VA HOSPITALS ANYONE?

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Lately ive been very interested in applying/working for VA hospitals. Does anyone have any experience working VA hospitals? Tell me about your experience. Do/did you like it or not, why?

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I don't have any experience with the VA in Illinois, but I worked many years ago for the VA hospital in my area (another state). I was v. happy with them as an employer -- good pay and great benefits -- and enjoyed most all of the people I worked with. I only left because they were going to eliminate the specialty program in which I worked and I would have been moved back to a med-surg position, which I didn't want to do.

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Specializes in A wide variety.

I have been with the VA here in Danville for 10 years now and love it. Great benefits and pay! Not to mention I love taking care of our Nations Veterans. The hiring process is very long but dont get discouraged... I would recommend it to anyone.

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I have been with the VA here in Danville for 10 years now and love it. Great benefits and pay! Not to mention I love taking care of our Nations Veterans. The hiring process is very long but dont get discouraged... I would recommend it to anyone.

sounds good. thanks for the reply! i heard that the va hospitals were like nursing homes if not worse. its good to hear some good things from ppl who worked va hospitals for considerable amount of time. ill definitely be applying.

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sounds good. thanks for the reply! i heard that the va hospitals were like nursing homes if not worse. its good to hear some good things from ppl who worked va hospitals for considerable amount of time. ill definitely be applying.

The one in my area (where I worked many years ago) is one of the two main teaching hospitals for the local medical school. Some of the buildings are outdated and cramped (the campus is a national historic site; looks like a beautiful college campus). but the care is completely up to date. There are many good, progressive things about the VA system -- their electronic medical record system is often cited as a model for the rest of the US, among other things.

The people who badmouth the VA system are often the people who have the least direct knowledge and are speaking from outdated clichés and rumors ...

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The one in my area (where I worked many years ago) is one of the two main teaching hospitals for the local medical school. Some of the buildings are outdated and cramped (the campus is a national historic site; looks like a beautiful college campus). but the care is completely up to date. There are many good, progressive things about the VA system -- their electronic medical record system is often cited as a model for the rest of the US, among other things.

The people who badmouth the VA system are often the people who have the least direct knowledge and are speaking from outdated clichés and rumors ...

nice. thank you! helps a lot!

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Specializes in cardiac.

Can you apply to the VA hospitals as a new grad?

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sounds good. thanks for the reply! i heard that the va hospitals were like nursing homes if not worse. its good to hear some good things from ppl who worked va hospitals for considerable amount of time. ill definitely be applying.

Like a nursing home??? I wish people would quit spreading junk they know nothing about. Most of my coworkers have been with VA for a very long time. I've been in the system for 8 years now and it's like any other nursing job, it has its + and -. Great benefits that you won't find in the private sector anymore. It's a little different than the private sector and that took some getting accustomed to (for me). Not all of our vets are elderly (although many of them are) and we are seeing younger ones coming into the system. Go to VACareers.gov. or OPM.gov to check out benefits and positions available.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Yes, you can...I am applying for a summer externship with the local VA and they DO hire brand new nurses. They like them even better when they've previewed what they can do for 400 hours...LOL

They have specialty areas too...

Check out this website and best of luck to you!!

http://www.vacareers.va.gov/

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Yes, you can...I am applying for a summer externship with the local VA and they DO hire brand new nurses. They like them even better when they've previewed what they can do for 400 hours...LOL

They have specialty areas too...

Check out this website and best of luck to you!!

http://www.vacareers.va.gov/

Do they hire new LPN grads? Also can you work there with a license in a different state? For example, can I have a IL nursing license while working at the Michigan?

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I like the V A.

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Great pay, and great benefits. But some of the employees are lazy and have crappy attitudes because they know that their job isn't going anywhere (in some cases). It depends on the facility and if you have thick skin :D

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