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 ?

I interviewed in late March, "tentatively selected" in June. Paperwork received and returned, VetPro and Eqip completed, transcripts all received in June. The questions were hard for me. I have done so many things but it was hard to make them seem like much as I wrote out the few I selected :( The recruiter told me back in June that it would be 6-8 wks after receiving everything before a salary and formal offer would be extended. I got the salary in early August with an email that said she needed to be sure everything was together, then would provide start dates. I got those a few days ago--a choice of three which are three, five and seven weeks from now.

I took a job July 1 bc I could not wait any longer for the VA but continued to pursue it and do what was asked. Now I have a huge decision to make. I can stay with the first job which may be okay. It is hard to know until you have been there awhile, you know? Or I can leave (ugh, the thought of resigning so soon makes me ill) and take the VA job. First job allows me to work from home probably by December.

For all VA hopefuls, get your BSNs if you don't have them. I have a BA in a non-health related field so the BA counts for nothing. The salary difference is huge for Assoc vs BSN. In my case, it is probably about $15,000. I will probably go RN to MSN but wish I had already done it!

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N2B8U-

The job market sounds rough where you're located!

May I ask where you are--generally speaking?

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Hi Evgeneia, I'm in the Appalachian Mountain region of 3 bordering states: KY, OH, and WV. Our market is saturated with nurses. One of the largest hospitals just made their third round of lay-offs (this one not related to economy, but business practices). The jobs I'm interviewing for will require me to move at a minimum 2 hours to a maximum 4 hours away from my home of last 24 years. I've tried locally since May and nada. Like I said, at this point I'm just happy to be able to start a job while I wait on VA. I'm hoping they will allow me to stay on prn just to keep my skill set polished as his is with a large teaching facility.

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Received tentative offer from the VA today. Now for VetPro, E-quip, physical, and fingerprints. YAY!! I'm surprised that things have kept on a weekly schedule. The HR rep requested I call to set up my appointment for fingerprints and physical no later than 9/4.

Anyone else with any news?

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Specializes in Operating Room, ICU, CCRN.

Yay! Congrats on your tentative offer!!! No updates for me yet. I'm hoping my background check gets completed by next week and my packet goes to the board. Fingers crossed :)

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I've been told by my HR rep that I should be getting my offer within the next few days. I hope it's a good offer.

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HI. I am in the process of being hired (actually a re hire with > 1 year break in service) and it is a long and painful process. I think every HR dept is in their own zone of things and dont' get it. I get a plethra of mixed information, have all these different people in and out of my case trying to call me for x, y, z. I interviewed end of May and got job offer that day, but didn't get the official job offer until 4 weeks later. Finished Vetpro quickly, sent all forms and then there was a licensure delay of about 2 weeks. Since then still waiting. I have no been boarded fully and they asked for all this extra information. I have been faxing things over daily some weeks. Part of it is that I am a former employee from another state. Now someone to high and might on the food chain held up the next step on a DEA license renewal (misinformation, etc) so that has takne 2 weeks now. I hope to get my confirmation letter and start the 9th. I was offered info on EDRP and will have it in my offer letter, anyone with any history on that? Overall...It has been since End of May to start in Sept. *sigh*. It is though a good place, its quirky...one person does one thing and when they are gone the whole thing goes to pot. But then that one person knows their stuff well. I was with them for 6 years the first time and really liked it. Thanks for letting me vent

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Hi all. Got my offer of my base salary. I asked for the weekend to think it over. I can't afford to take a pay cut, so I'm trying to be sure I understand all of the variables. If anyone has answers to the following questions, I'd be very appreciative.

I understand you get paid for all federal holidays, whether you work them or not. Do you get paid for 8 hours or your normal shift of 12?

The health benefit options are overwhelming and costs vary significantly. Do most people just choose the Blue Cross option for a standard family plan? We have a child with medical needs, so this is important to us.

I will be working EOW, and I think the shift diff for that is .25 X base hourly rate....does that seem right?

Also, how easy is it to pick up OT, or do you think that varies per facility?

I'm currently in a salaried position at 40 hours per week. I enjoy my job, but our company was recently purchased and I don't like the change in corporate culture. I'm not super keen on going back to bedside, but would do so in the hopes that I could eventually move to something else. Does anyone know what the transfer policy is? i.e. how long do you have to stay on a unit prior to transfer.

Thanks and sorry for my endless questions !!!

J

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Specializes in Operating Room, ICU, CCRN.
Hi all. Got my offer of my base salary. I asked for the weekend to think it over. I can't afford to take a pay cut, so I'm trying to be sure I understand all of the variables. If anyone has answers to the following questions, I'd be very appreciative.

I understand you get paid for all federal holidays, whether you work them or not. Do you get paid for 8 hours or your normal shift of 12?

The health benefit options are overwhelming and costs vary significantly. Do most people just choose the Blue Cross option for a standard family plan? We have a child with medical needs, so this is important to us.

I will be working EOW, and I think the shift diff for that is .25 X base hourly rate....does that seem right?

Also, how easy is it to pick up OT, or do you think that varies per facility?

I'm currently in a salaried position at 40 hours per week. I enjoy my job, but our company was recently purchased and I don't like the change in corporate culture. I'm not super keen on going back to bedside, but would do so in the hopes that I could eventually move to something else. Does anyone know what the transfer policy is? i.e. how long do you have to stay on a unit prior to transfer.

Thanks and sorry for my endless questions !!!

J

HR told me that the federal holidays are paid in 8 hour increments whether or not you work 12 hr shifts.

When I was getting my physical the other candidates I saw for jobs were majority current VA employees. From my understanding if you would like to transfer to a different department you have to apply via USA jobs. You may get preference since you are a current VA employee. The process won't be quite as long. I'm sure you need to have a nice record in your current department.

I found this info below in a VA Nurse brochure which may help with some of your other questions:

VA offers premium pay to nurses for on-call, weekend, overtime, and holiday duty.

Nurses receive 10 percent of their base hourly pay rate for night shifts, 25 percent for weekends, 50 percent for overtime, and double pay for holidays

Nurses receive consideration for promotion to higher grades with correspondingly higher salaries as experience requirements and performance standards are met

Congrats momswann!!! :)

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I noticed a couple of postings for RN now where the salary is not indicated. I wonder why that is?

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The health benefit options can be found on line with full descriptions and costs available in pdf format. I am not sure how to find it now but it is out there somewhere under VA Health Benefits or something similar. Some HMO options vary by state so it may be a good idea to open and read what the plans include/deny. You should also be able to ask the recruiter your questions, I would think. Also, asking for a few more days to evaluate is not unreasonable.

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Specializes in Operating Room, ICU, CCRN.

After a lot of searching I was able to find a website with a wealth of knowledge about the different federal health insurance plans and prices based on your location. Here is a link http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare Get comfortable you'll need time to decipher all this info.

I also found a link within that website that assists federal employees in determining the best options for insurance. It is based on family size, frequency of doctors visits (specialist, er, and pharmacy needs) for you and your family. Here is that link https://www.plansmartchoice.com Hope this helps. :)

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