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
After waiting 3 months for it to finally get there, my packet went before the board 3 weeks ago. I am still waiting for someone to sign off on their offer before it will be presented to me. I understand that if the offer is not satisfactory to me, I have to send the packet back for review again. This process has been very frustrating. It seems the only hold up is HR doing their part to get the packets off to the board for review. It only took 2 weeks after it was finished to pass through the board and now I am sitting impatiently waiting to know if the information I submitted was good enough to get me the Nurse 3 grade. Forget the fact that I have the education and nursing experience. This really sucks.
Trumi241,
Can you send me a copy of your nurse III proficiency? Please send it to [email protected]
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.
Hello, I would really appreciate seeing what an approved Nurse III proficiency looks like. Mine is due in July and I have no guidance. Thank you. [email protected]
I would like to see a copy please. I have been trying to get my III for years and I see nurses doing less and receiving it and with all I have done, I barely get a check mark or two. Thank you. [email protected]
I too am frustrated with this performance proficiency to get paid. Can any one please send me a copy of their performance proficiency to 3 that I could use as a guide. I am prior military and this is all so new to me. I have to convert my military experience which were enormous to VA terminology. I am truly desperate and willing to pay for help.
Sb8668
for anyone who is willing to help me you can send it to [email protected]
NP4dnp21
9 Posts
Trumi241,
Can you send me a copy of your nurse III proficiency? Please send it to [email protected]