VA Hiring Process

[wife&mommyRN]

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 ?

[LJUN71]

Hi everyone, I'm excited to say...I received my final offer via phone call from HR on yesterday. I have a start date in December.

[special1rn]

I am just curious I have interviewed twice at the VA and have been asked for references. I have been told that the sooner the better so HR can call with appointment. If and when HR calls is there any negotiation with salary? I have interview for a nurse manager position.

[NurseNavy]

I applied in November for a LPN job at the VA and was interviewed on December and was given a "tentative" job offer in January at the VA, I have completed my Vetpro, background thing ET, Physical, drug test, at the end of January. I had a really hard time getting a reference from a supervisor because my job does not give supervisor references and that I believe has slowed down my application. I was not able to finish my job references till the first week of March due to this delay. I call once a month checking and speaking really nice to the medical rep asking "Is there anything else you need me to do?" where she states "No, we are just waiting for the board to meet to determine you pay, because of the super high turnover we have they have not been able to meet" I am still waiting, and fingers crossed hope to be hired soon.

[BerryhappyRN, MSN, RN]

NurseNavy that sounds about right. The Board meets once per month so if your information was sent to them soon after they've already convened for the month your application won't be reviewed until their next meeting. The good news is if you've gotten to the Board you are in an excellent position. I know it is difficult to wait, especially because the HR department gives soooo little information on the process, but it is worth it. I've been at the VA for 9 months now after YEARS of applying, and months of the application process, but it was worth the wait. Be patient, good luck and let us know when they contact you with your offer!

[BerryhappyRN, MSN, RN]

Special1rn, Make sure everything you've ever done in your professional role is in your resume. If you volunteered for 2 days be sure it's on there. If you are certified in ANYTHING be sure it's on there. If you've served on Boards or Committees or done any other position than what you are applying for be sure it is reflected in your resume or C.V. In my first VA orientation class is when they told us that your salary is significantly determined by the experience reflected in your resume even if the experience is not related to the position you are applying for. Once they call you with an offer it is pretty firm. I have never heard of HR adjusting the pay rate after the Board has already decided. Good luck!

[jessbsnrnpsych]

I have just been through the hiring process with the VA. Here is how it went for me: I applied January 28th. I was called for an interview at the end of February and had the interview March 5th. I was called April 4th with a tentative job offer with a tentative salary. I was emailed instructions on signing into eQuip for my background investigation. I also received an email alerting me to my appointment to get my fingerprints and physical completed. I received and email with instructions on completed VetPro on April 8th. I did this right away. I had my appointment for my physical on April 10th. Then I waited. And waited. I emailed the credentialing person and the human resources person for an update at the end of April. I was told they were still waiting on 2 professional references and 2 of my employers to return paperwork. I spent the next week contacting those who needed to turn my paperwork in. A week later, they were just waiting on my fingerprints to come back and for my credentialing packet to be put before the nursing professional standards board. So now it is July 7th, and I received my firm offer and salary yesterday! My firm offer of salary was a bit more than my initial offer. I am a BSN RN with 3 years of experience as an RN and 8 months of experience as an LPN. I was hired in as a Nurse 1 Level 3 Step 9. I am thrilled with my offer, as it is much more than I am currently making in the same specialty for the state, and much more than I would be able to make in the private sector. The VA pays you for the education you have, and few other places do that as of now. I was given a choice between 2 start dates, and I start towards the end of July!

[Rnapproved]

I'd just like to share my hiring experience at the VA. I can't remember exactly when or if I applied for the position. I say "if" because I don't see the RN position(MedSurg) that I accepted on my USAjobs portal. I got called for an interview anyway in February. I was out of the country so the managers set up a phone interview. When they did call, my reception wasn't at its best and the managers were kind enough to re-schedule the interview when I got back to the States. Face to face interview happened in March 21. 2 weeks prior to the interview, I got another call from the VA in a different location(but same state and county) for a position of ambulatory nurse. April 5, I got a call for a tentative offer on the ambulatory nurse and April 17, I got a tentative offer for MedSurg. I had accepted both positions in the hopes that I'd go with whichever one finishes the process first. I was later informed by the HR that they realized I accepted 2 positions but could only accept 1, so I went and chose the MedSurg position. April 18, I re-submitted documents to the HR specialist. I am a foreign graduate so my documents were not complete yet at that time because I still had to request transcripts from my school and had them evaluated. That process alone took 1.5 months. April 20, I had my physical and fingerprinting. April 21, I was sent a link to Eqip. May 7, I was sent a link to vetpro. From May 7-June 30, I had to have to send and re-send documents to HR specialist and follow up with my references. June 12, I was informed that I had to re-do my fingerprints and the eqip because during that entire time the VA system was down and was not able to take my fingerprints June 13, I had my fingerprints re-done and they re-sent me the link to eqip. Today July 10, I was called by HR specialist to tell me that they're ready to send my package to service chief and that I should be able to hear about a firm offer soon. She said the process usually takes 1-2 days, which in my understanding, is 2-3 months in VA's standards lol. I will update again once I receive a final offer.

[BermudaTriangle, DNP, APRN]

Hello to All,

I applied to a position at the VA. Im a NP.

April 5- Applied

April 17- Position Closed

June 21- Phone Interview (Out of town)

June 25- Physical interview

June 25- The MD asked for 3 references

June 29- All references turned it

And now Im waiting.

Is this a good sign? Or should I move on?

[Rnapproved]

I finally got my final job offer last Thursday! I'm boarded as Nurse 1, Level 2, Step 4- $88,368/year at the VA Greater Los Angeles with BSN and 1 year of nursing experience. Orientation on Monday. So excited!

[NurseKitty21]

Hello everyone! I am currently on my onboarding process as a new grad. I received my tentative offer and started with the onboarding process very promptly early week of September. I am now 37 weeks pregnant and already on my disability/pregnancy leave. When the time comes that my onboarding manager/HR person calls or emails me a firm offer, how can I request for a delay of my start date and how long can I push it on a later date? This is my first pregnancy and I really want to bond with my newborn until she is 3 months old but I also want to make sure that at least a 12-week extension of my start date won't hurt my offer as this is the first job offer that I ever received after 10 months of graduating nursing school. Any input is highly appreciated. Thank you! :)

[tiffcrn, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, EMT-B]

I am struggling with the VA hiring process. I am a 5+ Veteran, MSN, and lots of experience. I recently interviewed for a Care Manager position at our local VA clinic. I found out I did not receive the position, HR was not answering my questions so I submitted an inquiry. I found out the nurse hired was external, has her BSN, and is less qualified than I am. It is so frustrating and I think I am giving up on the VA as an option. I do have a good job just thought it would be fulfilling to work with fellow Vets.

[darqqing987]

I applied for a position at the Miami VAMC on September 29th, 2018. Was called for an interview on the 12th of October. Since then, I've not heard anything. I called and emailed the HR point of contact on the job announcement; he doesn't pick up, call back, nor email back. It just drives me crazy because I just wanna know if I'm still being considered for the position. I know they called my current manager. Other than that, I have no idea what's going on.