VA clinic

I worked at a contracted CBOC for about a year. I liked it a lot. getting up to speed on the VA EMR system (CPRS) will take a little time, but it's easy to use once you get the hang of it. I believe that it's standard in VA clinics to book patients 30 minutes apart, as apposed to 15 or even 10, in some HMO's. That makes for a pretty leisurely day. Unless of course a patient is 30 minutes late. The problem I disliked the most was that as contract employees, most of the staff really had no idea what military service is all about and sometimes had a hard time relating to the client base. As a veteran, this bugged me. All in all, I had a good time, but moved on to another VA position in Hyperbaric Medicine when it was offered to me. It is a very good place to hone your nursing skills, i.e, VS, histories, chief complaint, immunizations, PPD placement and reading, B-12 injections, blood draws, insulin education, etc. Hope this helps. Good luck...

Great thanks so much for the reply! Hopefully I get an offer.

I'm in a similar situation. I work med-surg/oncology at the VA hospital and I'm considering a new position in a clinic. Hospital work is great on skills but I've been exhausted lately and don't feel confident that I even want to work in a hospital setting anymore but everyone tells me it's the best place to be..... Hmmmm I'm torn. Where did this strong belief that nurses should be in a hospital come from? Plus I drive 80 miles one way and my new clinic job is only 10 miles away :)

I know Dawn I feel the same way. I feel like some people will look down on me if I work outside a hospital but we have to do what makes us happy. If we never try we will never know if we will like it more than the hospital. You should definitely apply for the clinic job if it's only 10 miles away that's way better.

Nursing school emphasizes hospital employment, but there are so many other places to work. I work for a physicians' group M-F 830a-530p with no nights, weekends or holidays. I don't think I'll ever return to hospital/bedside nursing.

I like the clinic so much better than working on the floor. I had gone a very long time without working in a hospital setting and was apprehensive about re-entering hospital floor nursing after so many years. What I found out is that, all-in-all, not much had changed and what had changed was so minute that it was easy to pick right up. I wouldn't stress over loosing your skills if you've had hospital experience. IMO, the skills are engrained.

Clinic experience is very desirable to employers seeking a nurse for a position in their clinic. I still prefer private practice specialty clinic work though.

Good luck with your employment endeavors.

I see this posting was from 2012, but, I will be having a phone interview with our VA clinic next week. I have been primarily in a hospital setting for the last 20 years. I just can't take it anymore. I was wondering if anyone enjoys working for the VA?