VA Tentative Salary vs. Final Offer

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Specializes in CVICU, ASC.

Hello,

I have searched and I haven't been able to find an answer to this question. I was offered a tentative position and salary from the VA hospital. I was curious, does anyone know if the salary I was quoted will decrease or increase from the final offer? What are things that could increase or affect your final salary offer? Does military experience play a factor? Thanks!

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Your offer will only change if there is new information from them. As far as military time it will only help for seniority if you were a nurse at that time, otherwise it will help with retirement if you sell back the time.

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Specializes in CVICU, ASC.

Thanks for the response JeckRN! I was wondering because I am pretty content with the initial offer and I didn't want it to decrease.

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Your veteran preference helps get your foot in the door.

Here's what DFAS says about service time "buy-back": http://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/militaryservice/militaryservicedeposits.html

Your appointment letter sets your initial ANNUAL pay rate. No one is paid per year. You will actually get paid hourly. You may be thinking, well, they said 40 hours a week, what's the diff? The diff comes with overtime (rare), holidays (if you work a Federal holiday, you get paid for the holiday plus for the work), and differentials (weekend differentials pay more than shift differentials).

Your appointment letter will tell you your grade and step. Your grade is going to be very important to you. If you have a BSN when you apply, and you have a couple years' experience, you'll probably want to see a grade of Nurse II, and expect to go to Nurse III after you get your VA-paid MSN (apply after a year). Far easier to be hired on as a Nurse II than try to get it after you're on board.

HOWEVER, the second you are on board (the VA always hires on Sundays and lets you go on Saturdays), you may apply for another job, and you will be preferred because you're already an employee. In fact, changing jobs during orientation may be the most flexible situation you'll ever find yourself in, because once you're on your unit, they tend to hang onto you a month after you get a new job.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Military time for retirement can only be used if you do not have active duty retirement. It can be sold back if you have a reserve retirement, know from personal experience.

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Specializes in CVICU, ASC.

Psychosocialist- I am currently in Master's level classes right now and will complete next year. I will have been a nurse 2 years in December and have my BSN. I was just notified my packet goes to board next week. If I am boarded with anything below Nurse level II, can I question their decision? Also, could you explain the switching jobs during orientation? I interviewed for 2 positions and one interviewer informed me you had to be in a position for a year before transferring. Is this true because I would definitely like to apply for another position once I get my Master's?

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