VA Hiring Process

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From the previous posts I've read the VA hiring process is pretty long and drawn out. I've applied to two different VA sites. The VA an hour away from my home I can always get in contact with a nurse recruiter and my application status for two posting says "referred to selecting official." The VA closest to my home, I can't get through to the recruiter, she emailed me back once and the status of all the apps just says "application received." I do know a nurse practitioner that works at this VA site and she tried to give my resume to the recruiter, but I had to apply online.

For those of you that are familiar with the hiring process, any idea what the next step is. In all there are around 20 RN vacancies. The two systems have two completely different online application submissions, how will I know if I've completed the application process correctly, its a little confusing :(

I've been applying since I've graduated and earlier this year I found out that I was applying the wrong way so those positions don't count. These positions closed in September.

Thanks in advance ?

Hi Everyone, I have been reading everyone's experiences with getting the coveted "FINAL OFFER" from the VA Medical Center. It's nice to know I am not alone. I am not a nurse but a Health Unit Coordinator. The VA call's us Medical Support Assistant's. I got my "tentative offer" on Jan 31, 2013....I am still in the "boarding process" they say, waiting on the "BOARD" to sign off on it so they can make a final offer. I made the mistake of thinking this process was going to be QUICKER so after I had emergency surgery in Dec I decided to not go back to that job thinking the VA job was right around the corner!!! WRONG!!! so here I am, waiting like everyone else. I even emailed the HR person about concerns I had in the hiring process because of the sequester. The email I received back assured me that the sequester didn't have any effect on the VA...no hiring freeze's etc...soooo ok...I am about ready to give up! I need the job like a month ago! I sure hope the final offer comes soon...One income isn't cutting it.

Did the nurse manager interviewed you?

The nurse manager has to approve and call your reference becase the manaher would be the one to forword your job request to hr. Im not sure with the va hospital you applied.

I got interviewed in san francisco and long beach

GOODLUCK

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How long did they board you?

After my vetpro and eqip was cleared. It took them 2 weeks to board me and got my final offer.

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Hi Everyone, I have been reading everyone's experiences with getting the coveted "FINAL OFFER" from the VA Medical Center. It's nice to know I am not alone. I am not a nurse but a Health Unit Coordinator. The VA call's us Medical Support Assistant's. I got my "tentative offer" on Jan 31, 2013....I am still in the "boarding process" they say, waiting on the "BOARD" to sign off on it so they can make a final offer. I made the mistake of thinking this process was going to be QUICKER so after I had emergency surgery in Dec I decided to not go back to that job thinking the VA job was right around the corner!!! WRONG!!! so here I am, waiting like everyone else. I even emailed the HR person about concerns I had in the hiring process because of the sequester. The email I received back assured me that the sequester didn't have any effect on the VA...no hiring freeze's etc...soooo ok...I am about ready to give up! I need the job like a month ago! I sure hope the final offer comes soon...One income isn't cutting it.

How long did they board you?

After my vetpro and eqip was cleared. It took them 2 weeks to board me and got my final offer.

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@senRN...I was not interviewed for the job I applied to simply because I have an "in" at the VA...meaning, I did my internship there, plus my brother works in the dept I applied so I know the "boss" of the dept and have had extensive contact with her. She want's me in the dept and has done what she can to make it happen...so in that respect I am fortunate. Now I am at the mercy of "THE BOARD" On Feb 8, 2013 I recieved an email for an appointment at the VA with HR to turn in my paper work, get finger printed, go to Occupational health to turn in my health reacords and get put into the computer as an "employee" On Feb 28th I recieved another email from HR saying....We are looking at a tentative start date of 3/24; this is if we get your approved board action back by 3/15. If not returned by 3/15, then we should be able to start you effective 4/7..

Needless to say I still haven't heard anything other than:

Hi Julie,

The VA has not received word of any hiring freeze applied to this agency. Nor have we received news of furloughs affecting this agency.

