VA/Govt Nurse Satisfaction

newnurse2005 · Jul 31, 2005

I have not. Did you look it up on the internet? Here is the url. http://www.visn1.med.va.gov/boston/
Generally, any of the VA websites gives you a general idea of the services they offer to vets and the make up of the staff.

Thanks. I'm just hoping to hear about what's NOT on the website or what would be told to me by HR. I'll probably go to the cafeteria and speak candidly with the nurses there so I get a better feel for it. As of right now, I've heard wonderful things -- plus the benefits can't be beat!

Can anyone else help? Any information at all about the Boston VA?

crystalclear · Aug 7, 2005

I have been employed with the VA for 10 years, 3mos. and 24 days. I was an LPN within the system for a little over 7 years and now I am an RN.
The system can be frustrating as one person mentioned , and yes, it takes an act of Congress to get rid of a lazy person. No offense to the male nurses; however, if your nurse manager happens to be female( who happens to show favoritism toward the male RN) and there is only one male RN on the floor who happens to come in to work anytime they feel like it, it discourages and disheartens the rest of the staff.
If you don't have a BSN you will not advance unless of course you were hired before the mandate went into effect in January 2000.
The VA does have a program to help pay with furthering one's education called NNEI (National Nurse Eduacation Incentive).
I have enjoyed the health insurance coverage that I have; however, I do not have any chronic illnesses / ailments. The only downfall that I have regarding the health insurance is the dental portion. It would be great if the VA offered dental coverage for braces and the such.
The VA does have an employees' labor union; however, it is only as strong as the membership and it counts if the local president isn't "sleeping with the enemy."
I would suggest that you tour your local VA and if you know of anyone who works there ask them for a "rundown".
It also disheartens staff when the PA(physician assistant) doesn not want to hear staff input regarding patients' assessments; especially when the PA has not been in the health care field as long as the staff.

Hi, Im very interested in working for the VA Medical Center. I am a new lpn grad and I've looked @ vacareers.com and va.gov.com and there aren't any jobs listed for lpn's. Do you think I have to visit or call the facility or maybe the don't need lpn's? :crying2: Do you have any idea what the pay scale is like for lpn's. I can't afford to work at the area hospital because the pay is extremely bad.:angryfire The ltc facilty's pay pretty well, but I would lovvvvve to work @ the VA!!!!. I feel it will give me a big challenge.. Any input????

newnurse2005 · Aug 8, 2005

Hi, Im very interested in working for the VA Medical Center. I am a new lpn grad and I've looked @ vacareers.com and va.gov.com and there aren't any jobs listed for lpn's. Do you think I have to visit or call the facility or maybe the don't need lpn's? Do you have any idea what the pay scale is like for lpn's. I can't afford to work at the area hospital because the pay is extremely bad.:angryfire The ltc facilty's pay pretty well, but I would lovvvvve to work @ the VA!!!!. I feel it will give me a big challenge.. Any input????

You should definitely call the HR/nurse recruiter at the location you're interested working at. That's how I found out there were new grad RN openings - which are STILL not posted online. I'm sure that the pay is probably better than at your community hospitals, plus the benefits alone are great. Good luck!

Birdwatcher1, RN · Sep 1, 2005

I'm about to bail on my VA staff RN position....have been there less than a year, was told in a staff meeting today that it didn't matter that we newer nurses earned 5 wks leave per year, all we were assured of getting is 1 week during 'premium' season (June-Sept) otherwise more senior staff get their picks and they could cancel ours out at will (they are all on an open calendar, viewable to everyone).

Manager then said I and other newbies might not get any leave this coming year if it conflicts with that of longer-term hires; there are over 20 nurses on the floor and only one can go at a time due to 'patient needs' (the ever-present excuse for denying everything and mandating overtime, which is daily for some poor unlucky nurse).

What good is lots of annual leave-one of the main VA benes- if you can't use it?

Another reason I will likely leave is I've only gotten 2 days off in a row once during the past 6 wks, and that wasn't even on a weekend. Have been doing day/eves with just one day off between shift changes, talk about no life! It's wearing me out, plain and simple.

Hope your VA has better management.

4ZBirds

Sad and disappointed

va nurse · Sep 1, 2005

Hi 4ZBirds,

I'm so sorry to hear that you are having such trouble using your leave. It sounds like you happened into a poorly managed V.A. hospital unit. They are probably perpetually understaffed due to staff members leaving for the reasons you listed. They are in a viscious cycle and "can't see the forest for the trees". Before giving up on the V.A., have you considered moving to another postition at your hospital or even to a different city? At the very least, let someone know how all of you feel. Come January, if I understand correctly, the V.A. will no longer be able to use mandatory overtime. Have you heard of this? I wish you luck in finding a better position.

