VA Hospital in Phoenix

RavenC · Aug 14, 2005

Does anyone have any experience with the VA Hospital in Phoenix? I'm considering that as a possibility for employment once graduating from NS. A friend works there and loves it.
My husband is retired Air Force and I really like the idea of working with vets. However, I'd like an insider's point of view on what the working conditions are like in comparison to another hospital (like Banner, etc.)
Deanna

Hi

I worked in a VA hospital in Pennsylvania and hated every minute of it. I was promised cutting edge medicine, hospital setting and a great future. From the day I started I was an aide. As were all the other LPN's. When I complained to the RN about it, she was totally aware that they always lied to the LPN's to get them to hire on.

I don't know if the deceit was specific to that hospital or if the VA always uses LPN's as CNA's, but I was glad to get out of there. Even if you're friend tells you it's different out here and you do hire on and love it, I'd be careful if you ever decide to move out of state and go to VA, in case it's their policy to use us that way.

I haven't worked in other hospitals, but a friend tells me that at one local one, she has 6 patients and a CNA to help her. She'd never work LTC as I do.

Good luck.

RavenC

Phoenix LPN

Hoozdo, ADN · Aug 21, 2005

Does anyone have any experience with the VA Hospital in Phoenix? I'm considering that as a possibility for employment once graduating from NS. A friend works there and loves it.
My husband is retired Air Force and I really like the idea of working with vets. However, I'd like an insider's point of view on what the working conditions are like in comparison to another hospital (like Banner, etc.)
Deanna

Well, about 3 years ago I did nursing aide clinicals there. They do not use LPNs as CNAs there like the previous poster said happened at her state VA hospital. They do use the "team nursing" concept as opposed to Banner which does not. Generally a RN, LPN, and a CNA share a larger group of patients. I was impressed with the VA hospital, much nicer than I thought it would be. They have speciality clinics up the wazoo there and it is a very nice, clean hospital. Actually the hospital is even nicer than the Mayo Clinic hospital! I am not sure what they are paying, but it is probably competitive.

Lu Ann, 4th semester of ADN at GCC, LPN extern Banner Good Sam, transplantation!

IrishItalianRN · Dec 7, 2005

I worked there up until yesterday. I dont really want to bash them on these boards so if you want to pm i would be glad to. There are good things about them and bad. One of the good things is they will pay for your nursing school if you sign with them. I did my clinicals there for CNA and worked as a CNA for 4 months.....loooong enough

IrishItalianRN · Dec 8, 2005

Boomerfriend

OMG im so excited i got a message on my cell phone today from the VA if I want to pick up some 12 hour shifts in the LSU which is the Life Support Unit- the ER for the VA!! Just Yesterday I got a call from the LTC part of the VA that the Charge Nurse didnt want me to be scheduled there again because i had called out 2 days in a row because my son was sick. I didn't like working in LTC AT ALL. I really didnt like her either because she was so Two Faced. She didnt like you if you didnt kiss her butt and gossip with her...I hate that...

So i guess my supervisor put in a good word for me over there.... I can't wait to hear from them tomorrow!

boomerfriend · Dec 8, 2005

Hooray for you! See....things always work out. Let us know how you like it there! I'm anxious to know.

By the way, thanks for the advice...