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Wow thank you guys for the quick updates and insight - that really helps relieve some of the anxiety!!

I'm really really sorry pogues60. I agree, its terribly frustrating. Every time I feel like I'm getting close to the point that all the waiting will be worth it, there's another hurdle. Now this - anyone with experience in the VA know how long past hiring freezes have lasted? Ughhhhhh

Thank you for sharing, fingers crossed!

I'm sorry, I am also in a similar situation. It is incredibly frustrating after getting this far. Hoping that since your offer was extended before Monday you are safe - I'm going to ask my boss tomorrow, hopefully HR can give you a straight forward answer soon.

This is standard at VA it seems, at least at mine also. Email or call your recruiter and explain your situation, I was able to submit a letter of reference from my current supervisor in lieu of a formal performance appraisal because I did not have one yet at the time of my interview.

Finally got boarded and just wanted to update for those who want an idea of an internal applicant timeline, I was a nurse tech applying for RN position at the same VA facility - Late August - Interviewed Early September - got tentative offer, completed my part of Vetpro two weeks later, took another week for references to return their forms, no background check needed since I am an internal employee with an active ID badge Early October - references all responded and verified, education/degree confirmed by a third party (this part took weeks) Late October - file was presented to the board Mid November - finally boarded, given salary, awaiting my start date this week for likely December So from tentative offer to getting on board and told my salary, it took about 2.5 months. Granted I was an internal applicant going from a tech to RN at the same facility, it didn't speed things up much. Just waiting now for a December orientation date. So likely total of waiting will be 3.5 months before I actually get to the floor. So my advice is be patient and if you are employed already, DO NOT QUIT YOUR CURRENT JOB. It will take time, months, and you will have more than enough notice to put in your two weeks/30 day notice at your job. I was unemployed because I graduated- the wait was torture and financially stressful. Keep your job or look for a part time job in the meantime, and eventually VA will work out. I would not put my life on hold. Salary and benefits don't compare anywhere else - so hang in there!

Only speaking from my own experience, but it is still early to rule anything out and I think you are still in the running. My nurse manager and HR do not communicate - my manager has zero idea where I am in the hiring process. It sounds like you are the person the manager wants to move forward with - now HR will take it from there. Process may vary but I would just wait to hear from HR for a tentative offer (then the process of credentialing, background check etc will begin if you give them the go ahead to proceed), your nurse recruiter may have contact info for the HR specialist that is handling your file. Hang in there!

Definitely! I searched back earlier in this thread and someone heard back the same day it went to the board. I think the hold up depends on how fast they get the board approval signed. I've been waiting about 2 weeks, so it must vary. Hang in there!

Just curious for those that have started - any idea how long it took between the Nursing Professional Standards Board meeting and when you were notified of your start date? I have everything done (I interviewed back in August), and was told the board met about my case to decide salary on 10/19. Vetpro, etc is all cleared already. When I contact HR, they say they can't schedule me for orientation until they receive board approval. Of course I will likely miss this upcoming orientation and will have to wait another two weeks for the next one! Thanks for letting me vent- so frustrating but this thread has been my support group!

Right, I did the same. I just picked the group that didn't conflict. I was told in the admit online info session not to worry about lab now, but they definitely added those groups since last time I checked and I feel better getting a spot in my ideal group since it is up anyway! We can always drop it!

Awesome! I signed up for classes too. Did you guys also sign up for one of the NURS 317 lab groups that looked like it combined lab, physio-pharm lab, and clinical days?

Hi there, to clear up about classes. I attended the online info session for admits and this is what they told us regarding BSN (not sure about other programs) and this is for Baltimore campus but similar for Shady Grove. -First go to UMSON website > Student Resources > Records and Registration > Student Forms > Approval to Register form. You need to fill this out first! It looks like this: http://nursing.umaryland.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/docs/Approval-to-Register-Form.pdf -You don't need an advisor as a 1st semester, newly incoming student. The form is for ALL students and they fill it out every semester BEFORE you can register for classes (which opens for us on May 19). You will get an assigned advisor during the first couple weeks once school starts. -You need to fax or electronically submit the "Approval to Register" form online (see my link to the PDF above). You can either print it out and fill it out, ignoring the advisor part, or submit the online PDF "Interactive" version of the form that goes directly to them when you hit submit. -Fill this form out early, ideally before May 19th or asap. -Use you UMID # on the form and you should set up an email beforehand as it needs to be on the form. I called IT help to set up my email as it was confusing. -As far as classes, we all take the same ones at least for traditional BSN program. No room for electives this first semester. Look online at the "Sample Plan of Study" under your program (for BSN I used the one here http://nursing.umaryland.edu/academic-programs/undergrad/bsn for students starting Fall of 2014). Note the names of the courses and then go to UMB SURFS and click "Class Schedule", specify NURSING and leave the other fields blank then search and you'll see the courses offered for Fall 2014. -On the form, the "CRN" is the 5 digit number listed next to the course title in the "Class Schedule" page,"SUBJ" is NURS for all your courses, Course # is "314" OR "316" etc, and "SEC" is section which is either "01" or "02" for Baltimore on the class schedule (pick a time) but "SG" means it is at Shady Grove, "Title" is the name of the class, and credits are listed in the schedule also. -DON'T sign up for clinicals or anything or lab modules at all. These will be dealt with specific to each course or we will get a notice later on by orientation. They are changing the way this works and it will no longer be a "lab module" way of signing up for lab/clinical. -By the way I think the "Important Course Information" here: http://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/admissions/accepted/registration is still out of date and refers to Spring 2014 because of the dates in the letters, so ignore those even though they say at the top that it will be updated May 12th (it still hasn't changed). -On May 19th I would register for classes following this How To http://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/student-resources/records-and-registration/register starting at step 5.

You can! Your student ID is found on the site you check you application status on. On that same page, it is the # preceded by an @ sign. You should be able to create a Surfs account that way!

@summasun016, yes I created a SURFS after we got that email from financial aid. It doesn't say much as it's not updated yet, but I made it so I could see financial info as soon as it is posted. I would do what you said- sign up for CPR, and make sure your immunizations are up to date. I haven't done much else except focus on my last prerequisite class (A&P II), just waiting for the mailing now. Yes, the form your doctor should fill out is: http://www.umaryland.edu/health/documents/288727_Immunization_MedicalHistoryForm.pdf

I'm in the same boat- just send the transcript asap once grades are posted. Hang tight - just called and mailings are going out all this week!