VA offering me RN 1 but I have BSN??

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Hi all.  Forgive me as I type this on my phone.  My salary offer for the VA came back and I was offered RN 1, level 3, step 9.

I have my BSN, a MA in cultural anthropology, worked in rhe administration side of public health prior to be a nurse, have been a RN for 3 years, precepted nurses, been a charge RN, and been engaged in several other leadership projects as a nurse and throughout my career.  Does what they are offering me seen right? I'm rather disappointed.  Any help on how to negotiate would be appreciated.  I feel I should be a level 2 with my BSN and then a few steps in due to my prior experience and leadership activities.  Thoughts? 

Specializes in Pre-Op/PACU/OR/Endoscopy.

Based on what you've stated here, you should have been brought in as a nurse 2. You must have a minimum of 2 years experience to do so, otherwise you would have come in at a nurse 1 level 3. I am sorry. I am not sure that anything can be done now except to write for your 2 and then solicit a board member for assistance, reminding them that you qualified for a 2 on hire with a BSN and 2+ years of experience. I am sorry this happened.

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Specializes in Cardiology.
On 2/5/2022 at 1:09 AM, mistycaserole said:

Does anybody know how the VA system work? After the annual salary. Do you get locality pay on top of it?

You do get cost of living increases and then any other raise if Congress/President approves it. 

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@MajesticDancer 

How did you fight it? I'm currently in VA onboarding nightmare and my offer is low and I believe I am missing some step credits. HR told me offer is firm and final, but I'm not buying it and plan to escalate. Thanks!

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The most important thing is to ensure your resume has EVERYTHING. Do not keep it to two pages. Showcase tour leadership skills.  Plus you need to meet the criteria (lengthwise and education wise for being RN 2).

 

I simply told my HR person that my resume need ro be resubmitted to the board and reevaluated.  That I was a nurse 2 given my qualifications.  I jad to be firm and stand my ground with my HR person though.

Good luck!!

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10 minutes ago, MajesticDancer said:

The most important thing is to ensure your resume has EVERYTHING. Do not keep it to two pages. Showcase tour leadership skills.  Plus you need to meet the criteria (lengthwise and education wise for being RN 2).

 

I simply told my HR person that my resume need ro be resubmitted to the board and reevaluated.  That I was a nurse 2 given my qualifications.  I jad to be firm and stand my ground with my HR person though.

Good luck!!

I appreciate the info. I have been a RN for 11 years and four of those are NP with MSN-FNP. I was offered NP2 step three, which is insulting. At a minimum I was expecting low NP3 or high NP2. I wrote 11 pages explained how my provider directly benefits the facility with specific outcomes so extremely dissatisfied. I know I meet NP3 criteria. I have involved my medical director, who is also the CMO. She said that she is going to contact people Monday morning as HR basically said it was rated by my peers so it is what it is, buuuuut I’m not buying it. Extremely frustrating. 

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Specializes in Pre-Op/PACU/OR/Endoscopy.

So if you are BSN prepared with greater than 2 years experience you should come in at a nurse 2. If you didn't make sure your VetPro information is accurate. Buzz words to use on your resume are charge nurse, preceptor, super user etc. Include any management experience, any committee's your were on for process improvement that you can show outcomes on, LPN year's of experience. All this equals more points which is more money. I know it breaks all the rules of resume writing. But its how it works. If they come in too low, you can always counter or refuse because of money. 

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