VA Washington DC Healthcare Baccalaureate Nurse Residency Program

[GMunny]

I am a new graduate of a LPN-BSN bridge program. I am employed at the VA in Washington, DC. The nurse educator has informed me that I must attend the Baccalaureate nurse residency program on the telemetry floor. Is this necessary? I would prefer to stay where I work now, in the Women's Health Clinic, if an RN position opens up. Also, there is nothing in writing to describe this program and what it entails, so I am feeling apprehensive. The nurse educator told me that I need to be hired as an RN, complete the one year residency, and then take the position for which I was hired. The recruiters told me that I must apply for telemetry or LTC. Have any of you done this program at the VA? Was it worth it?