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
Can you identify a process that needs to be improved? Or a gap in education? Both would need to definitivley impact beyond your practice area.
Another route would be to take a new job in something like quality, pt safety, education, community care, ect. Those jobs naturally have easy impact on multiple service lines and it is much much much easier to get a 3. ( I got mine the year I moved to staff education).
Thank you very much. Would like your input on this to see if I am going in the right direction. I am trying to setup education to the nurses in the ER, ICU, Med Surg and Long term. I work in the OR. The education I am providing is with our checklist for getting inpatient pt ready for surgery, such as meds to give and hold, warmer on them , CHG wipes, etc... hair clipped, also to simplify our checklist for handoff the OR nurses or ASU. My reason behind all this is educating the nurses of why each of these things are important for safe surgery and outcomes for the pt. When we hire new nurses I just feel why not give them the education behind the things you do to get pt ready for surgery, it gives the nurses a better understanding. It would be ongoing with new nursing orientation, with a power point shown. The question I am asking is this out of my immediate area? Thank you very much
Thank you very much. Would like your input on this to see if I am going in the right direction. I am trying to setup education to the nurses in the ER, ICU, Med Surg and Long term. I work in the OR. The education I am providing is with our checklist for getting inpatient pt ready for surgery, such as meds to give and hold, warmer on them , CHG wipes, etc... hair clipped, also to simplify our checklist for handoff the OR nurses or ASU. My reason behind all this is educating the nurses of why each of these things are important for safe surgery and outcomes for the pt. When we hire new nurses I just feel why not give them the education behind the things you do to get pt ready for surgery, it gives the nurses a better understanding. It would be ongoing with new nursing orientation, with a power point shown. The question I am asking is this out of my immediate area? Thank you very much
Your on the right track, do you have some data that shows the need for the education? Something to justify and compare outcomes to. Or find some directive or ebp that supports the edu. Make sure you track the data and impact (how may taught, measure learning somehow...ect). You are Def on the right track I've seen successful promotions from this sort of thing
Thank you so much for being willing to share your opinion and experience with the Nurse 3 process. I am currently getting prepared to start the process. I was blessed to take advantage of the education benefits afforded to employees at the VA to get my master's in nursing education. I plan to create a program based on education. I am currently looking at data to support the need. My question is, how can I apply things I have done outside of the VA? I am part of a professional nursing organization and serve in a regional role as editor-in-chief for the newsletter. I also serve in local leadership roles. I take part in multiple charity projects. I am currently working in another organization planning a community health fair.
I have had a similar situation at my VA. I have been there over 10 years and witnessed the same- let's just call it non sense- go on time after time. I have been in nursing 15 years, and am still young with a lot of good years ahead of me. I will be graduating with my BSN in Spring, and have decided a few years ago on an "exit strategy". I miss the honesty and accountability of the private sector. Maybe someday I will return to the VA when I'm closer to retirement but I cannot see this as a place for a young ambitious nurse to look for opportunity. I know that not all VAs are this way, but mine happens to be. I feel your frustration, Sarah.
"honesty and accountability of the private sector". This is a joke right? If you think private is better then don't complain about it just quit and go do it.
Private sector's idea of brutal efficiency and 8 patient per nurse ratios is wretched and far from honest or accountable. Government has its problems sure but it isn't any less honest. Worked to the bone and unable to have a voice is what I think of as the private sector.
"honesty and accountability of the private sector". This is a joke right? If you think private is better then don't complain about it just quit and go do it.
I wrote the original response in 2016. Since then, I did quit government and work in the private sector for another 6 years. And again, I've gone back to government. What I've learned is that honestly and accountability is a rare quality in the workplace in both the private sector and government.
[email protected], I would like to see your nurse 3, thank you for offering
. I just need an opinion here, the project I have listed up above for Nurse 3, do you consider that out of my area of immediate practice? About 4 months ago, I had done one on med students and nurses who come to the OR for one day to up to two weeks as a part of their clinical rotation. Educating them on areas of the OR and teaching them to scrub, gown, glove, drape and sterile technique,etc... my manager said that was not out of my work area.
Didn't the nursing board get dissolved January 29, 2024? Promotions are now up to supervisors. I was a Nurse II and was promoted to Nurse III after dissolution of the board. Information is on this ALLNURSES site.
Yes, the Nursing Board has dissolved. If you got your Nurse III afterward, that's great!! A lot of nurses at my VA are having a hard time. I'm glad I got in before they did away with it.
LRT, BSN, MSN
15 Posts
I am working on my Nurse 3, any suggestions