VA hiring process 2020

Jen1234, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2020

I’m in the process right now. How long does it take for the official offer? I sent in paper work last week and were supposed to start next month but I still don’t have my firm offer from HR. So I am selected and told I have a job but nothing else. How long does it take?

MsPurple20 · Jul 16, 2020

17 hours ago, Jen1234 said:
I’m in the process right now. How long does it take for the official offer? I sent in paper work last week and were supposed to start next month but I still don’t have my firm offer from HR. So I am selected and told I have a job but nothing else. How long does it take?

Your best bet is to ask your hr specialist. That’s the person that’s either in phone or email contact with you. You could also ask the nurse recruiter at the particular facility.
Do you know if your packet went to the VA nursing board yet? Have you had physical/urine/Vetpro/eqip yet?
I completed my physical/urine drug/finger prints/Vetpro/eqip all over 4 weeks ago and was told that the VA nursing board would review my packet last Thursday. I am waiting on a salary offer and start date .... it’s been a long process, but I’m sure it will be worth it. Fingers crossed for you!

meg5 · Jul 16, 2020

I interviewed in April, tentative offer in early May. I got my firm offer on July 1st and I start on Monday. It was long, disorganized and I felt like I was losing my mind. They had called my references two different times and didn't know they had already called and several other crazy things. But I am finally starting on Monday. I can't even believe it.

Olga · Jul 16, 2020

On 7/1/2020 at 8:08 AM, LulaNurse said:
I accepted the firm offer and will start Monday for orientation. Can I ask how you’re doing and you’re experience since orientation?

Hi,

CONGRATS!

I think my experience is very different in terms of hiring process. I told them I am available June 1, and couple of days before that I got my firm offer with the start day of June 1st. So I went in without fingerprints, drug test, vetpro and equip (I'm not sure if I did it at all). I think it was easy to determine my salary because I have no experience...so there was no need for the board or anything like that. I do not think they contacted my references yet (6 weeks after I started), because they would let me know.

I was told I will go into orientation on June 1st, but turned out its not scheduled till June 8th. So I spent first week looking around on the floor. Then orientation (they wanted to give me couple of days, but I stayed for the whole week). Then I had another week on the floor, getting access to the systems etc, learning med pass and basically codes for the doors and where everything is. I could absolutely get more training time, but I wanted to start working on 12 hr shifts so I told them Im OK.

Now, CLC is really 100% different from any other nursing home on the outside. There's usually at least 2 RNs and 3 LPNs for the floor of 30 (32). Patients are similar to nursing rehab units though, not LTC. I'm actually doing the job of LPN, basically, med pass. But Im OK with it for now. They have couple of vent pts, trach and g-tube pts, some Foleys... I am a new RN basically and I think I can learn certain things there. I learned trach care and I am not absolutely terrified to do it by myself anymore))

The thing that I hate is that since they federal, they don't care, they will put an RN to do CNA's job sometimes. And they are often short of CNA's, so either LPNs or RNs have to pick up an assignment.

Another thing is people have 2 hours after shift started to call out sick... absolutely makes no sense, but... so they do assignments every day in the morning and it takes a lot of time to figure out who's here and what u need covered and who's doing what today.

How is your experience? Did you go to CLC?

jaznia15 · Jul 18, 2020

Interestingly enough, I was going to post a question last weekend asking about how long it would take to hear back from the VA. I thought I was being a bit panicked for no reason so I didn't. Today I got the call with a tentative offer for a psych NP position!! My journey was a bit crazy to say the least.

April 24- completed application

April 27 and May 5th- email sent requesting virtual interview. I did not see the emails due to the generic subject line that looked like an agency advertisement. "NP opportunities in city, state" was what it said. I was anticipating a phone call.

June 8th- when I first saw the emails and panicked calling the department head to explain the error. He stated he'd put my.name back in the "stack" and I thought my chances were blown

June 17th- virtual interview request sent again

June 19th- Skype panel interview which I felt I totally bombed. Performance based questions asked

July 1st- state medical director calls me saying he gave a reference and that I have the job. I don't believe him of course.

