The VA Hospital System.....like universal healthcare?

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My parents and grandparents are vets, and they get good healthcare that isn't expensive. Is that what universal healthcare would be like?

Also, I've heard from VA employees that they love working there, good benefits, pay is competitive. Maybe universal healthcare will be that way for docs and nurses. But then I was thinking if there isn't the competition anymore, the VA won't have to pay so well.

I have been working at a VA hospital for the past 18 years--my nursing career has been in county owned, private and now a VA hospital--and I can say the Vets get the best care around--supplies are bountiful and the Vets get all they need--we have extraordinary ancilliary support and some go out of their way to help the Vets--its most rewarding to help those who have ensured us the freedoms we now enjoy and cherish----and ps the pay is comparable

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Regarding VA hospitals - when my father was alive he had to drive more than an hour to a VA hospital/Doctor. He could see an MD in his hometown and it would be covered by Medicare. Since Medicare and VA are paid out of the same govt. funds I could never understand why he could not just see the MD in town and VA pay. Makes no sense to me. I think it is redundant and expensive. I will say that the care he got was appropriate at the VA, just a bother to drive so far and wait to be seen.

The VA is working on opening more outreach clinics to reduce travel time for vets. I know in MN that volunteers and the veterans service officers transport veterans to the VA for care.

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Specializes in ICU, Paeds ICU, Correctional, Education.
The biggest difference between VA and "universal" health care is the patients. The VA deals with people that volunteered to give their life for the country. Universal health care will have to deal with people that expect the system to bend over backward for them for "free". Saying that the VA is good statistically, so universal health care will be good statistically is not a valuable comparison.

Volunteered????? All of them???? Which history book was that in? "Dealing" with people???? And as for those that expect the system to bend over backward for free, well they obviously deserve to be sick, in pain and suffering. But let's not count them because they can be reduced to not "good statistically".

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You are talking about the same good folks that were running Walter Reed, right?

No.

Walter Reed is an Army hospital and is not part of the VA system.

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The biggest difference between VA and "universal" health care is the patients. The VA deals with people that volunteered to give their life for the country. Universal health care will have to deal with people that expect the system to bend over backward for them for "free". Saying that the VA is good statistically, so universal health care will be good statistically is not a valuable comparison.

A large number of vets in the VA system today are Viet Nam vets who were drafted- they did not volunteer.

A big myth about the VA is that the care is "free" or 100% paid for by taxpayers.

This is not true. There is a tiered system in which vets are classified. Some pay for a large percentage of their care themselves, some care is paid for by ins and Medicare, and some pts are not charged for care.

Just like every other health care system, the VA also deals with people who drug seek, expect the system to bend over-backwards for them, use the system, etc.

Every system of any kind has that.

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My parents and grandparents are vets, and they get good healthcare that isn't expensive. Is that what universal healthcare would be like?

Also, I've heard from VA employees that they love working there, good benefits, pay is competitive. Maybe universal healthcare will be that way for docs and nurses. But then I was thinking if there isn't the competition anymore, the VA won't have to pay so well.

There is no competition. Federal is an entirely separate entity from anywhere else. As long as there are wars and conflict...I will have a job. Sadly. Working in the VA system is different than out in the community (in some areas) Your pay is based on the area where you live (you make more if you work in a metropolitan area) The VA does a study of the local hospitals and bases its local pay scale on that. Also, they have a system like a career ladder that you can advance.

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Just like hospitals outside the VA, you have some that are better than others. The same errors that are made in the "real world" are made in the VA system too. We have many initiatives and directives to improve pts. health and overall wellness. I do have to stay on my husbands PCP to do his labs and ultrasounds (as set up in VHA guidelines) q6m and I need to get them to refer him to GI clinic but this should be no problem. Most VAMCs are associated with a university school of medicine and are teaching hospitals so the most current therapies and tx. are being given.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.

My son is a VA nurse in Manhattan and loves it. The system has its flaws, but they are actually very progressive. He was using ELectronic Medical Records before most hospitals even knew what they were. Don't confuse the VA with the Military Healthcare System, they are two different things. I completed my Masters' Degree online, and a lot of my classmates were Canadian. The things I learned about their Universal Healthcare have convinced me that Americans are not ready for UHC - we complain when our insurance company raises the copay on medications, try dealing with a system that uses rationing.

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My dad is a Korean conflict/War Veteran and even though he is seen basically by residents. The only time he see's the attending is when his illness or injury warrents. But, he will tell you and I will also, the residents will visit him off duty just to sit and talk with him, gaining more insight into his situation. This has been a great comfort to him. My hat is off to the healthcare workers of the Veteran's administration.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.

As a case manager, I love working with residents (first year excluded, perhaps). They are still in the learning process (thus more inquisitive) and seem more interested in their patients. Residents still have team mentality, attendings feel as if they are above the rest of the team.

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatrics, Oncology.
How much do the VA nurses make? I cant find anything on google or any of the salary.com sites

Ive always wanted to help veterans but I also need to be able to support my parents.

Well I am getting ready to start working for the VA Hospital here in Houston, TX. The pay is based on how years of nsg experience you have. They have Nurse I, II, III, IV, V. Plus here in Houston we get a locality pay. You also get 5 wks vacation, 13 sick days a year, 10 paid holidays, and 25% diff on the weekend. Oh double time if you work the holiday. Where are you located?

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