VA PBNR in Dallas

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Hi! How long did it take for the hiring process? I am trying to find out how long it takes for a firm offer. I am nervous because I do not have one yet and I turned down other forms job offers.

   So, you aren’t “guaranteed” a job but you are if that makes sense. They invest a lot into the PBNR residents. Lots of time, money, effort, etc. everyone in my cohort got the unit they wanted. But if you don’t get your 1st choice you should be able to get one of you top 3 units. 
   At the VA you fire yourself. So if you don’t get a job offer at the end that is 100% on the resident. I only know of a few residents that didn’t get a job after and again I won’t go into detail but I can promise you they did that to themselves and out of the past 6 or 7 cohorts there were only two that happened too. 
   Getting a job afterward, isn’t hard. You will have ICU, Mental health, OR, med surg, etc experience. You literally get experience on all floors. So it should be easy to get a job in the private sector afterwards. 
    PBNR really does give you so much experience. You have to be open to learning at every unit (even if you know you don’t want that unit).  But it’s a lot to learn but you will learn way more than traditional residency programs. 

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And trust me, we all went into it completely blind! Literally, Blind! Communication is one thing they know they need to work on and they are trying to fix that. But there is a saying at the VA……. You have to ask Joseph, to ask Mary, to ask Jesus, to ask G-d to get things done…….. it sounds crazy (I know I keep saying this) but you eventually get the information you need. Make sure to ask all questions (even when they make you feel dumb for asking it) because if you don’t ask you will never know. 

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Haha! I love that saying. Thank you @Jen1234. It is a big transition as I don't live out there and would be moving for it, so I think I have more questions than most people would. In my current state, our VA has a sheet that had the residency details including the exact stipend amount so I panicked when I didn't see that come through at all yet. California also has the exact stipend details posted. Seems like a state by state basis that they provide details on this, but I wish they all did that so that it would be easier to plan financially. I didn't intend on staying in my state after graduating so I applied for only out of state VA opportunities. 

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Jen 1234 summed it up well.  I stand behind everything she said . I love this program. Worth every effort. 

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Hello, I’m sorry to resurrect a dead thread, but I’m starting the PBNR program this February in Cincinnati, and was wondering how pay works. I know it’s a stipend, but is it taxed, subject to income tax only, or not taxed at all? Thanks so much if anyone responds!

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It’s subject to federal income taxes and probably state taxes if that applies. There are benefits also, like health/dental/vision etc. Take your stipend and divide by 26. There’s your pretax paycheck. 

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Specializes in Nursing student.
On 11/29/2021 at 6:08 PM, Boomshakalaka said:

It’s subject to federal income taxes and probably state taxes if that applies. There are benefits also, like health/dental/vision etc. Take your stipend and divide by 26. There’s your pretax paycheck. 
 

 

Hi,

so you’re not given a grade nor level until completion of the program? The on in San Antonio doesn’t mention a stipend on there VA home page 

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Hello,

I know this is an older post, but I was accepted to the PB-RNR program for the March 2024 cohort in San Diego. I was wondering if anyone could provide any input or advice on how the program went for them. I also have 2 other new grad offers in a nearby hospital and need to make a decision by tomorrow, (aka why I am panic searching the internet LOL) so I am trying to decide which is best for me. I would appreciate any input! Thanks SO much in advance! 

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Pro- Honestly it was a great program in itself. You get to work on Every unit and truly find what you like. Most private hospitals your hired directly into a unit and you don't get to try out other units. The benefits are amazing. You get a pension after 25years at the VA (if you have previous federal work the time may be less). The pay is great. They have a union. I am honestly proud to say I work at the VA. Our veterans are awesome and they truly appreciate the help (most of the time). I truly love my unit. My boss is amazing and goes the extra mile. I can get virtually any training I want, with in reason. I truly love my job. I would do the program over again if I had to go back. VA gives AL (or called pto in private sector) and SL (sick leave) as two different banks of time, which coming from private sector is virtual unheard of these days. Lots of amazing benefits (to many to list).

with good also comes not so great. 

Con- PBNR program at least in Dallas, the program was Very unorganized. huge lack of communication. The people that run I think tried their best but one of them was horrible. But for the most part tried their best. At the end I got the unit I wanted but there was a 6 WEEK delay in HR. Again this could just be Dallas HR but 6 weeks of no pay check and then they cashed out all out AL(which is called PTO for the rest of the world) to help pay us for the 6 weeks of no pay. Thankfully I have a two income house hold but IDK how single people would be able to do it. The culture at the VA (again could just be Dallas VA) takes some getting used to. 

Again this could all be Dallas thing but that's my experience.

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Thank you so much for this information! I decided to move forward with the PB-RNR program offer. Praying for more organization and better communication here at the VA in San Diego! 

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Hey there- it sounds like I am in a similar predicament that you were earlier this year and was hoping you could share how your experience with the VA PB-RNR program has been for you so far. I have an offer from a PB-RNR program and another nurse residency program so now trying to figure out which direction to go. The biggest downside of the PB-RNR program is the money during the residency being significantly less than my other offer. And then how I understand it is that after the residency is over, I'm not guaranteed a position with the VA- I'll have to interview for a spot? Which isn't awful and I feel fairly confident it would't be an issue. Any insight you have on from your experience would be awesome! Hope things are going well for you!

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Specializes in NEW GRAD RN.
Jen1234 said:

Hi! So I'm almost done with PBNR. It is a very good program, nothing like it anywhere else. Think of it as if your an MD going through residency. You get to see it all! Every dept and learn what you like and don't like. I didn't learn my pay till day one..... which was very annoying but you will be pleasantly surprised. The VA pays very well compared to other major hospitals (honesty one of the top paying ones).  The VA is a completely different world in the health care world. The attitudes and lack of respect from some can get you down..... once you learn to move past that (which took me months) you will be happy. The pay, benefits, it's all there. It's a lot to learn but no contracts at the end so you can leave and not worry about paying anything back. It is a hurry up and wait situation. Again, if you can look past that, you will be happy there. Just go into it knowing nothing is very organized, expect wait times, expect everything to be very very slow.... I know this sounds crazy (trust me I do) but the VA is a whole different world.... But I honestly love my job. I wouldn't trade it for the world! 

Hey, sorry to bother. I got an alternative candidate offer recently, do u know anything got into your cohort in my situation? thank you!

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