SHORTAGE OF NURSES

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2015

It's VA policy. Title 38 emplyees are not eligable for veterans preference.

...and I could have saved myself the typing, LOL, except that maybe additional confirmation might be in order here :)

While it's true that each VA has considerable leeway when it comes to adapting/changing/enforcing policies, in some things they are quite identical: Veteran points and preferential status is one of them.

The only preference when it comes to Title 38's that I know of is when HR keeps a file of resumes from Veterans who would fall into Title 38, so that they can notify them when positions become available. But they would still have to apply and go through the identical process that a non-Vet would; best candidate wins.

RonaldLS · Apr 28, 2015

I had not realized that disabled veterans don't receive any preference for Nursing jobs... It makes a perverse sense, but I'll be damned if the VA doesn't try to keep that little fact away from the public eye. I can only find references to 38 USC 7401 (1) on allnurses forums, and the legalese of the actual bill is far less instructive than I'd like.

On the subject of seeking employment at the VA, I've been lead to believe that the lengthy employment review process may have something to do with background checks and other red tape. If I were to perform volunteer work or work in housekeeping @ a VA facility (in the process going through a background check), does anyone know if doing this would serve to expedite any application w/ the VA?

Also, does anyone have any solid advice for Nursing student that would assist them in getting a job with a quickness after graduation?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2015

does anyone have any solid advice for Nursing student that would assist them in getting a job with a quickness after graduation?

1. Be willing to relocate to locales where people are not exactly flocking to live: Wyoming, North Dakota, South Texas along the Mexican border, rural Kentucky, etc.

2. Be willing to accept nursing jobs outside the acute care hospital.

Many of the people who complain about not having employment a year or more after graduation are either dead-set on certain competitive specialties (ER, NICU, critical care, peds, L&D) or refuse to leave saturated areas (California, NYC, NJ, Philly, Boston, parts of Florida, parts of Colorado).

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 29, 2015

1. Be willing to relocate to locales where people are not exactly flocking to live: Wyoming, North Dakota, South Texas along the Mexican border, rural Kentucky, etc.
2. Be willing to accept nursing jobs outside the acute care hospital.
Many of the people who complain about not having employment a year or more after graduation are either dead-set on certain competitive specialties (ER, NICU, critical care, peds, L&D) or refuse to leave saturated areas (California, NYC, NJ, Philly, Boston, parts of Florida, parts of Colorado).

Very good advice.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 29, 2015

I had not realized that disabled veterans don't receive any preference for Nursing jobs... It makes a perverse sense, but I'll be damned if the VA doesn't try to keep that little fact away from the public eye. I can only find references to 38 USC 7401 (1) on allnurses forums, and the legalese of the actual bill is far less instructive than I'd like.

It's the one area of employment with VA that points don't matter; the thinking (I believe) is that while giving an advantage to someone who has military points in most departments is perfectly fine, when it comes to the actual medical & nursing professionals (the reason the building is standing there), it's prioritized for the best CARE, not the most points. There's plenty of jobs, PLENTY, where those points do equal a better chance of employment, believe me!

On the subject of seeking employment at the VA, I've been lead to believe that the lengthy employment review process may have something to do with background checks and other red tape. If I were to perform volunteer work or work in housekeeping @ a VA facility (in the process going through a background check), does anyone know if doing this would serve to expedite any application w/ the VA?

You cannot get a job in housekeeping without going through a complete background check, fingerprinting, so that's not a 'faster' way to employment in general. It is a paid job, so it does take a bit of time to get cleared. HOWEVER, these jobs are reserved for Veterans (now there's a preference for ya!) and it doesn't take much to get in the door. The kind of history that would prevent a nurse from being licensed doesn't prevent a housekeeping or food service applicant from being hired. Just is what it is. But you WILL get 'prioritized', if you will, if you are a current employee when a job posting goes up. A current employee with an excellent work history AT VA will have a leg up on those who are coming in blind. In fact, I've known a good number of CNAs who have taken jobs elsewhere in the building just to get in the door; when a job opens up....they are right there to take it :) Can't say I know that of nurses, but you never know for sure.

