VA Hiring

SeychelleRN · Jan 2, 2009

Has anyone heard of a hiring freeze coming for the VA?

In this economy, I am sure no one is immune.

Here is an article related to VA hiring freeze

We remain concerned that VA continues to face significant

delays in receiving its budget. VA cannot be competitive

in the market for health-care professionals if it

does not have the funding necessary to do so or if it

does not receive its appropriation in a timely manner.

When managers do not have a budget for the coming

year, they are unable to plan for new hires of critical

staff. VA is forced to place hiring freezes on its medical

centers nationwide. The hiring freezes have forced individual

medical facilities to assign non-nursing duties

to current nurses. This detracts from immediate bedside

care and ultimately jeopardizes the health of the

veteran.

Source:

Independent Budget For the Department of Veteran Affairs Fiscal Year 2009: Financial Issues (pages 43-46)

youknowho · Jan 2, 2009

I called the VA Palo Alto not too long ago and they told me there was a hiring freeze. I could still turn in an application but.....

Also,I know someone who just started at this same facility about 3-4 months age and she said her unit (she is a manager) is totally understaffed. Guess I will wait until things get better. :nurse:

Charlotte205 · Jan 3, 2009

The VA is already understaffed. How could this be? BTW, I heard the VA gets a lot of their RNs from an agency, is this true?

Mobiusrain · Jan 9, 2009

I just called today as well, though I did already mail an application beforehand. Seems like they still are in a hiring freeze at the moment, bleh! They said check back by next month, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. This economy is really frustrating me...

SeychelleRN · Jan 14, 2009

the va is already understaffed. how could this be?

it's all the red tape involved in trying to secure a position and nurses not having the financial freedom/security to wait months for these positions. here is an all nurses thread that will give you more insight: why is the va taking so long to hire you?

btw, i heard the va gets a lot of their rns from an agency, is this true?

i think you might be referring to the va travel nurse corps. here is some additional information: va's new "travel nurse program" hits the road

[color=deepskyblue]in regards to the hiring freeze, i hear it is a soft freeze. anyone have any idea how long it's going to last?:vlin:

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

The VA Travel Nurse Corps is a pilot program. There are not very many nurses in it.

Many private agencies provide nurses for the VA. I know, because I worked at the VA (perm employee, quit in 2008) and there were always outside agency and private angency travel nurses.

Charlotte205 · Jan 29, 2009

The VA that I am in is only hiring in Medical Surgical. There are hiring freeze in other departments (ICU, tele ect).

Charlotte205 · Jan 29, 2009

The VA that I am in is only hiring in Medical Surgical floor. There are hiring freeze in other departments (ICU, tele ect).

West_Coast_Ken, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2009

The VA Travel Nurse Corps is a pilot program. There are not very many nurses in it.
Many private agencies provide nurses for the VA. I know, because I worked at the VA (perm employee, quit in 2008) and there were always outside agency and private angency travel nurses.

Checking the link on the VA Travel Nurse Corps web site for "Open Positions" returns the following message:

"We're sorry. You cannot apply to this job as it has been removed from the site."

So it appears the hiring freeze is here, also. Additionally, these positions are (were) temporary assignments, not a full time job with benefits, etc.

I<3Nursing · Mar 19, 2009

There is a hiring freeze at our VA. They also have decided to elimate agency and overtime. We are very well staffed with excellent nurse to patient ratios. I think each VA has it owns issues, but they cannot all be classified as all VAs having them.

rmartinez91 · Mar 27, 2009

Does anyone have a clue as to when the hiring freeze at VA will end?