VA Nurse

I'm about to bail on my VA staff RN position....have been there less than a year, was told in a staff meeting today that it didn't matter that we newer nurses earned 5 wks leave per year, all we were assured of getting is 1 week during 'premium' season (June-Sept) otherwise more senior staff get their picks and they could cancel ours out at will (they are all on an open calendar, viewable to everyone).
Manager then said I and other newbies might not get any leave this coming year if it conflicts with that of longer-term hires; there are over 20 nurses on the floor and only one can go at a time due to 'patient needs' (the ever-present excuse for denying everything and mandating overtime, which is daily for some poor unlucky nurse).
What good is lots of annual leave-one of the main VA benes- if you can't use it?
Another reason I will likely leave is I've only gotten 2 days off in a row once during the past 6 wks, and that wasn't even on a weekend. Have been doing day/eves with just one day off between shift changes, talk about no life! It's wearing me out, plain and simple.
Hope your VA has better management.
4ZBirds
Sad and disappointed

Birdwatcher1, RN · Sep 1, 2005

Thank you VA Nurse for the encouragement; I do love serving the veterans and this facility is just 10 minutes fromhome. I did not know about the mandated OT going away, I will check that out--sure hope it's applicable here!

I and some other new nurses on that unit have a meeting with the DON today to tell her (again) we are between a rock and a hard place. I am hoping to transfer within the hospital but openings are few and far between, and are primarily done to satisfy union reqs as a person has already (unofficially) been chosen. Plus although I have a BSN I have been a nurse

You are right about the poorly managed unit. The manager has a pet who gets away with amazingly dangerous things that are also against practice standards and some are downright illegal. She's been written up many times and people who write her up become her enemies, subject to all sorts of things. That's another vicious cycle I was unaware of when I was hired on here.

Anyway please keep your fingers crossed for us!

4ZBirds

Hi 4ZBirds,
I'm so sorry to hear that you are having such trouble using your leave. It sounds like you happened into a poorly managed V.A. hospital unit. They are probably perpetually understaffed due to staff members leaving for the reasons you listed. They are in a viscious cycle and "can't see the forest for the trees". Before giving up on the V.A., have you considered moving to another postition at your hospital or even to a different city? At the very least, let someone know how all of you feel. Come January, if I understand correctly, the V.A. will no longer be able to use mandatory overtime. Have you heard of this? I wish you luck in finding a better position.
VA Nurse

va nurse · Sep 1, 2005

I'm happy that I may have shown you some options. I believe that the overtime rule is mandated V.A. wide for January. You should definitely bring it up. It is amazing how similar the V.A. that you work for sounds to the one that I work for. I have run into the same sort of problems; not so much with O.T. but definitely with pre-selection of positions and promotions. EEOC should be involved in such illegal activity. I guess one of the reasons that I refuse to let them discourage me is because I'm a Vet. In fact, I'm a 10-point Vet with a 30% service connected disability. They are not going to run me off. I have worked in 4 different positions in the last 6-years. The advantage of this is that I'm getting a broader picture of how things are run and how they fit together. I'm considering moving to another city in the future. Hang in there.

va nurse

Thank you VA Nurse for the encouragement; I do love serving the veterans and this facility is just 10 minutes fromhome. I did not know about the mandated OT going away, I will check that out--sure hope it's applicable here!
I and some other new nurses on that unit have a meeting with the DON today to tell her (again) we are between a rock and a hard place. I am hoping to transfer within the hospital but openings are few and far between, and are primarily done to satisfy union reqs as a person has already (unofficially) been chosen. Plus although I have a BSN I have been a nurse
You are right about the poorly managed unit. The manager has a pet who gets away with amazingly dangerous things that are also against practice standards and some are downright illegal. She's been written up many times and people who write her up become her enemies, subject to all sorts of things. That's another vicious cycle I was unaware of when I was hired on here.
Anyway please keep your fingers crossed for us!
4ZBirds

