Thoughts/Experiences working in a V.A. hospital?

Bopeepinwv · Aug 20, 2007

HI, I'm not sure about the VA in your area, but I will say that the VA that I work at has alot of problems with staffing. We are currently very understaffed and having to work short most nights. The benefits here are good though, for each pay period (2 wks) I get 8 hours vacation time and 4 hrs sick leave. The stress from the staffing is hard to handle at times though and making it difficult for me to stay here. Good luck, I hope you get the position you seek.

TazziRN, RN · Aug 20, 2007

I have never worked VA but I take my dad to the one in Palo Alto every few months. I'm very impressed with what I see, and the people who work there seem happy. So happy that when I looked into getting a job a few months ago there were very few openings in this area, and the people who are already there have been there for a long time.

janetjanetbobanet · Aug 20, 2007

I have never worked VA but I take my dad to the one in Palo Alto every few months. I'm very impressed with what I see, and the people who work there seem happy. So happy that when I looked into getting a job a few months ago there were very few openings in this area, and the people who are already there have been there for a long time.

You would be happy, too, if you were getting paid what they are. It is the top paying VA in the country. Two of my co-workers from my VA in Kansas transferred there to take advantage of that, and transferring VA workers are what is keeping others from getting jobs there. I thought about doing that myself at one time and decided I didn't want to live in California so I didn't pursue it.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2007

you would be happy, too, if you were getting paid what they are. it is the top paying va in the country. two of my co-workers from my va in kansas transferred there to take advantage of that, and transferring va workers are what is keeping others from getting jobs there. i thought about doing that myself at one time and decided i didn't want to live in california so i didn't pursue it.

[evil]

thanks for the hot tip on landing a job in a d[color=wheat]e[color=white]sir[color=yellow]able area through the va! ouch!!..it's sizzling.

[/evil]

now's all i have to do is earn the $900,000.00 plus to buy a house in palo alto! :trout:

Sabby_NC · Aug 20, 2007

I worked in a VA hospital back in Tasmania Aust and it was a great experience for me. I was there 5 years and thoroughly enjoyed looking after the returned vets.

I worked OR, ICU and Surg floor.

gradRN2007, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2007

I did most of my clinical's at the VA in miami and it was wonderful. Besides they are all computerized, flow sheets etc, and the docs can access the system from home at night, the spinal cord unit was so phenomenal and a great learning experience. besides you dont have to account for every 2x2 or bandaid, and the vets get the best of the best at this hospital!!

its the largest system to transfer in and if'when i move i will definetly check out the va in my area

blueheaven · Aug 21, 2007

Seriously consider looking at the VA. Many advantages to working in the system. As with all places of employment, there is good along with the bad. One definate advantage is being able to transfer within the system and not lose any of your seniority. I also gained an additional $6000.00 a year when I moved to Baltimore from West Virginia. Among the VAs they have what is called locality pay, which is an average of all the hospitals in a geographic area and they adjust the base pay accordingly.

Ask to do a share day at your area VA. The nurses working in the unit will be able to give you a lot of information.

VA will pay 100% for your degree...BSN or MSN. They have many incentives, educational opportunities etc. Give it a try!

Aimmm · Jun 26, 2011

Does anyone know if the VA will hire a graduate from a non nln school who is a veteran and going to pursue a bsn from a ccne accredited program? And if that VA hires a veteran grad from the non nln school but the program is an accredited program, if that rn wanted to transfer to another VA hospital would there be issues of hiring that rn because of the non nln or is it because it's still within the VA system that the transfer would just go through? Also if so to transfer from one VA hospital to another VA in a different state are there any stipulations? Like do you have to work at the hospital for a year before they will transfer you? Thanks!

blueheaven · Jun 27, 2011

I work in a MICU in a VA. I transferred here from another VA. I get locality pay which is based on what hospitals are paying in the area. That is one advantae. I did not lose any seniority. There are staffing problems everywhere (I think) part of it is due to govt. cuts and hiring freezes that some hospitals have right now. I know we get pulled everywhere in house (except OR) when our census drops.

The area I live in also is one of the highest paying areas in the US too.

Aimmm · Jun 27, 2011

How long did you have to wait to transfer? Did you have to work at the VA for a certain period of time before you were able to transfer to another VA?

blueheaven · Jun 28, 2011

I don't know how long you would have to wait to "be in the system" before you could transfer. One note, there has to be a position at the VA you are transferring to. I was already in the VA system for 3 years before I transferred to Bmore.