VA Hospital question

LPN_2005/RN_10 · May 30, 2009

Yes, they'll wait until the posting has closed before contacting applicants. It's a long process! Good luck!

I applied to a local VA hosp for there Geriatric LTC facility. I do have LTC supervisor experience along with med surg exp. My question is that the job posting said till 7/6/2009 does that mean they have to wait till then to start setting up interviews? I have contacted the nurse recruiter for that facility and she said thank you for your interest we are still going through applications. I hope the reason I had not heard from them to set up an interview is because they have to wait till the deadline is past.

exnavygirl-RN · May 31, 2009

I have worked for the VA for six years. The application and hiring process takes a very long time. When I first applied it was several months before I heard anything. In fact I forgot I even applied. LOL

Emilysmom2, RN · May 31, 2009

How do you like working for the VA? Have you worked in a acute care hosp before? I am wondering how different it is compared to a acute hosp and a ltc facility?

LPN_2005/RN_10 · May 31, 2009

I love working for the VA! I have never worked at any other acute care hospital, so I cannot give you a comparison with that. But I have worked in community nursing homes and a community hospice. With the economy and other facilities cutting staff and cutting hours, I feel most secure working for the government. Plus there is guaranteed annual raises and as an RN you will get 5 weeks of vacation a year, starting out!

http://www.vacareers.va.gov/l2_Salary_Benefits.cfm This website will give you more details on some of the VA benefits.

How do you like working for the VA? Have you worked in a acute care hosp before? I am wondering how different it is compared to a acute hosp and a ltc facility?

KatyB · May 31, 2009

As part of the federal government, the VA tends to work at a snails pace, but it does get the job done. I've worked at VA hospitals and regular acute care hospitals ie University hospitals. Here's the thing: most VA hospitals ARE acute care hospitals. At the VA where I worked, we shared physicians/equipment/technology/quality improvement etc. with a University hospital. A VA job in nursing is a VERY GOOD THING: The benefits are wonderful, the salary is competetive; you will be using the most up-to-date equipment and their medical records are fully electronic-something which the rest of the hospitals in this country are struggling with. Funding for the VA administration is overlooked by the president (yes...pres Obama) and the congress. Needless to say, they are generous when it comes to taking care of our veterans.

The patients are also wonderful--most of them don't have private health care insurance, so they come to the VA. You will never meet a more humble, trusting rewarding bunch of patients. They appreciate good health care and they show it.

Congrats to you if you get a position at a VA..they can really help (or be) your carreer.

elkpark · May 31, 2009

Yes, the hiring process at the VA is notoriously slow, but a nursing job in the VA system is great -- good pay, great benefits, usually good working conditions.

Another thing you should be aware of is that, for most positions, the VA has a firm policy of giving preference in employment to a) current employees and b) vets. That means you have to be significantly more qualified and desirable (professionally, I mean :)) than any current employees or vets who may have applied for the position in order to get the job if you're coming from the "outside".