VA Hiring Process

Ok, so here's an update on my process since my last post...

I contacted HR on May 27th and was told that some of my pre-employment clearances were still pending. I sent another email yesterday which would make it two weeks later and was told that an assistant was checking on my status and that I should hear something soon.

I got a phone call today from a nurse recruiter who said that she's been trying to find out what's taking HR so long to give me a start date. I expressed my gratitude and told her that I'm currently unemployed. She said that she will try to fight for me to start on Monday, but she can't guarantee anything. She's supposed to contact me tomorrow to let me know.

I hope and pray that I can actually start next week. God forbid for some reason I can't, it at least feels good to know that someone is advocating for me. Keep your fingers crossed for me please

Hello Natira, I hope you got that call today. Wishing all work out for you.

Jadiva,

Thanks so much!!!! I got the official email from HR right before close of business on Friday. The long wait is finally over, Thank God! I start orientation tomorrow so I'm super excited to get started. Thanks for the support :)

Today I obtained my CCRN. However, I was already reviewed by the board. I do not start the position until late July. I contacted the HR rep to ask if this will be considered for a change in the previous boarding level. I was told the board only reviews 1 time. Is there anything that can be done to achieve acknowledgement for this credential?

I don't think so. You may need to wait but here's the rub. Many VAs will pay a cash award and give a step increase when specialty certification is achieved. BUT you have to have your first evaluation (proficiency) before they will consider awarding these to you. That means you have to be at the VA a year and have the proficiency completed before they will consider the Award. I found out the hard way after I achieved my certification within a few months of starting at the VA. Your VA may be different, though.

I've been following this blog for a while now and I find it very informative. I also have a question regarding certifications. I already have my CCRN and that has been considered (I think) when I was boarded. My question is, can you get another step increase or a bonus if you get a second certification? Like CMC or CMS?

Also, I'm done with my boarding first week of June which is the last part of the hiring process according to the nurse recruiter. I am still waiting for my start date thoughí ½í¸”. They said they are only letting through about 5-6 people at a time for orientation (this includes everybody from administration to housekeeping jobs). Is anybody else on the same boat as I am? The wait is brutal!!í ½í¸í ½í¸

I believe you can get another SAA (I think it stands for Special Achievement Award) for any certifications applicable to your job. They must be from an approved list. I have heard that some VAs may not be doing them anymore. There was a big push for RN certifications a few yrs ago. I did hear from a nurse executive that my VA may be ending them but I have not heard anything definitive.

Thank you for that information.

For certifications such as ccrn va will only give bonus. It does not do anything for u if u looking for a step increase but does let them know u are will to keep up with extra continuing education which is part of annual proficiency

I think this must vary by facility bc my VA does give step increases for certifications, at least for now.

Can anybody explain how step increase works, is it automatic? What if you reach the highest step in your level? Can you move up From nurse 2 to 3 without an MSN? How about cost of living allowance? From what I heard cost of living allowance is an automatic raise you get every year and step increase is every couple of years, is this accurate? How about your performance evaluation? Can you get a raise based on that, too?

Step increases are not automatic. The only automatic (read: non-merit) increase given is when the employee population of a facility as a whole is granted a COL increase. FWIW, the "COL" has no real relationship to the ACTUAL COL increase we all experience living where we do, it is simply the budgeted amount you will receive each year. It is processed via HR, is equal to all.....and in my facility was 1% this year. Don't spend it all in one place

You are awarded step increases based on your annual proficiencies (performance evaluations, essentially). Your proficiencies are reviewed by the Nursing Professional Standards Board and it is their sole decision as to whether you will receive a raise, a promotion....or not. Your supervisor completes a portion of this proficiency report to put in his/her two cents (opinion, I mean) and all of it is considered at once. If you are deemed worthy of promotion/increase, you get it. If not....no. If no increase in step (promotion), then no $ increase. HR's COL one is unrelated.

Going from Nurse II to Nurse III without an MSN IS possible, but not easy. Essentially you have to have every single possible category in your competency/proficiencies be outstanding, with the only piece lacking for promotion being the degree. Same with going from Nurse I to Nurse II: some VAs are more willing to promote on a "time served" kind of thing, if the employee is a quality one they promote...and other VAs will require the employee to jump through a hundred hoops without tripping once before they will even consider the idea. Can't say how the one you are/will be at works!

Initially you'd have a performance/proficiency eval annually until you have obtained a promotion, and then it's every two years. Again, this may vary by facility, and the NPSB's whim.

Good luck :)