Working at the VA

Ok simple question:

I am comming out of 12 years of military service with a medical discharge (thank you Iraq). I am looking at working at the VA (I have already spoken with them and they are looking at me for the Valor Program) but I am wondering if I can make a decent wage there. I know the hours are good and they can be accomidating. So are there any VA nurses out there than can give me an idea on wages and ability to move up!!?????

~Adam

Hello Adam,

It can go both ways in a VA hospital. You may make less because you are working in a government facility that is not considered "for profit" or you may make more because the hospital funding is subsidized in large part by the government.

The most important thing is to get acute care experience so that in a few years you can either stay where you are, or get a job somewhere else.

With the nursing shortage only getting worse, salaries for nurses will be steadily increasing over the next two decades.

I've never heard of the "Valor Program" can you tell us more about it?

In the northeast, a LPN/LVN makes $30-40K/year, a RN makes $50--60K/year as a new graduate. For most nurses that's more than enough to make a living and help raise a family on. For Registered Nurses, there are virtually unlimited career alternatives and type of jobs available.

Hope that helps,

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com

The Valor program allows you to work at the VA while you are in school at 80% of what nurses make at the VA

I am also toying with the idea of working a second job at the local VA here. I am currently in the reserves and this would help with my retirement years in service. Never heard of the Valor Program, however sounds like a great learning experience. Best of luck...J