Also worth noting is the time it takes to get someone in for housekeeping, food service, unit clerk is MUCH MUCH faster than the nursing route: no credentialing process, so someone could apply, be interviewed, go through the physicals etc and be on board in a few weeks' time.

Regarding volunteering, you will also have the same fingerprinting and background check as an employee, although obviously no credentialing. My VA has about a 2-week turnaround time to get someone from volunteer orientation to placement, provided the prospective volunteer does everything requested in a timely fashion.

And YES, once you're a volunteer, and prove yourself a worthy future employee, there's no doubt it HAS gotten people employed :) No guarantees, but hey....every bit helps, right?

Lastly, once one is an employee or volunteer and then is seeking a nursing position, that would be the time to expect the complete/thorough credentialing process. If it was ok before, it may not be when asking about nursing. But then, if you've gotten licensed, it's unlikely you'd have something in your history that would be a deal killer.

Also, does anyone have any solid advice for Nursing student that would assist them in getting a job with a quickness after graduation?

If you're in a BSN program, ask about VALOR nursing program options within VA. These are intern/student positions, paid jobs, during the summertime school break. We have hired from that pool of students WHEN a new grad position is open, so yes, it helps a lot. When there's no job opening, of course one is not created because a new grad is well-liked; it has to actually exist and then it's there for the filling. :)

Good luck!

RonaldLS · Apr 29, 2015

@RNsRWe

Thank you for the thorough answering of my questions! I really appreciate your advice, I'd never heard of the VALOR program before... I'll definitely give that a swing combined w/ some volunteer work while attending the Nursing program. Worse comes to worse I'll at least get a good letter of recommendation.

Anna S, RN · May 3, 2015

It's VA policy. Title 38 emplyees are not eligable for veterans preference.

The VA ignores/breaks their policies constantly.

districthopeful · May 4, 2015

It's very likely they do. I, however, wouldn't want to put all my hopes into them bending rules for me only to be disappointed when they don't.

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · May 4, 2015

In some areas of the U.S., yes. But it's usually very rural cities. Where I live they can't keep RNs employed in the hospital, but no one wants to live here.

"Very Rural" I disagree. My employer is the second largest employer in my whole state and is experiencing shortages everywhere from the smallest of towns to the state capital. I get a letter or email once a week from a headhunters asking me if I want to move out of state for a job. Las Vegas right now is offering $5-25k signing bonuses at some of the hospitals, and my friend works at a major hospital in Phoenix, and they had to shut down a whole 42 bed unit and relocate the nurses (and patients) from that floor to others because they did not have enough nurses to staff.

I am sure there are some areas of the country that are oversaturated, and I am sure there are a million reasons why, but what I know is that, yes, in some places... nurses are desperately needed.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · May 5, 2015

"Very Rural" I disagree. My employer is the second largest employer in my whole state and is experiencing shortages everywhere from the smallest of towns to the state capital. I get a letter or email once a week from a headhunters asking me if I want to move out of state for a job. Las Vegas right now is offering $5-25k signing bonuses at some of the hospitals, and my friend works at a major hospital in Phoenix, and they had to shut down a whole 42 bed unit and relocate the nurses (and patients) from that floor to others because they did not have enough nurses to staff.
I am sure there are some areas of the country that are oversaturated, and I am sure there are a million reasons why, but what I know is that, yes, in some places... nurses are desperately needed.

I said usually & usually the shortages, as someone pointed out, are because people don't want to live there/stay at the hospital or the hospital's don't want to hire enough staff.

caliotter3 · May 5, 2015

There is a shortage in Bakersfield, that is where I live.Its in California

I would consider moving to Bakersfield for work if it weren't an oven. I can't physically tolerate living in an oven!

OrganizedChaos, LVN · May 5, 2015

I would consider moving to Bakersfield for work if it weren't an oven. I can't physically tolerate living in an oven!

I live in Texas & it's not so bad. Ok. It sucks. The highs are already in the high 80s. But I'm not worried about landing a job when I get my RN.