VA Nursing

Specialties Government

Published

I just got a job offer at a particular VA hospital (VA Hospital #1). I have not started any of the paperwork for the hiring process, but its forthcoming. My concern is that its not exactly in the geographical location I prefer to live (VA Hospital #2--2 hours away). I also had an interview today for an amazing private sector job (great pay, doing a job I would love) in the area I do want to live. When I told my husband I was considering the private sector job over the VA job due to the location, he told me I was crazy and would be losing out on the tremendous benefits and opportunity of the VA. Someone else told me the same thing. I would just like to hear from those that work or worked at the VA. Thoughts?

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Specializes in O.R. Nursing - ENT, CTC, Vasc..

Wish this got replies, lol.... I am in pretty much the same boat - my spouse who isn't a nurse thinks the "smart" thing to do is take the VA job. When I love my comfy ASC job where my health insurance rates just jumped up and there's no retirement like FERS. I would be going back to taking some call... But "OMG THE BENEFITS!!!" I do know 2 people who left - they both said they wished they hadn't left. One left because she jumps ship for every little thing she hates about a job; the other left to take care of her elderly mother, then her mother died unexpectedly, right after she left.

My brother, a vet who has worked there since about 2002, said "You're a fool if you don't take the VA job."

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Interesting thread! I'm in a similar situation. I'm a new grad who also has been working at a va as a valor student. Now, I'm being offered a full time position, but it's not where I want to be. Other than that, the flexibility, pay and benefits are amazing! My husband thinks I'm nuts for wanting to go with the private job, where ill likely work nights and may be low censused...ugh. It's a tough choice!

RN BSN 2014

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I started working at the VA last June. Won't even consider leaving a federal job for a private position. I can write an essay why, but I'll hammer it down to some key points

1. The pay in most areas exceeds other health care facilities. Since June I've had two raises, one for an adjustment to critical care Rns, and the across the board federal gov raise in January

2. Best benefits I've ever had. Blue cross Federal employee is a great plan.

3. You never get marked off or sent home. At worst you will get floated or even take a reduced patient load, on Christmas night, I literally had one patient , who was very low maintenance and I was making holiday premium plus shift diff. Try that at a private hospital.

4. You can transfer anywhere in the USA and not have to acquire a nursing license in that state. You belong to uncle Sam.

5. Again benefits. Nurses rack up 8 hours of annual leave per pay period and 4 sick hours. That's five weeks of leave per year.

6. Retirement is solid. FERS is your social security+pension+TSP (401K) in one package.

I wouldn't say you were crazy, but the VA is the best job for nurses period

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^^ What he said :)

On top of those considerations, how about the fact that in the private sector, an employer can choose to downsize at any point for any reason, and you can be out of a job without notice and without compensation. Working in an 'at will' State means that you aren't 'beholden' to them, but they aren't obligated to you, either. As a Federal employee, once you have passed your probationary period and are at least satisfactory on performance reviews, your job STAYS your job. You cannot be fired without cause; in the private sector it's commonplace. The reason can be as simple as "because we want to pay for one less nurse"!

As for health benefits, I found that the real incentive isn't because this plan or that plan is "best" or "cheapest"; some have the idea that our benefits are somehow cheap or free (and that's not so). Really, it's the ability to have a very wide variety of insurance carriers and plans to choose from, not just the one or two that your private sector employer chose to go with. When I boarded, there were more than 16 different companies/plans for medical alone (dental and vision are separate). That's a WHOLE LOTTA room to choose what is best for your family and your budget :)

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Yes, but......you have an offer for an amazing job, great pay and in the area where you want to live? Make a list of pros and cons and those are pretty strong pros. I might take that job now. You can always apply to the VA in the future. I like my job at the VA but I have moved around a bit- five years here and five years there. Day to day job satisfaction is huge. I even took a job once which had only 2 weeks of vacation and I was used to more but I wanted that job day to day. I negotiated extra time off without pay. It was worth it!

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That it is as you discussed but truly the best part is having the HONOR of taking care of the men and women who have fought for our freedom. The best job ever is taking care of veterans!

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