furryhat

Tried edit my post to add but couldn't.... ETA - a previous replier had an excellent point to review your resume. Make sure you have been extremely detailed in laying out everything you have done. Google examples of VA resumes. This is what had happened to one of the 3 nurses I mentioned. He had applied following the 1-page resume rule. Added to the resume to be explicit in skills and experiences and was then given the Nurse 2. Tip - if it is listed in the job description, make sure you have a line addressing it in your resume. Good luck!

Fight for the Nurse 2! You meet the qualifications for it and should get it! Push back and negotiate. It is absurdly difficult to make the jump from Nurse 1 to Nurse 2 (and then to Nurse 3.....oh boy). I personally know THREE nurses that I work with directly who were low-balled with the Nurse 1. Thankfully they had been advised not to accept it and were then appropriately granted the Nurse 2. Good luck!

Thanks so much! Confirmed my hunches. And I'm glad to hear quality improvement is an area that exists for down the road.

First - thank you to all those who post and respond on this board. It has provided a wealth of knowledge and goals over the years! For those with military nursing experience (any branch), are there Quality Management, Performance Improvement and/or Risk Management nursing roles? Do they ever commission directly or is it promotion only? Are you aware of any non-"bedside" roles you can enter directly? Background: I have had a long shot dream of becoming a military nurse that started before I even entered nursing. Nursing is a 2nd (or 3rd?) career for me and, now in my late 30's, I am finally getting my physical act together and making strides to achieve the necessary weight loss and strength building to not be laughed out of the AMEDD recruiting office. I still have a ways to go before I will contact them, but I am confident I will reach it this year. I did a year of Army ROTC in undergrad many moons ago, work at the VA now, and have read about as much as one can (including this forum for years!) so I have a basic understanding of the military life but know that I really don't have any idea what it's actually like --- Enough to know I know very little ? I expect to apply for an OR nursing slot when the time comes. I have 5+ years OR experience and plan to get my CNOR in a few months (solely to boost this application. I remember old discussions here about certification bonuses vs sign-on bonuses and how to get the best bang for the buck, but I just want to be the most competitive app I can be). My question stems from the fact that in the actual real-world right now, and not my dream world where I can apply and get an OR slot with the next board, in the real world I am ready to move my career forward, exit the OR and enter administration, particularly in quality. Even with a transition into administration, I plan to still apply to the Boards for an OR slot. But that is based on the assumption that you can't go directly into a non-"bedside" role. Is that accurate? Thanks for any responses and advice here, and thanks for all the others previously!

Thank you!!

Hi all, I'm an OR nurse with a few years of experience. My end goal is to get in with the VA as I want to be with the Fed govt. A lot of that desire is based on prior (pre-nurse life ) as a civil servant and all the benefits that come with fed govt employment. I also have a strong desire to help our vets...I'd go military if I could ever get myself together physically. Anyway, I'm at a decision point in my current position for a promotion into management which would delay the VA goal for at least 2 years, if not more. Can anyone share what the current benefits of VA are? Specifically retirement/pension. I know it's not what it used to be, but in my head they are still really good. I have the payscales, but I know it's the bennies that often make it worthwhile. Thanks in advance for the help!

Sorry, I don't have any info for you. I am curious to see how the process goes for you so please update if possible! Best of luck!!

Thanks for the info jeckrn! Much appreciated. Are you currently Army Peri-Op?

Hi everyone, Curious if anyone out here has experience as/knowledge of OR nursing in the military? I am civilian and transferring into the OR next month. My hospital trains us to circulate and scrub - it's a 9 month orientation. I anticipate liking scrubbing more and think I may want to pursue RNFA eventually down the road. I hope to apply FQ for OR to either Air Force or Army probably a year post orientation -- talking Oct '17 boards for AF. Wondering if RN's do both scrub and circulator roles in the military? I've noticed that Air Force has an OR designation while Army has Peri-Op -- anyone know if that means Army Peri-Op is pre-op/OR/pacu grouped together? I've been in touch with Air Force healthcare recruiters, but am not at a stage (physically) where I am comfortable going in to meet with them YET - I have a solid year to get there before beginning the long app process :) Thanks in advance for any information!

Hi, I applied to all the internship positions posted from mid- to late April. Have not heard anything yet. Anyone else having luck or hearing back? jlc, how did the interview go?