Your position and placement in that position are on track for your entrance on duty once we have a signed board action from the Director’s office, which we expect to be very soon if it hasn’t already happened.

soooo...where do I go from here? Do I email them back again? Make some phone calls or what? It's Good Friday today so it will probably have to wait till Monday...soooooo frustrating

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How long did they board you?

After my vetpro and eqip was cleared. It took them 2 weeks to board me and got my final offer.

Hey I had some questions about the hiring process if you don't mind sharing. I have an interview next week and wanted to know. I have read on some blogs there is a math test and pharm test you must do. Did you have to do this? Also, I know there is a physical. What are they looking for on those? Did they tell you what they consider passing? I did a physical for another hospital and it was moving around 50 lb crates, and walking up stairs, and squats. They also measured your heart rate, BP, and O2 sat. Is it the same for the VA? Do you have any tips about the interview?

Thank you!

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I was hoping someone who already worked for the VA could answer these questions for me. How easy is it to transfer from one VA to another? They state you can transfer from one VA to another if there is a job opening and you are selected. I was curious if anyone has done this or knows someone who has done this and how long you have to work there in order to transfer.

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Hey I had some questions about the hiring process if you don't mind sharing. I have an interview next week and wanted to know. I have read on some blogs there is a math test and pharm test you must do. Did you have to do this? Also, I know there is a physical. What are they looking for on those? Did they tell you what they consider passing? I did a physical for another hospital and it was moving around 50 lb crates, and walking up stairs, and squats. They also measured your heart rate, BP, and O2 sat. Is it the same for the VA? Do you have any tips about the interview?

Thank you!

I don't work for the VA yet. I did just recently have a physical as part of the hiring process. The physical was very basic. I filled out a health history and went over it with the dr also a hearing test, vision tests ( near and far sight, color blindness, and depth perception). Basic neuro check, basic ROM, urine sample and blood work. Some require an EKG It took less then two hours total and everyone was extremely professional and nice.

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Thank you all for this discussion, it has helped me tremendously through out this whole process. Here is my timeline and experience.

-Started applying to the VA Thanksgiving 2012.

-Applied to this position 1/28/2013

-Got a call for an interview 1 month later but was unable to attend the specific dates because of prior obligations so they let me interview a couple days before.

-Panel Interview 3/1/2013

-Called for references the next week.

-Offered Position 3/11/2013.

-Vetpro info sent 2 days later. *Completed Same Day*

-Equip and Physical/Background done on 3/18/2013

-Called for official offer and start date 4/2/2013

-My start date is 4/8/2013

The start date is so soon because they said the unit I was hired in has a shortage of nurses and really need people to start asap. So the hr lady got permission from her department head and got me started asap.

Hope this helps.

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Does anyone know if RNs get tuition reimbursement with VA jobs? I interviewed yesterday and one reference was called today. I would really like to go RN-MSN but can't afford it on my own. I now this may be premature but am trying to look ahead and have had trouble finding anything definitive.

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From what I have read online and in some of the policies online, they will pay for it after 1 year of service but you must commit a certain amount of service after finishing school.

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Specializes in ER.
Good news! I talked to a friend who is in the residency program at another VA. She confirmed that she and another classmate were hired without an interview. She said that she was also given a verbal contingency offer & then scheduled for physical, etc. She said that because it's the new grad program, that the hiring process is slightly different & should only take about 2 months. Knowing that has helped alleviate some stress, but I'll feel much better once I hear back from the recruiter. :)

So how did you get hired as a new grad? What area are you in? Is it a special program for new grads? If so, how did ypu find out about it?

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From what I have read online and in some of the policies online, they will pay for it after 1 year of service but you must commit a certain amount of service after finishing school.

Thank you. I've read this website for awhile now but hadn't posted until tonight. Does anyone know how to find the post you made afterwards so you can see if there are any responses? Sorry if this is silly but I've looked everywhere.

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