Mais-Rose · Sep 1, 2005

I'm about to bail on my VA staff RN position....have been there less than a year, was told in a staff meeting today that it didn't matter that we newer nurses earned 5 wks leave per year, all we were assured of getting is 1 week during 'premium' season (June-Sept) otherwise more senior staff get their picks and they could cancel ours out at will (they are all on an open calendar, viewable to everyone).
Manager then said I and other newbies might not get any leave this coming year if it conflicts with that of longer-term hires; there are over 20 nurses on the floor and only one can go at a time due to 'patient needs' (the ever-present excuse for denying everything and mandating overtime, which is daily for some poor unlucky nurse).
What good is lots of annual leave-one of the main VA benes- if you can't use it?
Another reason I will likely leave is I've only gotten 2 days off in a row once during the past 6 wks, and that wasn't even on a weekend. Have been doing day/eves with just one day off between shift changes, talk about no life! It's wearing me out, plain and simple.
Hope your VA has better management.
4ZBirds
Sad and disappointed

4ZBirds, your VA sounds an awful lot like my VA. I have been there less than one year as well, and I have seen at least 5 RN's and a few LPN,s resign. I feel like I am right behind them. I truly am shocked at the way things are. It is not only one area that is lacking, it is a total breakdown. Many people say it that way where ever you go, but I have been at at least two other hospitals and the only things I can complain about are the things that are an evidence of nationwide nursing shortage, e.g high patient to nurse ratio, working short staffed, or being pulled to other floors. The other things here at the VA leave me permanently jaw-dropped, and shaking in my boots. Anyhow, here's hoping another job will come available soon. I don't believe VA nursing is for me.

mak2 · Sep 3, 2005

I have worked for the VA for years and love 90%, which is about 50% more than anywhere else I have worked. There are some incredibly lazy people working for the government that cannot be fired. It is difficult to get nurse 3. Hey, wonder if I can call this posting being published? But other than that it really is all good. My wife works at another hospital and I know how much they make really. We make lots more. Vacation time really makes my wife mad.

clc79092 · Sep 4, 2005

I would not work for the VA for love or money! When I graduated the first and only place I applied was the VA. That is where I wanted to be even though they paid a little less than the other local hospitals. I interveiwed and was told the job was mine. I did my physical and the doctor went on vacation before filing her report. Every week for 10 weeks I was told I had the job they just needed to get the doctors report to give me a start date. After the doctor returned from her vaction she had lost everything. I was called and asked to come to her office for a few questions. When I arrived I had to redo the complete physical including 14 x-rays. Finally after 10 weeks of frustration I was told I could not work for the government since I had had knee surgery 10 years previously (arthroscopic). The lady (and I use that term very loosely) running HR was smug and took great delight in telling me I was not a fit candidate for a nurse for the government. I did not meet their high standards. I graduated with honors. I went that day to another hospital applied, interviewed and was hired the next day. I work in a telemetry/ stepdown unit. The 12 hour shifts have never bother my knee either. If the government needs nurses too bad they can just stuff it.

Birdwatcher1, RN · Sep 4, 2005

va nurse, I am again hoping you are right about the end of mandating in January (except in case of disaster/bad storm, of course)...today I worked, it's a holiday weekend and 3 people called off, so 2 were mandated and 1 floated from another unit. I am still new enough they didn't make me stay but it will happen soon enough. BTW more people quit this week so they will never reach their staff goal anyway, which is their excuse for not making our schedule 'normal' again-and the carrot they dangle in front of us. Time for me to get serious about getting out! :stone

4ZBirds

Hoozdo, ADN · Dec 26, 2005

I would not work for the VA for love or money! When I graduated the first and only place I applied was the VA. That is where I wanted to be even though they paid a little less than the other local hospitals. I interveiwed and was told the job was mine. I did my physical and the doctor went on vacation before filing her report. Every week for 10 weeks I was told I had the job they just needed to get the doctors report to give me a start date. After the doctor returned from her vaction she had lost everything. I was called and asked to come to her office for a few questions. When I arrived I had to redo the complete physical including 14 x-rays. Finally after 10 weeks of frustration I was told I could not work for the government since I had had knee surgery 10 years previously (arthroscopic). The lady (and I use that term very loosely) running HR was smug and took great delight in telling me I was not a fit candidate for a nurse for the government. I did not meet their high standards. I graduated with honors. I went that day to another hospital applied, interviewed and was hired the next day. I work in a telemetry/ stepdown unit. The 12 hour shifts have never bother my knee either. If the government needs nurses too bad they can just stuff it.

Hi all,

Ruh row, how intense is this physical? I am a new grad ADN that accepted a job with the VA earilier this week. My physical is on 1/4. I had a liver transplant six years ago. If people are flunking the physical due to arthroscopic knee surgery........just imagine what they will think of me :confused: Should I be concerned?

Thanks!