VA Palo Alto New Grad Program

lynette.johnson · Jul 10, 2009

Just wondering if anyone has gotten a call for VA Palo Alto yet? Thanks!! :bugeyes:

deliverator, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 14, 2009

This is VA related, but not Palo Alto related.

I've had 2 interviews with the VA Long Beach already. Applications started in April for the July/August start. I believe there were 70 applicants for 6 positions. I was promised a position in SCI, and had the blessings of the nurse managers in SCI. When my Application went back to HR, I got another call saying that the 6 positions for the new grad program were filled and they wanted me to come in for another interview for a FT nights staff nurse position on Medical. So I interviewed with medical and they were about to hire me when they saw I had no hospital experience and that I should be in the new grad program. I told them that the reason my application went up to you was because the new grad program was full and that my application is being sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans Association and several key administrators at the VA Long Beach.

The new policy for the VA in hiring new grads is that they must have a BSN degree. My mom has been a physician in SCI at the VA Long Beach for 35 years and has confirmed this with HR and that's the main reason that I wasn't hired into the new grad program.

So if your an ADN RN like me, don't count on hearing back from the VA Palo Alto.

lynette.johnson · Jul 14, 2009

I'm a BSN grad with 8months LTC exp. as an RN. When I emailed the nurse recruiter and asked about the progress this was her reply, "I am still doing some last minute review and negotiation for new graduate slots. I plan to send email updates to all the candidates by next week. Thank you for your patience". I'm not sure how to take that. Is there a hidden message? Maybe saying that I'm not in??? Not sure!

cubeo · Jul 18, 2009

oooh man..ADN will be disqualify for VA new grad program? that sucks!!! :crying2:

MrNurse007 · Jul 28, 2009

Good news!!! I know that all of you have been waiting to see if they started to contacting for interviews... so I just received a call at 1pm from the hiring manager of VA Palo Alto Long Term Care. She said that there are only two spots and that she just started to call to set up interviews. If you did not put Long Term Care as one of your preferences, then you will not get a call. I turned it down because I already accepted a full time position that is starting Aug 3. Good luck to everyone!!!!

nursechickpea · Jul 29, 2009

Yes, please do ask your friend about the interview process. I greatly appreciate any help because like many on this forum, I do not know any nurses.

I had an interview, it was a panel, it started with 4 but one nurse had to go back to the floor so for most of it there were 3 people interviewing me; the nurse manager of the unit, the manager (not sure if that's the correct title) for the day, and two senior nurses from the floor.

The questions were very standard, directly from a form they all shared and took turns reading from (what I would expect from a gov't interview). Then there was a tour of the unit.

The hospital campus is beautiful, the technology at the VA great, all the staff very nice, all of which made a great impression on me...keeping my fingers crossed!