Members are discussing the hiring process and potential pay grades for nursing positions at the VA, with some sharing their experiences of long wait times and varying offers. Questions about salary scales, job postings, and negotiation strategies are also being raised, along with inquiries about tuition reimbursement and educational benefits for VA employees.
I received a call from the hiring manager of the VA in Rockford IL that she would like to direct hire me for a RN care manager position. I have 7 years of nursing experience. Most of my experience is case management/ clinic related. Do you think it would be reasonable to start at Nurse II? most of the job descriptions say BSN with 2-3 years experience will start at Nurse II which is equivalent to grade 2?
Excel pay scale uploaded. Under Rockford thinking at least first pay scale for grade 2?
I received a call from the hiring manager of the VA in Rockford IL that she would like to direct hire me for a RN care manager position. I have 7 years of nursing experience. Most of my experience is case management/ clinic related. Do you think it would be reasonable to start at Nurse II? most of the job descriptions say BSN with 2-3 years experience will start at Nurse II which is equivalent to grade 2?
Excel pay scale uploaded. Under Rockford thinking at least first pay scale for grade 2?
I think it is definitely possible you could start at Nurse/Grade 2, but I don't think it is guaranteed.
Is there a job listing for the position? I ask because sometimes on those it will list the Grade on the payscale that the job falls under (but not the Step which is determined later by the review board based on your experience and how well you selled yourself in your application).
Also, in case you don't know, the VA is notorious for being slow when it comes to the hiring process. From the time I found out I got the job to the I got the formal offer (after the review board determined what my pay would be) was several months.
Can anyone help decipher the pay scale for a BSN, RN with 20 years experience in San Antonio, TX ?
Really it comes down to how you write your 5 dimensions. Definitely Google some examples. Generally, you need an MSN to get Nurse 3. You're might be looking at Nurse 2 step 3? Really it's a guess and very subjective.
Specializes in MICU, CCU, CVICU, Medical/Surgical, Nursing Admin.
OK. With a BSN, you are looking at a Nurse 2. With Nurse 2, there are 12 steps...one of which you will be put on. For instance, you may be a Nurse 2, Step 6 (or whatever you are brought in at). To understand what pay you may get, you can visit the Title 38 pay scales VA website for Texas here - https://www.VA.gov/OHRM/Pay/2024/LPS/TX.xls.
When you open it, look down the first column and go to 671 (for San Antonio). If you are going to work at the main hospital campus and not a clinic in another city, then only look at 671 (not with additional letters behind it). Then, look for the registered nurse pay scale, then look for Nurse 2. This will show you what Steps 1-12 pay are. The link is to 2024 rates. Please note that the US President issued a 1.7% increase to each pay step for 2025 rates.
The step is going to be determined by the manager based on several different things...years of experience is just one. Some facilities (very few) grant waivers to Nurse 3. I am not sure if San Antonio does this...but I would not bet on it.
With 20 years of RN experience, not including other things like NA, and having a BSN, a nurse on grade II or III gets an automatic step raise every 2 years (assuming you don't get a Dissatisfactory rating on a performance eval). This would mean Nurse II Step 10. You might be lucky enough to get placed as high as a Nurse 2 Step 10 but will probably be placed lower than that. Every VA boards differently. My last VA lowballed hardcore. I came back to the VA later at another VA and their offer was great. I wasn't allowed to negotiate either so you may just have to take what is offered or keep applying elsewhere.
Does the VA offer tuition reimbursement as a benefit? I can't find anything online.
Scholarship $ for continuing education for nurses is offered, but there are hoops ?
Each VAMC approves or disapproves each application for scholarship; nothing is guaranteed. While it's true that many have started with an ADN at VA and gone on for BSN, MSN, even DNP on VA's dime, that isn't true of all. Some are not approved; much depends on the needs of the facility, competition in the region, and the big one: available funds.
If you are selected for reimbursement, the specifics of how much they will pay and for what duration of time is spelled out in the agreement between you and VA. If for any reason you don't complete the program (get the degree), you will owe VA $$$. Likewise if you finish the degree but don't stay the agreed-upon time afterward; varies from 1-3 years. And if you fail to hold up your end of the agreement....expect to pay 3x the cost of the actual expense as a penalty.
Short answer is "YES". Longer answer is "yes...mostly....sometimes....make darned sure you really wanna do it" ?
Example if you go to the link, click on Nurse Locality Pay Schedule, click Texas, the first line is Houston Registered Nurse,
what does the '3' under level 2 or the '5' under the level 3 mean?
Thanks for the info!
I took a look, and while I can't be sure, my GUESS is that it's the number of positions for that level that the facility has (or had) open at the time of the posting? I really don't know...it's not the total number of positions, as that's obviously too small, but....maybe it was current only at that time?
I'm sorry, I don't know. VA has its own mysteries that we keep trying to figure out, even when WORKING there!
Nurse330
3 Posts
Hello All,
I received a call from the hiring manager of the VA in Rockford IL that she would like to direct hire me for a RN care manager position. I have 7 years of nursing experience. Most of my experience is case management/ clinic related. Do you think it would be reasonable to start at Nurse II? most of the job descriptions say BSN with 2-3 years experience will start at Nurse II which is equivalent to grade 2?
Excel pay scale uploaded. Under Rockford thinking at least first pay scale for grade 2?
IL (18).xls