VA Long Beach Vs. White Memorial New Grad Programs

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · May 27, 2011

I would take the VA, the salary would end up being more with weekend and night differentials, no other hospital system gives you a 25% weekend differential. I've also heard they are a great place to work and you learn a lot. And as you said, the benefits/retirement system cannot be beat.

jojonavy · May 27, 2011

I would take the VA, the salary would end up being more with weekend and night differentials, no other hospital system gives you a 25% weekend differential. I've also heard they are a great place to work and you learn a lot. And as you said, the benefits/retirement system cannot be beat.

yeah the 25% weekend differential is nice. White would require me to work every other weekend. The night differential is slightly more though at White, $4 vs. 10% at Long Beach VA. I was wondering how holdiday pay works? Long Beach VA pays double on holidays, but does that mean we'd get holiday pay for the missed holiday?

Thanks for the advice~!

WUNSN · May 27, 2011

Glad I found your post, jojonavy! I got a call from the recruiter today at 442pm PST. But they called the house phone and I didn't hear that ring. So I just heard the message right now. I'm scared to call back tomorrow, I'm not sure what to expect haha. Was the call from the recruiter for you? And if so, what did she tell you?

Also, my mom is pushing me towards Va too because of all the benefits! Go for it! :)

jojonavy · May 27, 2011

Yay, congrats on the call. Yeah it's the recruiter. The interviews I believe are only going for 1 day, Thursday the 2nd of June. The program is starting on the 18th of July. She said that they are interviewing those that they really think were good fits, but not sure how many are being interviewed.

I think I'm going to go for it if I get an offer. I went to school at Cal State Long Beach, so I'm really familiar with the area and hospital. Yeah you can't beat the benefits especially 5 weeks of vacation. I get one week at my current job, and won't get it unitl after 1 year.

WUNSN · May 27, 2011

ahhh, June 2nd only? I have an exit test that day -__- did she tell you what time?

Congrats with the white memorial though :)

jojonavy · May 27, 2011

All day Thursday, she said there was a 9:20 and 9:40 opening, and a couple around 3 I believe. Hopefully you can make it! Yeah I was blessed to get a spot a White Memorial's Versant program. I originally wanted a job at Long Beach VA, but they had postponed there Spring program to summer. Ohh well, let's see what happens.

conure girl · May 27, 2011

Hi all,

I also got a call yesterday to interview next thurs (my birthday) at VALB. I also interviewed at White this spring, but didn't make the cut. It did seem like a really good place to work, tho.

A friend of mine who applied at VALB was told that there will be 20 interviewees for 4 positions. I know that both NMs and Educators will be on the panel.

jojonavy · May 27, 2011

Hi all,
I also got a call yesterday to interview next thurs (my birthday) at VALB. I also interviewed at White this spring, but didn't make the cut. It did seem like a really good place to work, tho.
A friend of mine who applied at VALB was told that there will be 20 interviewees for 4 positions. I know that both NMs and Educators will be on the panel.

Yay good luck and that would be an awesome B-Day gift. I thought there was more positions. I was originally told 6-8 but that was back in April. Hope there are more, and I'm sure that if the NM's really like you then they would open more spots. How did you hear about it? I kept contacting them and just sent it out during the period the recruiter told me, but never saw the positions posted.

conure girl · May 27, 2011

I never saw the posting either, but I used to work at WLA and did my preceptorship at VALB in the SCI unit. So I heard about the program thru word of mouth and just kept phoning HR.

I don't know much at all about how the program runs. Which units for placement, length of orientation, length of contract (although I would love to stay at the VA indefinitely). It is Versant, I believe, but am not even sure about that. Do you know more? I would love to know if they interview using the traditional VA Performance Based Interview (PBI) questions or if it's different since we are new grads.

jojonavy · May 28, 2011

Yeah I'm wondering if they ever posted the positions. Not sure how the interview would be like, hope it's not to grueling. At least we got an interview and have a good chance at filling one of the spots!

carolynms · May 29, 2011

Wow! Congratulations on both offers! I don't know anything about the White Memorial Program, but I am almost an expert on the VALB program...I graduated from their New Graduate Nurse Residency Program in December 2010. I'll try to make this as concise as I can (please feel free to message me with more detailed questions!):

Pros:

Year long program - First three months you spend next to nothing on your unit but sit in the library or the education department in review. They follow a course that critical care nurses must pass for certification. A really good review in some ways, kind of like studying for the boards. You will take an online exam each week or so.
They have a new new grad nurse educator who is full of energy (Jennifer something) who used to work in the ER I believe. (I believe they will have more structure now...)
They have a SimLab and you should have time allotted to practice there
Tons of new renovations to the hospital (NEW ER!!)
The hospital is working towards "Pathway to Excellence" status (the level down from Magnet Status) and should be there in a few years.
"Ms. Duff" or Isabel Duff is a nurse and also the Director. (lot of nurses in leadership roles within the facility. if you do your time, you will go up on the ladder very quickly)

Cons:

Year long program - like I said, the program is a year. First 3 months only classroom. Next three months they work you into your unit and still classroom work. Next 6 months you will shadow a few upper level nurses (NPs, nurse managers, ect which is actually kind of cool!) and work on a evidenced base project. By the end of it you will be wondering why the program is sooo long. Seriously.
Lot of transition within the education department, specifically in dealing with the new grad program (new leadership and previously not a lot of structure)
SimLab - nice but we rarely spent any time there. Perhaps with the new leadership the time allotted the SimLab will be enforced...who doesn't want extra practice?
Tons of construction - only the ER is finished which means you will still be in the "old building." Not bad, but you have to deal with lots of construction and confusion.
I hear you have to sign a contract now...KNOW what unit they will be putting you in before you sign a contract. I work in Mental Health (inpatient) and I love it (the nurses, psychiatrists, therapists, nurse manager, etc). However, I know my other new grads in the CLC (community living center aka nursing home) really were not appreciating their time (not a good team environment). S8 has a good team.
With the VA, state nurse:patient ratios don't apply. My medical friends are run ragged on their units. Ask the tough questions about the unit they will place you in.
You might know it already, but let me drill it in again...the VA system is slow. Slow as mud. You will get frustrated with the "system" and will go to your manager who in turn cannot do anything about it. A good deal of nurses are NOT team players and may not be living up to their standard but "its the VA and you wont get fired." This is really sad but a fact.

My advice? Ask a lot of questions! As a veteran yourself, you may be able to look past a lot of these cons or accept a few as part of the environment. I do love the population and I love the mental health team (although I will say it isn't for everyone). However, who doesn't need to brush up on their Spanish? I'm sure you will pick up on it!

Best of luck to you!

Carolyn