July 17- received call from hiring manager and am given the tentative offer via phone with an electronic offer to follow. I accepted of course. And I called the state medical director back letting him know and asked how he knew, he said the hiring manager told him when she asked for the reference. Wish I'd asked that on July 1st LOL

Apparently I'm supposed to be going through the expedited process and the hiring manager is aware that I have to do a 30 day notice at my current job, I feel like I'm going to be very busy the next couple of weeks with the paperwork the VA reuqires.

PandaCatNurse · Jul 19, 2020

Hello Everyone,

I am a RN and just want to get any advice about VA hiring process this year.

I used to be a VA nurse for two years and wanting to get back on VA.

I've got my VA interview on May 20, 2020, May 26-28 they have been calling my references. After that silence comes.. I e-mailed HR and the hiring manager late of June and haven't heard any response from them. July 15, 2020 one of my VA previous co-employee (one of my references) is very kind enough to help me and followed up with the hiring manager of the status of the position and one of the manager reponded to her that "they have sumbitted their selection to HR" but didn't say who it was.

Usually hiring manager called the selected person before HR calls you if you were selected? Should I just give up and move one? I have currently a job offer right now for a non VA position. I really wanted to work on VA instead of other company but I have not heard anything from them..

I appreciate any advice. Thank you

Jen1234, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2020

They currently have my packet. Since I’m a new nurse, they gave us a start date but no other details. By any chance are you in the PBNR program for new hires?

Jen1234, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2020

So the VA gave me a tentative job offer. I filled out all my paper work and now just waiting for my "Official Firm Offer". Its been 2 weeks since I filled out my paper work. About how long should it take? The person in charge on my tentative offer says I start next month but not another word was said to me. Should I be worried?

jaznia15 · Jul 23, 2020

I was too quick on the draw today with filling out vetpro information. Certain jobs I never listed on my resume. One job, I was there one month as staff RN back in 2012. The other was my first NP position at a local practice that had recently just started. It was a mess to include checks being late and a crooked physician who was only trying to use the practice as a cash cow. I jumped ship 2 months after starting my employment, about 2 months after that the practice was closed. I held a health risk assessment NP job as a 1099 contractor, I cant even remember the dates of employment. I did it on a PRN basis.

Perhaps I'm making it a big deal but I'm about to contact the credentialing specialist via email and ask if I need to add these jobs even if I don't have the contact information for the NP jobs.

jaznia15 · Jul 23, 2020

Just an update:

I now know why there can be a delay in the hiring process with the VA. I ended up adding 4 jobs to my VetPro today. As stated above a short lived RN job that lasted 5-6 weeks in 2012. Also a practice that is now closed, my first NP job for all of 10 weeks in 2014. When I started my current job, they brought me on through an agency temporarily to get training while my hospital credentialing was processing, I added those 8 weeks worth of work. And finally a 1099 home risk assessment job which was PRN and ended about 5 months after I started due to obamacare changes.

When I spoke with my credentialing specialist, she stated she was "mailing" out my employment verification forms. I thought this was rather odd as all my references were emailed on yesterday requesting the reference form be completed by today. I don't understand what's the rush on reference forms but not on employment verification. Anywho, I have resolved that this process may take quite some time if we're awaiting return of mailed forms. After a couple hours of trying to reach the home risk assessment company, I finally got through to someone who stated a mailed form probably would sit at the office awhile as many of them were working from home due to COVID. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride cause it seems I'm in for quite the wait.

I'm halfway pissed they didn't do it expedited as it was first stated to me, but everything happens for a reason.

circnurs · Jul 25, 2020

It's a little difficult to navigate the system from the outside. I have been looking on the different websites and got general information, but who can I contact to get specific questions answered if I am not already in the federal system?

jaznia15 · Jul 25, 2020

4 hours ago, circnurs said:
It's a little difficult to navigate the system from the outside. I have been looking on the different websites and got general information, but who can I contact to get specific questions answered if I am not already in the federal system?

What questions do you have? You may get the answers from some of those already employed in the system through this forum!