VA Nurse Salary

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Hi! Can anyone provide me with good info on the starting pay for VA nurses? I am applying in both Kansas (Leavenworth VA) and Missouri (Kansas City, MO VA). The salary range for both locations is about $46,000-$88,000. I know salary is based on experience, but I'm wondering if most nurses start somewhere in the middle. I have about 1.5 years med-surg experience. I can easily make more than the $46k at my current hospital position, but I'd like to work for the VA and the benefits can't be beat! Just wondering if I'll have to take a big pay cut. Thanks!

Specializes in Critical Care.

I am a Nurse II step 6 and have my ADN....

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I think that was the best explanation of the pay scale at the VA I have ever heard!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I should come to MN... the pay is a lot more compared to Milwaukee

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You say you are an ADN but your screen name says BSN. Did you get your BSN recently or after you got to Nurse II step 6? Just trying to clarify bc this whole process varies so much from VA to VA.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I had my ADN when I received my Nurse II step 6 last December and just graduated this month with my BSN :)

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Congrats to you!

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Hi! Can anyone please tell me what my pay might be. The VA seems to be all over the place! My packet was supposed to go to the board this past week, but it will go next week instead. I was an LVN for 3 years, RN (ADN)for 6 years, and I graduated with my BSN this past December. Thanks for your help answering my question!

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You have to check the locality pay scale because every city is different. For example RNII in San Diego,CA will make more than an RNII in Corpus Christi, TX--cost of living, union, and nursing market considerations. Title 38: Nurses--http://www.va.gov/ohrm/pay/

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So I should expect to be an RN II? Any idea what step I should be boarded at? TIA.

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No one can predict this bc things vary so much from facility to facility.

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Any of y'all work or have worked at Overton Brooks VA in Shreveport?

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I am being onboarded to the VA in St Cloud at this time. I just graduated with my ADN but am going to WGU as soon as I begin working to do their ADN to MA program. I am wondering how to go about getting the h Guest starting wage that I can. I vaguely understand my info will go before the VA Nursing board but don't really understand where to document all my clinical hours, volunteer hours (at my local hospital in informatics), or any other letters of recommendation I have gotten from previous nurse educators (they got one at my interview at their job fair but I have a few more now). Can anyone share how I go abOut doing this? I have done their online credentialing (no place to document clinical there)...

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