VA Proficiency Nurse III Frustration & Appeal

[Sarah918]

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

[MonChaton!1984]

The person who rates you. I believe it is also online at the nursing board website. Sorry I don’t have the website available to post. There are members of your nursing board at the facility where you work. If you work for a CPAC, your nurse manager or the assistant national policy analyst should help you. Also if you are a CPAC nurse, they did a presentation a while ago and it should still be available on the CPAC share point portal in the RUR library. I think it also has the website to the nursing boards there as well.

[RBRN34]

RN4KU and pfchange, could I please have a copy of your proficiency? I am looking at the appeal process and have gathered more evidence. I have been a Nurse 2 for 7 years, and I am very close to a Nurse 3, and I know that I can get it with what I have, but my NE is trying to boost his numbers by saving money and denying promotions. Thanks in advance!

[katydidit1964, MSN]

4 hours ago, canchaser said:

Whom do ask for this pathway?

If your still in the determination process ask your HR contact or the nurse manager of the unit/Dept..if already hired then can go online to SharePoint.. HR and proceed from there

[katydidit1964, MSN]

On 3/25/2019 at 3:53 PM, RN4KU said:

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.

Just wanting to follow up on the hiring process at your facility. are they still using an outside company? Has there been less favoritisim noted? We are in process of hiring a new ANM on my unit... I wish that the interview team would include people from different services (at least) or different VA's in order to make a selection.

4

[micheleBono]

I also was denied nurse II. There has to be something we can do to fight this!! Attorney?? Does anyone know??!!

[tt2323, BSN]

1 hour ago, micheleBono said:

I also was denied nurse II. There has to be something we can do to fight this!! Attorney?? Does anyone know??!!

MicheleBono, how long have you been an RN/at the VA? What degree do you have? You would have to appeal the decision. The board should be able to tell you where you lacked.

[T.K.]

On 4/19/2019 at 1:40 PM, damdaz said:

[RBRN34]

I have been a RN yor 9 years, and I have only worked at the VA. I have a BSN with 2 certifications, a PCCN and CCRN. I am going back to school for a DNP with 1 semester of Grad school done. I am appealing the denial for Nurse 3, but if it is denied again, I will send it to National.

[RNPorter17]

I would love a copy of your proficiency

[MonChaton!1984]

National board won’t help you. They are even stricter than the local boards. If you want change, it will take a collective group of nurses all going to the union with examples of non promotion.

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

When you go national you aren’t allowed to add anything. What you’ve got and already submitted is what you’re stuck with.

[UnlessRN]

RN4KU, I am in the same boat... writing my proficiency for my Nurse III. I am a UM nurse as well. This is a bear. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.