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? 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? If they aren't interested in me, I don't think they'd have problems telling me that.
You might have to make an IG complaint but I doubt it goes anywhere. In fact, until you know exactly what the hold-up is I wouldnt.. You dont want to get black-balled & Govt employees are notorious for covering there butts (and letting your file go to the bottom for complaining). They usually have a 1000 different reasons to deny you most recently the blame has been a TON of problems with the new USAJOBS website. Typically they will just say:
1)not qualified
2)no budget
3)incomplete application
4)hiring freeze
5)not my dept
There is a TON of work in the Phx area though.. St Joseph's is hiring ICU and ER travelers right now!
Travelnurse2, I would like more info on VA Travel Nurse Corps. I have had difficulty finding anyone who had actually worked for them. I am considering applying as I have worked at a local VA for several years. I tried to private message you but I have not been active on this site long enough to do that. Feel free to contact me if possible.
Specializes in Nursing Education, Med-Surg, Home Health, Travel.
@ Travelnurse2: I recently applied to the VA Travel Nurse Corp and just had an interview last week. Since I'm a new user, I can't send you a private message, but would you be willing to send me a message with your thoughts on the program? Any difficulties? Benefits that private agencies don't offer? Advice? Thanks so much! :)
hello,
i worked with travel corp. 3 yrs please contact me
I am in the process of applying to the VA Travel Corp. I have my application packet and am almost ready to send it out. I worked at a VAMC 3 years ago as an LPN. I am an RN now with 1.5 years experience and have 4 years experience as an LPN with 1.5 being at the VA in a med/surg unit. I would appreciate any info you could provide as to how long the process takes and who I could speak to. I'm hoping the fact that I used to be a federal employee with the VA will be to my advantage. Thanks!
I am in the process of applying to the VA Travel Corp. I have my application packet and am almost ready to send it out. I worked at a VAMC 3 years ago as an LPN. I am an RN now with 1.5 years experience and have 4 years experience as an LPN with 1.5 being at the VA in a med/surg unit. I would appreciate any info you could provide as to how long the process takes and who I could speak to. I'm hoping the fact that I used to be a federal employee with the VA will be to my advantage. Thanks!
I just recieved my offer and am planning on going to the new employee orientation in May of 2014. I never recieved a response from here so I ended up answering my own question 7 months later which, by the way, is how long it took from application to job offer.
I am sorry I did not know you had tried to contact me. Congrats first of all. I think you will be very happy with TNC. Ms. Jackson was the director of this program the last I checked. I started with them in 2007 and just recently I took a perm. position in Fresno. I have maintatin contact with TNC thought. Please contact me at [email protected].
I just recieved my offer and am planning on going to the new employee orientation in May of 2014. I never recieved a response from here so I ended up answering my own question 7 months later which, by the way, is how long it took from application to job offer.
Hey Toni, what was your application process like? I sent in my packet last week.
Hey Toni, what was your application process like? I sent in my packet last week.
I'm sorry I haven't been on. This website disables my ability to reply to personal messages. After the 7 months they contacted me again to resubmit fingerprints. Apparently they are only good for 120 days but they had delayed the process so long they expired. I had to drive 300 miles to Dallas (on my own dime) because I was on assignment in Midland for my current company. After that I waited another two weeks or so. Then they emailed me links to the unpaid computer training I was required to do prior to orientation that is only a week long. I am a former VA employee and know that we get paid for said training during orientation. In addition, they require you to take your first assignment directly after orientation even though you are only required to do one 16 week contract a year. The biggest turn off for me is that there are no perks to travel nursing for them other than getting paid a per diem rate for your meals for the entirety of the contract. The pay is average and they control your mode of transportation to and from work based on their rules of allowed compensation. I'm sorry but I'm not walking nor taking the bus when I have a new car that was bought specifically for travel nursing assignments. I feel like I should have been made aware of all this nonsense before I dedicated over half a year to the VA travel Corp.I have declined to go to orientation until further notice. As of now, I am making plenty of money and enjoying the monetary perks of travel nursing for a private company.
What did you end up doing after all? Did you ever get into the Travel Corps? I am considering working for the VA Full-time but I'm concerned with all the hoopla going on right now and wonder if this will affect the hiring process. I'm currently a travel nurse in the OR.
My ability to receive private messages has been disabled due to inactivity. Just an fyi, I've not been in contact with the VA TNC for almost a year. I'm not aware of any other rules in reference to meals, expenses, etc other than what I had posted previously. Things may have changed since I last spoke with them. For me, it doesn't pay to work for them.
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? 
If they aren't interested in me, I don't think they'd have problems telling me that. 
79Tango
689 Posts
You might have to make an IG complaint but I doubt it goes anywhere. In fact, until you know exactly what the hold-up is I wouldnt.. You dont want to get black-balled & Govt employees are notorious for covering there butts (and letting your file go to the bottom for complaining). They usually have a 1000 different reasons to deny you most recently the blame has been a TON of problems with the new USAJOBS website. Typically they will just say:
1)not qualified
2)no budget
3)incomplete application
4)hiring freeze
5)not my dept
There is a TON of work in the Phx area though.. St Joseph's is hiring ICU and ER travelers right now!