What's so bad about working for the VA?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, I am currently a second semester nursing student. Since I do my clinicals at the VA, we were told about an opportunity to sign up with the VA at the end of second semester for a program that sounds really great. They will pay everything for the last year of nursing school (which is two semesters). You just have to promise them three years after you graduate. However, I often hear other people talking badly about the VA and how so many people hate working at the VA. But no one has ever told me why and I feel stupid for asking. Can someone please share their experience, good or bad?

Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

Glad to hear there are satisfied VA nurses; I'm the spouse of a veteran in the Va system { Arkansas } and they are great !! Have been thinking of applying myself.....

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hi, i am currently a second semester nursing student. since i do my clinicals at the va, we were told about an opportunity to sign up with the va at the end of second semester for a program that sounds really great. they will pay everything for the last year of nursing school (which is two semesters). you just have to promise them three years after you graduate. however, i often hear other people talking badly about the va and how so many people hate working at the va. but no one has ever told me why and i feel stupid for asking. can someone please share their experience, good or bad?

^^ for that kind of deal you shouldn't give a hoot on anything negative that other people have to say. you can't beat fed benefits.

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Specializes in ED.

I just started at the VA in December, and I'm really liking it. So far, I get paid more than I was making, they pay for things like having a BSN, they also pay more for having certifications. It has been alot less stressful working here than what I am used to. We are fully staffed. Most of the patients I have encountered show you respect for your job instead of thinking you are just a waitress.

If you are offered a job at a VA hospital take it cause there is a huge hiring freeze, at least where I am there is.

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I would love to work for the VA after I become a registered nurse.

I've been keeping a mental list of the centers people recommend and the ones that don't have such good reputations.

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I'm sure someone will come along and give you a more balanced view of working for the VA, but I'm going to give you all the positives because I love it!!

If you love to learn, this is the place for you. Our patients span from 18 to 100+ in age and they have every disease process known to modern medicine. You will see it all here. If you are a new nurse, you don't have to worry about killing someone because it is a well known fact that you can't kill a veteran. :wink2: Also there are many opportunities to participate in research and to try new and innovative ways to solve problems.

The patients (for the most part) are wonderful and very grateful for the care they receive. If you truly care about them, they respond in kind. You really get to care for the whole person here. Your patient is not the chole in Room 4. We tend to all their needs. Also, there is none of that, "How am I supposed to get my meds to take home?" The VA provides these at no or a very low cost.

Nurse perks are still alive and well here! We get 8 hours of leave every 2 weeks PLUS 2 hours of sick time PLUS gov't holidays paid off. Parking is an issue at my VA. Guess who gets the primo parking.....RNs! Chances for advancement are everywhere and tuition reimbursement for higher education is provided after a year of continuous employment. You can move all over the country and never lose seniority.

That's all I can think of now. Honestly, they will have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming. I love my job!

At my VA, we have the opportunity to self schedule. The VA I came from, you couldn't deviate from the schedule that they gave you :( so it really depends on each individual hospital. The remark about being able to kill a veteran is SOOO true. These men and women have had to endure SO much that it makes them tougher (and some times more onery-lol) than the "normal" demographic. I love the perks here and I have no intention of leaving anytime soon. I'm getting ready to go back to nursing school (blech!) after 30 years of being a nurse and the VA is going to pay for it. There aren't too many hospitals that I am aware of that will pay or reimburse you 100%.

I personally am not real thrilled with some that they have in some of the administrative positions here, but I can live with it.

I had the honor of taking care of a former RN who did 2 tours of duty in 'Nam (first time in the VA system) and his family couldn't say enough about how their opinion changed after he was hospitalized. They talked about how other facilities had treated them and that her husband did not receive compassionate care. I told them that was what we were there for-to take care of the vets to the best of our ability!

Oh yes, the VA itsself pays for and provides many educational opportunities to attend. I can't say enough about it.

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Specializes in MICU/SICU.

I drive 45 minutes one-way to work for the VA. I have to believe that most of the VA's "bad rep" comes from the media...here the news did a big story on our VA and it was horrible, so slanted and so far from reality. They focused in on the physical aspects of the building and hardly touching on the care our vets recieve.

From what I"m told about life on the floors (I'm in ICU) the nurse:patient ratios are much better than in other area hospitals. Yes, our sheets and gowns are worn...and you won't find any scripted conversations, at least not here....but I think our vets receive far better care than I"ve seen in "civilian" hospitals.

The unit I work in is entirely self scheduled. You can't beat the bennies...and if you are former military you can regain the years you spent in service to put toward your retirement. For me that's 10 years....no other hospital is going to do THAT!

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I think it really depends on the location, administration, etc. Here in Dallas, our VA was ranked as the worst in the country a couple of years ago. My husband has worked the facility and says the same. My father received care there before he died. It really is a shame.

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I have no experience working at the VA, so I can't help you there. What exactly are they offering to pay for? Is it just tuition? Or do they pay all tuition, fees, books, and give you a stipend for living expenses? I would really hesitate to commit three years of my life for just a few semesters' tuition. But if they were offering something really good I would definitely consider it.

Good luck!

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I don't know anything about the VA, but just wanted to let you know that THREE YEARS is a very long time to be contracted in for a job. Think about it before you sign anything. THREE YEARS. That's 3/4th the time it took to complete high school! It sounds great right now because they'll pay for your schooling right now, but they are requiring you to stay with them for THREE YEARS. Please know all of the terms, especially the ramifications of breaking your contract early.

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I have no experience working at the VA, so I can't help you there. What exactly are they offering to pay for? Is it just tuition? Or do they pay all tuition, fees, books, and give you a stipend for living expenses? I would really hesitate to commit three years of my life for just a few semesters' tuition. But if they were offering something really good I would definitely consider it.

Good luck!

They pay for the books, tuition, fees. There is one program in the system (I forget what it's called) that will pay you a stipend so that you can go to school full time but you are required to work weekends. Only a few in each VISN are awarded each year. One of our PCAs is doing this. BTW-you have to have your prerequisites finished and applied to a nursing program (with acceptance) before you can start all the paperwork.

As for the "something really good" none of the other hospitals in our area pay as much as VA does but they offer such things as your children can go to college at a reduced rate etc.

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I don't know anything about the VA, but just wanted to let you know that THREE YEARS is a very long time to be contracted in for a job. Think about it before you sign anything. THREE YEARS. That's 3/4th the time it took to complete high school! It sounds great right now because they'll pay for your schooling right now, but they are requiring you to stay with them for THREE YEARS. Please know all of the terms, especially the ramifications of breaking your contract early.

3 years a long time??? What kind of contract does your local hospitals require after you finish???

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None of the jobs I had required that I stay with them a certain length of time. My employment was left to my discretion, and theirs as well. This is why I am saying that it is very important to look at every angle of this offer. Yes, they'll be paying your way for 2 semesters, but is that worth being obligated to work for them for the next 3 years? What if you hate it? The people there treat you badly? etc? You won't have any choices - you will have to work there for 3 years.

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