Working for the VA

I had this talk with a colleague today about VA and pay. She did mention that VA rates are based on "board" setting of pay. Certification, degree experience etc. I did mention to her that VA was paying below the wage scale. I can only imagine getting paid 100000 after 20years of NP experience. She said I guess with you young ones it's money over stress but with we older ones it's less stress over money.

I think you OP are looking for the less stress avenue and if that's what you want I say go for it. They do have a nice benefit & vacation package (I believe)

You make a decent point and in my experience very few ever broke a sweat on a regular basis while working at the VA. Although the work load wasn't cumbersome as a RN working for the federal system all that government employment entails frustrated the crap out of me. The culture at that time was largely Vets who needed assistance not being willing or able to get it and the ones abusing the system making out like bandits. In all fairness I have no suggestions on where to begin but there are major problems and I am happier not having to witness on a daily basis.

As for NP pay I'll definitely take the stress to make an extra $80,000+ per year. How can anyone justify that discrepancy? Multiply that over a few years and its monumental!

Going back several years if memory serves me well their highest pay grade for NPs was $129,000 which was for like 20 years experience as a NP. That is insane and especially for psychNPs. With my experience I'd probably be at the $100,000 mark now. They offered me $80,000 to start as a NP and I almost had a CVA. I made more than that as a ADN. Unless the great benefits includes all I can drink top shelf vodka, a housekeeper and cabana boy I'm not biting.