Sacramento VA

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

I was just offered a position at the Sacramento VA for a psych nurse practitioner. The salary quote was low. I tried to negotiate but they wouldn't budge.

Does anyone work at the Mather location? Do you like it?

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.

What did you board as?

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

They offered me grade 3 step 4. I ended up not taking the job because my current employer offered me $20 more per hour. I am sad that I can't have the VA benefits though.

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.

That is the challenge. Even though you boarded fairly high, with needing to wait another 8 years to get to top out, you will still be making less than in the community. I am currently at the VA in another city and love working here. I am hoping to move to Sacramento and am interviewing for positions there both at the VA and working with a recruiter for a community placement. I got another offer that would pay me so much more, but I would only be doing med management all day, with limited resources on referrals, I'd have to give up my pension (I'm not fully vested yet), and lose my student loan repayment. Those things coupled with every community provider so far only wants to give like 2-3 weeks of PTO (to be used for both vacation and sick time). That's always the point where they lose me. I can't give up 8 weeks of PTO. I don't care how much money I make if I don't have time off to spend it.

Glad you were able to find a gig that worked for you! Stay safe!

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

What position did you apply for?

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

I decided  go with the VA.  I'll be starting in a couple of weeks

Are you at the Sacramento VA yet?

 

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Congrats! I hear the VA has some good benefits. I am in a Psych. DNP program now..

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On 9/17/2020 at 11:22 PM, PeacockMaiden said:

I decided  go with the VA.  I'll be starting in a couple of weeks

Are you at the Sacramento VA yet?

 

Hi, I have sent you a PM ?

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Hi! 

Do you have any suggestions for the personal statement? I know these programs are highly competitive and I am applying to the VA as well for the primary care speciality. 

 

Thank you!

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.

Yes. Before you apply make sure you take a long pause and thing about two things 1) why do you want to work with Veterans and 2) why you want a career with the VA.  The point of our residency is to prepare people for a long career serving our nation's Veterans. We have had people apply who do not want to work at the VA long term, which is fine, however, this might not be the program for them. More important talk about why you want to work with the Veteran population. They have a unique set of needs. We have had people apply who never mention Veterans at all in their personal statements.

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