why is the VA taking so long to hire you?

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Hey everyone. I was interviewed and offered a job at the VA at the beginning of October. I did all the things that they asked for me: physical exam, Vetpro, fingerprint and E-qip, all done in October. Until now, I haven't heard anything from them and it's already November. Is it really this long to get a job over there. Should I be worried at all? Should I keep looking for other jobs (I actually have two interviews coming up, one at the police/corrections and the other at a private hospital). I'm just trying to have some back up plan, just in case the VA thing did not work out. Any suggestions?

you should go there in person, trust me.

Arabella205, how long did it take you from the time you submitted your application, interviewed, got offered the position, went the through physical exam, Vetpro, fingerprint, E-qip, and the boarding process to getting the actual VA appointment? How long was your boarding process and was there anything extra that you had to do during that time? As well, when you went in person, to check on your application status, how often did you go?

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Arabella205, how long did it take you from the time you submitted your application, interviewed, got offered the position, went the through physical exam, Vetpro, fingerprint, E-qip, and the boarding process to getting the actual VA appointment? How long was your boarding process and was there anything extra that you had to do during that time? As well, when you went in person, to check on your application status, how often did you go?

My folder was just sent to the boards recently and I should probably start next year (january). It's been 2.5 months now since I've turned in my application. I got interviewed pretty fast. I did my physical, fingerprints, vetpro and e-qip (which is a PAIN) right away. I only went there in person once (i should have done it more) to check the status only because HR won't return my phonecalls.

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Specializes in this and that.

i agree...HR / nurse recruiter dont return phone calls....:confused:

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i agree...HR / nurse recruiter dont return phone calls....:confused:

Very frustrating, but I believe in the power of praying for things to happen according to His will. I love the quote from Galations 6:9---Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!:starornament:

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I finally got my letter of employment. I am still deciding if I should go to the VA or not. I also got accepted into a new grad program in another hospital which starts in Feb.

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go VA I have been there 3 years now, although not perfect it is the best place I have ever worked and I have been a nurse 24 years. the benefits are absolutey the best I have ever had, you will be less likely to be sent home due to low census. I have never been sent home whereas private hospitals you migh get sent home if the census is low. with the economy they way it is there will be more people without ins so vets that may have never used the va system because they always had private ins will start using it. most of you pt's will be med and they are a great population. you will be on probation for 2 years, that is normal just keep a low profile the 1st 2 years. you get 2 annual raises (not sure about the 1st year merit raise because of probabion) but even while on probabtion you will get a 3-4% raise each jan 1st, then on your anniversary you will get another raise about 3% also if the salary studies say their pay is less than prevailing you may get another raise. the differentials are good 25% wkend and 10% eve-night, you will have about a 2 month orientation or more if you need it. you will get 26 days vacation and 13 sick days, the holidays you get an extra 8-12 hrs pay for that pay period depending which shifts you do. 8 or 12 hrs. you will never see those benefits anywhere. the federal ins is good I have the bcbs standard, as well as dental and vision. you can also get cheap life ins which you need to get. there is a thrift savings plan at 6 months when you contribute 5% they will match it and you are vested at 3 years which is not heard of in the private sector. I would say give it a try. also if you decide to move you can transfer to another VA they also have tuition reimbursement if you need to take graduate courses If I were you I would snatch that position because they are hard to get (right place right time) esp the full time positions. but once you are in you are in. which va is it, PM me if you want.

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I finally got my letter of employment.

Congratulations! Curious, is this the conditional letter of employment or the actual appointment letter? If it's the appointment letter, was it mailed to you, were you given advanced notice that it would be in the mail, or were you called in to HR to retrieve it? Was this a temporary or permanent appointment? Thanks for any answers provided.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Hey everyone. I was interviewed and offered a job at the VA at the beginning of October. I did all the things that they asked for me: physical exam, Vetpro, fingerprint and E-qip, all done in October. Until now, I haven't heard anything from them and it's already November. Is it really this long to get a job over there. Should I be worried at all? Should I keep looking for other jobs (I actually have two interviews coming up, one at the police/corrections and the other at a private hospital). I'm just trying to have some back up plan, just in case the VA thing did not work out. Any suggestions?

because some of the administrative people that work at the VA have a cush job, they know is hard to get them fired, so they do as little work as possible... They have other reasons also, which I wont mention in public

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Specializes in this and that.

so is it true patrickrn1 that it takes x1 year for nurse recruiter to call back or answer a question....ive been calling them and they are always away from the desk...and blah blah blah....

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Yes, and they wonder why (the VA) has a hard time recruiting nurses!! Then there is the whole "boarding" process which can be biased. When I transferred from a WV VA to MD, HR here lost my paperwork 2 times and everything had to be resent!!! I still have my days where I scratch my head and wonder....

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Specializes in Neurosciences.

I gave up with the VA.

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Specializes in this and that.

im giving up on va....no wonder every nurse i talked to just laughed when they heard i applied for va....now i know.....only the lucky ones get in.....:redbeathe

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