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 currently have my nurse 3. I will be glad to send anyone a copy of my proficiency that helped me, but I'm not sure if it will help you. Please let me know if you want a copy.
I currently have my nurse 3. I will be glad to send anyone a copy of my proficiency that helped me, but I'm not sure if it will help you. Please let me know if you want a copy.
Please! Please! Please! send me a copy! Thank You!
So that I won't have to send it individually, I have attached a copy of my proficiency that I used to get my nurse 3. I had to appeal my ethics. I hope this helps.Redactacted Nurse 3 Proficiency.pdf
It depends on the VA. I worked at one VA where there was not a single Nurse III except one who had it earned from another facility. Another VA facility was much more reasonable in promoting staff nurses to III. I met many IIIs there. It's 100% not true that you need to be in management.
Unfortunately if the NPSB at your hospital tends to block nurses from becoming III then there isn't much you can do other than perhaps move to another VA facility and earn it there. Once you have it, you keep it from VA to VA as long as you remain in the system (don't leave the VA for a period of greater than 12 months, otherwise you will be reboarded).
One of the core requirements is doing a project that affects multiple units (not just your own) or multiple service lines. In addition, having an MSN or higher used to be a requirement as well but then they introduced an education waiver that you could use one time for a grade scale jump and you could get the waiver back if you later earned the degree required for your grade but I heard the waiver would planning to be removed.
NPs follow the same grading scale as RNs. In fact, if you are already a Nurse II or Nurse III as an RN and transition into a NP role while still in the system, you will become a NP II or a NP III.
Thank you for the input. However, I was fortunate enough to get my nurse 3 before they did away with NPSB. I sent mine over in hope to help someone else. But I do thank you for the input.
The quification standards have changed. They now have 5 instead of 9. Make sure you all only write to those 5. (Collegility and ethics are gone for example). Don't write more than you have to and make sure you read the standards and include your data and outcomes.
Kree Cree
6 Posts
Hi,
I currently have my nurse 3. I will be glad to send anyone a copy of my proficiency that helped me, but I'm not sure if it will help you. Please let me know if you want a copy.