a few upper level nurses (NPs, nurse managers, ect which is actually kind of cool!) and work on a evidenced base project. By the end of it you will be wondering why the program is sooo long. Seriously. Lot of transition within the education department, specifically in dealing with the new grad program (new leadership and previously not a lot of structure) SimLab - nice but we rarely spent any time there. Perhaps with the new leadership the time allotted the SimLab will be enforced...who doesn't want extra practice? Tons of construction - only the ER is finished which means you will still be in the "old building." Not bad, but you have to deal with lots of construction and confusion. I hear you have to sign a contract now...KNOW what unit they will be putting you in before you sign a contract. I work in Mental Health (inpatient) and I love it (the nurses, psychiatrists, therapists, nurse manager, etc). However, I know my other new grads in the CLC (community living center aka nursing home) really were not appreciating their time (not a good team environment). S8 has a good team. With the VA, state nurse:patient ratios don't apply. My medical friends are run ragged on their units. Ask the tough questions about the unit they will place you in. You might know it already, but let me drill it in again...the VA system is slow. Slow as mud. You will get frustrated with the "system" and will go to your manager who in turn cannot do anything about it. A good deal of nurses are NOT team players and may not be living up to their standard but "its the VA and you wont get fired." This is really sad but a fact. My advice? Ask a lot of questions! As a veteran yourself, you may be able to look past a lot of these cons or accept a few as part of the environment. I do love the population and I love the mental health team (although I will say it isn't for everyone). However, who doesn't need to brush up on their Spanish? I'm sure you will pick up on it! Best of luck to you! Carolyn

It is understandable to be nervous, but preparation is key! I am currently finishing up a year long new graduate RN program with the Long Beach VA inpatient psychiatry. My interview with the director of nursing focused on my preparation and experience in psychiatry. As with all interviews, prepare for scenario questions - bipolar pt in a manic phase is doing _____ - how do you respond? As with any other specialty, KNOW pertinent psychiatric nursing things such as the importance of a therapeuti milieu, how to de-escalate an aggressive pt, antipsychotic medications, etc. Also, do your research and have at least a general knowledge of the population you will be working with - for instance, as I knew that I would be working with veterans, prior to my interview I reviewed PTSD, schizophrenia, substance abuse, and suicide (is this for geropsych, controlled substance, etc?). REVIEW scenarios and the big dx you feel you will encounter and make sure you feel comfortable with a general nursing knowlege of them to give well thought out responses. Finally, know why YOU want to become a psych nurse. Psych nursing is very different in a lot of ways than medical nursing so this response is also key - they will want to know you are committed to this population. Best of luck!

Beta, I relocated from the Midwest to Los Angeles right after I graduated. In sharing my experience, I don't want to discourage you at all - coming out here was the best decision I could have made...but it wasn't easy. As you are experiencing, the economy is really hurting new grad RNs. I applied and interviewed for the UCLA New Grad Residency Program in 2009. I did not get the position, but here is some advice I can give from that interview: You might have an initial phone interview if you do not want to fly out for the interview. I only had in person interviews. Thoroughly research the unit areas you want to work - "MICU, SICU, and possible the neuro/trauma ICU." KNOW specific medications that might be used more on those units than others. Practice scenarios specific to these units - I interviewed for peds and was asked numerous questions about interactions with family members. In my interviews, I interviewed directly with the nurse managers of the units I was applying. I felt that the recruiting office and the nurse managers hit hard on patient centered care. I realize that all hospitals are stressing this, but never before had I experienced it so much in an interview. The recruiter asked me, "If you saw trash in the hallway what would you do?" It isn't a trick question, just say, "I want my environment to be clean and safe for the patients and their families, so I would clean it up immediately." Etc. The recruiter and/or nurse manager will ask you why you want to relocate and will judge you on the probability they can retain you. You need to have a solid answer. Be open minded about unit opportunities! I naively limited myself to pediatrics and learned at the end of my interview that this was one of their most wanted areas. Try asking the nurse recruiter what areas have more openings and less applications for increased opportunity. BE PROFESSIONAL! I couldn't believe how many applicants did not wear a suit or arrive on time. Ask the nurse recruiter for the specific names and titles of those who will interview you so you can place them directly on your cover letter. Remember, THOUSANDS of new grads are applying for a job at UCLA and you need to stand out in a positive way. I was in and out in about 3 hours. This included two interviews and listening to the nurse recruiter and HR speeches about relocation assistance and benefits (last year I believe their relocation $$ was around $1500 or $2000). It could be longer if you apply for more units. Don't be afraid to ask for a tour of the unit ahead of time with the nurse recruiter. It will give you a taste of the units you want to work on. Plus, the interviews were in a medical office on Wilshire - not at the hospital - so you may want to do this to actually SEE where you are anticipating to work. In terms of the hospital itself, it is amazing. My sister gets care there and gave birth to her second son at Mattel. The emergency department staff are wonderful and very knowledgeable. The facility is beautiful. My sister and her family live in Westwood (UCLA is located in Westwood Village) and I love to visit because it is trendy and I feel safe. This area has a lot of opportunity for apartment housing, but anywhere in this part of LA is going to be at least $1000/month for a studio (probably on the low side). Pay will probably start around $34/hr which when you factor in cost of living, is comparable to salaries else where. For a new grad that is good out here. I do want you to know that the job market is very saturated in SoCal with new graduate nurses. Part of the difficulty with relocation is that many graduates of SoCal have done rotations in area hospitals and have networks and connections. WE transplants often do not. I was fortunate to find a new grad position with the VA after about 5 months here and I got that placement because I was open minded with a position (psych) and I had taken a per diem night shift position with a medical research group. I now have a year of experience and suddenly nurse recruiters from most large hospitals are calling me back for med/surg positions - even with only a year of psych! I have gone to a few job fairs and CEU classes at area hospitals and they all tell me the same thing - new grads MUST be open to various opportunities and after one year they can ultimately transfer. I never would have thought I would take a psych job but I must admit I have learned a great deal from this year that I would not learn in a medical unit. Although I am ready to move on to another area, I feel strongly this experience will be an aid in the future. My suggestion: if you can afford it, fly out for the interview. While you are here, plan ahead to visit other hospitals and get a feel for the area. Preparation is key! Good luck! C

NewRN1975 gave EXCELLENT advice! I went through many interviews with various medical centers before I landed my RN position. From that experience, I cannot stress how important practicing potential questions and scenarios will be for you to have a successful interview. You WILL feel silly practicing, but it will help! Writing things down helped me, too. ALSO, dressing professionally will help make a lasting impression. Wear a dress suit or something as close to this as you can. I assure you that the nurse recruiter will be dressing similarly. Dressing professionally will also boost your self-esteem! Good luck!