VA jobs

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · May 12, 2017

To me it was worth it. The vacation time, benefits, and possibility of traveling anywhere there is a VA if I decided to make a move for me its all worth it.You have to be willing to wade through the mass amounts of red tape though, the application process, interview. They can be very picky because they have so many lined up to apply. Just read the application thoroughly and make sure you have everything in that they want.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · May 12, 2017

Every time I tried to get a job with the VA, I was told "we have a hiring freeze." Funny, I know plenty of other people who got a job there. They built a new facility in a nearby city, and according to the news, they had 500 applicants for a handful of jobs.

NuGuyNurse2b · May 15, 2017

The answer is a 90% no. You need connections to get into any state job. The benefits blow private sector out of the water, so everyone wants in. So they have plenty of applicants for a small pool of jobs and the HR dept simply will not go through all those applications when they can have word of mouth do the job for them. And if you've ever been to any gov agency, you know that sometimes the person picked for the job you wanted isn't always the right one, but that's another story.

RN4vets · May 15, 2017

As evidenced by my username, I've been a VA Nurse for 25 years. The multi-billion dollar facility in New Orleans hosted a cattle call recently for RNs to help fill over 400 RN vacancies. The Outpatient Clinics and some of the Specialty Clinics have been activated in the new hospital building. The inpatient side, including ER/ICU/OR and everything else is on hold until they can hire and train enough nursing staff.

The VA has appointed a new Secretary, Dr David Shulkin. Not sure when the last time an actual Medical Doctor has ever had the reins on this vast organization of over 1000 facilities. One of his unprecedented actions is that he is personally taking on a patient load of his own so that he has the most intimate knowledge of the inner workings of his organization by virtue of having to use it on a daily basis.

Another thing being undertaken is a streamlining of the process for hiring, especially nurses, who don't fall under the regular GS (General Service) schedule. Rather, they are all Title 38 employees. I don't work in HR, so all I do know is that they are so inundated with applications and the pressure to get qualified people on board as rapidly as possible that they don't have the time to entertain the "good ol' boy" network, nor do they have the luxury of pandering to the ridiculous myth that "If you ain't a certain shade of skin color, you can forget it!" ( I pray that THAT one stays in the grave!)

As of right now, they are anxious to hire ANY QUALIFIED RN as soon as possible. New Orleans has been without a Regional Medical Center since August 29th, 2005. There are tens of thousands of veterans being serviced by the facility who are more than ready to have their own hospital back on its feet, and not have to get farmed out to all the community hospitals in the area. One thing that the VA does better than anyone else is in the area of prosthetics. The new Physical Medicine and Rehab unit is treating our wounded warriors with the most advanced technology available in the world. As a Vietnam veteran, it is so breathtakingly awesome to see my brothers and sisters being cared for with such genuine enthusiasm, that it brings tears to my eyes.

Simbaman, you are indeed correct when you say that "working for war heroes ,,,is an honor". When I encounter any of these WWII veterans, I always tell them, depending on whether they served in the European or Pacific Theater, "You sir (or maam), are part of the reason we're not all speaking Japanese (or German)!" Every now and again, you DO run across an absolute bonafide hero in every sense of the word. That experience is a bit beyond your everyday kind of awesome. I would describe it as more reverential and sobering. After caring for someone who sacrificed so much for YOU and all of your countrymen, you will never be the same.

In the VA hiring process, once your application has been accepted and processed, it goes through an additional step called "Boarding". During that, your credentials, certifications, total education and experience are reviewed by a Nursing Professional Standards Board. The Board will decide at what level you will be offered a job. By that, I mean, you would be hired as (for example), a Nurse I, Step 5; or if you have advanced degrees, possibly a Nurse II, Step 5, or anywhere in between. As people remain in the system, and get Masters degrees or higher, they can advance to management positions at Nurse III, IV, or V, where the compensation gets really serious. The Title 38 RN pay scale can be found online, but it differs by locale, so the best thing is just to ask HR to give you a copy of their local pay scale for RNs.

Consider also that on your very first day on the job, you are entitled to 8 hours of paid annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave EVERY pay period. Combine that with at least 10 paid Federal holidays throughout the year, and it amounts to a considerable benefit from day one. Many people will bank large amounts of leave just for the opportunity to let its value grow with their paycheck. At retirement, or separation from service, you can cash in your leave and have that much extra on your way out the door.

The VA does offer a hiring preference to veterans, but doesn't discriminate against any who haven't served in uniform. The culture at the VA is of service. It is not a for-profit institution. Abraham Lincoln, at his second Inaugural Address, established the mission of the VA Healthcare System "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan". Unfortunately, tragically, that mission will continue for the foreseeable future.

Come join us.

RN4vets · May 15, 2017

Most probably would be hired as a Nurse I, followed by a two year probation with annual reviews (from date of employment) for a Step increase as well as yearly cost-of-living increases (determined by the President) in January. Keep in mind that under President Obama, there was NO increase for most of his entire first term, followed by meager 1% increases each year thereafter. We have yet to see how generous (or not!) the new President will choose to be.

Once your probation has been completed, you can petition the Professional Nursing Standards Board to consider you for a Grade increase to a Nurse II.

Trauma Columnist · May 16, 2017

Moved to a different forum

BerryhappyRN, MSN, RN · May 26, 2017

Thank you RN4Vets, your post is exactly what I needed to read. I recently applied for my dream position at a local VA healthcare system, then interviewed, and was offered a part-time (not what I was hoping for!) position in my speciality. Initially I was torn about the possible reduction in pay but after much thought have decided to accept. In a PT position the VA offers all the same benefits as a FT position just at a prorated rate. Also, the flexibility of working nearly FT hours but cutting back to fewer hours when needed is very attractive. I am currently working on my MSN and am about to implode from the pressure of a FT managerial job, MSN studies and FT family needs. I am not a Vet so I am honored to be able to show respect to those who did by providing to them my care. BTW Simbaman I know NO ONE on the inside, just persisted and kept applying.