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
Hi...I would appreciate if I can get a copy of your nx 3 proficiency so I can review. I just want to see the verbiage. Like most nurses working at the VA, I'm frustrated with the process. Please send to [email protected]
Specializes in med-surg, emergency, and geriatrics.
Hi EricaR202 I have been trying to get my NR3 for some time now and have been unsuccessful. I would be grateful if you would share with me any information on how to get my promotion. I too have seen other employees get promoted quickly with lack of experience and it make me feel that frustrated as well.
I would be happy to share my Nurse III Proficiency, as well, if anyone needs it, just message me, but my frustration is having worked so hard to get it, then not feeling very "rewarded". I started as a Nurse I, Step 12 at the VA in 2015. For various reasons, new NM among others my first Proficiency was delayed nearly a year. So that Proficiency and the next were submitted within a month of each other. The first Proficiency, I was promoted to Nurse II, before that promotion was even processed. I received notice that the second proficiency promoted me to Nurse III. Therefore, both pay increases went into effect about the same time. I was pretty excited, really thinking I had quite a raise coming my way. Unfortunately, however, due to the VA's "two-step promotion rule" I basically went from a Nurse I to a Nurse III in just over 2 years, but somehow my gross pay only increased by $290/yr. Yes, you read it right, a year. Something seems very wrong with their promotion rule to me. Several of my co-workers have told me they were promoted to each grade, but their step never changed. So, they were Nurse I, Step 8, then Nurse II, Step 8 and so on and it is a pretty nice increase when it's done like that. Unfortunately, several of my co-workers have been trying to get their Nurse III for several years and I honestly don't know how I got so "lucky", but they are Nurse II's and most of them are making over 20K more per year than I am and it will take me twice as long to catch up with them...definitely not a perfect system.
Please send me a copy as well. I am working on my proficiency now.. I am a Nurse 2 and at a lower step than I should be. I was told in my orientation that i could skip 2 steps in my first year if my manager approves... I need all the help I can get..
devinluvbug78
2 Posts
Hi...I would appreciate if I can get a copy of your nx 3 proficiency so I can review. I just want to see the verbiage. Like most nurses working at the VA, I'm frustrated with the process. Please send to [email protected]
Thanks