VA Travel Nurse Corp

Specialties Government

Published

Good evening all

I have done research into the VA travel nurse corp. It's a civilian branch of the VA and they are supposed to take experienced nurses in various specialities into their own version of a Travel Nurse Agency. The bonuses are 1. You would be working with our brave men and women who have served in the military, 2. Since the VA uses the same system everywhere, you basically only orient once and 3. There are openings of various time frames all over the country (world). You would receive a housing and meal allowance stipend as well as a salary.

My dilema is that I'm interested in becoming a travel nurse (since I can do an early retirement) and thought this would be a great way to get my feet wet. I am certified in psych/mental health and have worked for a government agency for over 22 years. I feel that I would be a good fit. I've applied twice in the past 18 months or so and they keep losing my paperwork. I am told by the nurse recruiter, to resubmit the paperwork. As you can imagine, the application process is pretty involved (which is fine) but is it "normal" to have the paperwork lost? :eek: I feel like the recruiter was rushed and told me she was really busy so her assistant would tell her when my application packet arrived. I mailed and faxed it both times. Should I apply again or forget it?

I have excellent evaluations, recommendations and background. It would seem that psych/mental health would be important. I've worked inpatient and outpatient with children and adults. Master Trainer for Prevention and Managment of Aggressive Behavior, BS degree, Certifications etc. I'm open to traveling to almost any area in the country.

Do any of you have experience with the VA Travel Nurse Corp? Are they really that disorganized? I know the Government is full of red tape and protocols so I was prepared for that but losing mulitple applications? :uhoh3: If they aren't interested in me, I don't think they'd have problems telling me that.

Any insight would be appreciated!! Thanks

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Getting hired with the VA takes FOREVER... and that is after you have filled out the mountain of paperwork they throw at you, and I am not talking about the application. Once you are selected you must go through the "VetPro Credentialing" process which is basically a big background check. That can take anywhere from 2weeks--6months.

The VA Travel Corps is good because you would be an official "GS Employee." Your other way to short cut this is to find a great Staffing agency that has Federal Contracts. They can sometimes fast track the VetPro Credentialing making you eligible to find a permanent job after your 13 week assignment is up. You may even like it and keep traveling with them. Sounds crazy but some of the Agencies have openings the Travel Corps doesnt!

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Thanks for your insight and ideas. Guess I'll try your suggestions because I'm not really in a hurry and I'd really like to work with the VA. I've had some problems finding agencies that work with government agencies too but I'll work on it.

Thanks again. :yeah:

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hello,

i worked with travel corp. 3 yrs please contact me

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I work for vatravel corp. 3yrs pls. contactwill give some names to speak.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Since you have worked for the government for 22 years the process at the VA should not suprise you. When I was working at the VA and looked into the travel when it first came out and it was very unclear about benefits. I had sent a email up to the travel people and the response was that I would not be a regular employee and not recieive any benefits. But as with alot of new programs the people running them do not know all the details at first. If hired by the VA you would be a Title 38 employee vs a GS employee.

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If you want to travel, now's the time to do it. The new fiscal year has all of the Staffing/Travel Agencies blowing up with contracts right now.

Its not only the VA either, all of the Federal hospitals are announcing new slots: Indian Health Services, DOD, even Federal Prisons.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Just a tip: Scan in all your paperwork to your computer and email it if possible. That way if the say they lost it etc. you can just pull out the email and resend it with a polite reminder telling that they received on X date.

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Travel Nurse 2,

I have applied to the VA Travel Nurse Corps in September of 2011. I worked for the VA as a SICU RN for 2 years, took 2 years off to go to graduate school. Now I am looking for work again. I would love to ask you some questions concerning availabilty of assignments.

Thanks,

Nurse June

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No, they really are that unorganized. I've never seen anything like it - I too have worked for the government for several years and took a little time off to work on my MSN/NP degree full-time. I thought it would be interesting to work for the Corps but after submitting information several times (over a period of almost a year now) and going through the medication test and interview and reference check - only to wait for months without a word - I've decided that this probably is just not going to happen. I've gone through this entire process and then I get contacted as if they have never heard of me before and they wonder if I'm still interested in the Corps...this has happened a few times. I'm really not sure what the problem is but at this point I'm working elsewhere but it has become a fascinating distraction wondering just how long this will go on.

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I have worked VA Travel on and off for the last 5 years & NONE of it was with the Travel Corps. You need to find an agency that specializes in Govt contracts and go that route. After you are VetPro credentialed and have a contract under your belt you should then Re-Apply to the Nurse Corps (if that is still what you want to do).

They are looking for people that are already credentialed & the only way to get credentialed is to work as a contractor first. Hardly anyone gets hired off the street anymore.

I believe the Tucson VA has ICU RN needs and I know they have NP/PA contracts.

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Thanks 79Tango,

What I really want to do is file a complaint about their incompetence with OPM. Does anyone know how to do that?

If anyone else has had a bad experience with the VA Nurse Travel Corps out of Phoenix I would like to hear from them.

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