I am feeling frustrated with the entire VA NPSB proficiency process. At my hospital, it is a good old boys system in which board members promote their friends and the other managers and shut the door on others. I am a staff RN with a MSN and years of experience. I applied for my nurse III after completing a hospital wide project and doing other work that met the 9 dimensions.
This whole process has me frustrated beyond words. My profIciency has been lost by HR multiple times. My initial NPSB review said I didnt meet 7 of the 9 dimensions. Before submitting my proficiency, I had it reviewed by 3 former board members who all said I would meet for a 3. I submitted a request for reconsideration after the initial denial, and suddenly I met 6 out of 9 dimensions. I am now appealing my denial to VACO. Has anyone ever done this? What was he outcome, and how long did your appeal take to be answered after it was sent off?
I have been repeatedly been told by my own manager "you cannot get a 3 without working in management" and "it takes multiple submissions to get approved". I do not think this is correct. It may be harder to find the time and get approval for a project, but staff RNs cannot be essentially "blocked" from promotion. The dimensions are black and white, yet a subjective system is used to approve or deny proficiencies. It seems so unfair at my hospital. I've seen other nurses get promoted who were friends with board members, while other truly deserving RNs who meet the dimensions and make lasting changed within the hospital are shut out.
Any guidance and other nurses experience with this would be greatly appreciated. I love working with our Vets, but the good old boys club and the oppressive bureaucracy had me ready to bash my face into something. I feel defeated. Thanks all
I am trying to get my Nurse III, I came into VA as a II with my BSN almost 2 years ago but do not have my MSN. My proficiency is due soon and have no clue how to write to the III, since I don't have an MSN. Please help. Any examples to the III would be greatly appreciated.
I too and trying to achieve Nurse 3 status. If anyone could share their successful document, I would certainly appreciate it and pay if forward to the next person. My email in [email protected]. RN4KU Thank You in advance!
Hi all. Im new here. I have a tenative offer for a VA clinic. Im super excited. I currently make 33/hr as a medsurg floor nurse. I have a Masters degree in nursing education with 11 yrs experience. ive been a clinic nurse, homehealth/hospice nurse worked long term care and a total of just over 5 yrs as a medsurg nurse. In my previous medsurg position i was a partime charge nurse and precepted new nurses. I understand that pay grades are not as straightforward as it appears on the application. Based on the education and years experience i should be a level 3. But, alas i guess theres more too it. I was told i will have to write an essay addressing dimensiins of nursing practice. I am suoer worried about getting at least the same or more pay as i do currently. I dont have a lot of mgmt experience and have not really had opportunity to effect organizational type changes
Any advice/examples of how i can write/word this essay for the best possible grade/pay step? And do thry ask for additional documentation/proof of experiences you cite? And do they coorelate experiences with jobs you listed on your app? Ive had some per diem and short term jobs that i didnt put on my application but some of them included good leadership examples i could use
I could use examples for Nurse III Proficiency as well, please. I am Nurse 2. This is my second year with the VA. I have 30 years experience with a BSN. My background is mainly Critical Care/Intensive Care with Interventional Radiology and Urgent Care. I have had NO assistance in writing the first and NO feedback. Just informed I have a week to get this one ready 3 months prior to anniversary date. Yikes!! Last years evaluation was posted to my file in November. I just don't get it. The pay is pretty decent compared to Civilian land, but I need some type of direction and example to use. Here is my email address. Appreciate your assistance: [email protected]
I am trying to get my Nurse III, I came into VA as a II with my BSN almost 2 years ago but do not have my MSN. My proficiency is due soon and have no clue how to write to the III, since I don't have an MSN. Please help. Any examples to the III would be greatly appreciated.
My facility doesn’t do education waivers so no matter how well you write to a 3 my facility still won’t promote due to not having a masters.
You are welcome to try, but even in my area, only 4 Nurses in the past 7 years and apparently 2 more last year were promoted even with Master's degree's and management job. It all just depends on which board reviews the proficiency and if they understand your job duties. I was extremely lucky and somehow was promoted, but I am paying for it dearly stuck in a job led by a corrupt and inept group of management. So it is what it is for now. Send me you email and I will send you my proficiency and good luck. So many hard working nurses in this together.
Sorry I did not get back to many of you until now, just been in the VA rut, trying to find a new career but unfortunately/fortunately unable to find a job anywhere near the pay. I emailed as many as I saw in my PM, its hard to follow because I do not work in an actual VA clinic but in the revenue portion.
Please keep us all updated on any wins. An outside company was finally hired to interview nurses about leadership issues, lack of morale, high turn over and basically how we all feel, it was fairly uniform that most nurses felt the same, but we will see what is done, short of a complete management white wash nothing will change.
Hi guys! Basically, you just need to do a TON outside your job duties. Join committees, get involved in research projects and QI stuff, offer to detail somewhere else, etc. I came in as a nurse 2 step 3 last year and got promoted to nurse 3 this year after throwing myself into everything I could. I became a PMDB instructor, volunteered in Puerto Rico after the hurricanes, joined education, research, and ethics committees and was actively involved in their projects, presented at a grand rounds, represented the VA with a poster presentation at a national conference, etc. Unfortunately, the promotion isn’t based on how well you do your job, it’s based on your involvement above and beyond what your job requires. Good luck to everyone!!!
Hi guys! Basically, you just need to do a TON outside your job duties. Join committees, get involved in research projects and QI stuff, offer to detail somewhere else, etc. I came in as a nurse 2 step 3 last year and got promoted to nurse 3 this year after throwing myself into everything I could. I became a PMDB instructor, volunteered in Puerto Rico after the hurricanes, joined education, research, and ethics committees and was actively involved in their projects, presented at a grand rounds, represented the VA with a poster presentation at a national conference, etc. Unfortunately, the promotion isn’t based on how well you do your job, it’s based on your involvement above and beyond what your job requires. Good luck to everyone!!!
That is really great work you should like you would make an amazing leader in the VA nursing system. I am glad you had those opportunities, some of us can only make changes in our local systems and attempt to promote outside the local facility, due to schedules, but based on who you are boarded by makes a difference. If the board you are sent to has no idea the type of position you are doing, key words are basically all they can go by. I know nurses who work hard, take manager positions, change, and create policies, with no luck. It is not possible for all nurses to travel or afford travel to conferences, travel budgets have been slashed for most. I personally say I already go above and beyond what is expected, compared to many that I work with, I see so many nurses try to create changes and policies, but many of our managers lack true leadership skills. After 8 years leadership, policy development, and education is only viewed as a threat. I am supervised by Associate level Nurse 1 and 2's. Education is highly discouraged, and work volume due to low morale and high turn over prevents many from going above and beyond. It is different for each of us on on our career path. I pray I can find a place my education, experience, and passion is valued and needed in order to better serve the deserving veterans.
ginapcnurse
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I am trying to get my Nurse III, I came into VA as a II with my BSN almost 2 years ago but do not have my MSN. My proficiency is due soon and have no clue how to write to the III, since I don't have an MSN. Please help. Any examples to the III would be greatly appreciated.
My email is [email protected]