NATIONWIDE OPPORTUNITIES

“Working in the VA health care system has allowed me to travel

across the country and expand my horizons with ease. Since

1998, I have worked in both North Dakota and Texas, and have 

not had to file for a new nursing license. VA scholarship monies,

leadership courses, and mentorship opportunities

also have enabled me to experience staff nursing, 

mid-level management, and now unit/clinic 

management levels.”

— Jami Petry, RN

HOW TO APPLY

VA can take you anywhere you want to live and

work. We have facilities in all 50 states, the District

of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. So, whether

you're a confirmed urbanite, fond of the beach, 

or in search of peaceful Midwestern landscapes, 

you can explore VA nursing opportunities.

Because hiring decisions are made locally, you

should apply directly to the Nurse Recruiter or

Human Resources Management Office at the VA 

health care facility where you desire employment

consideration. Information about VA nursing and

application procedures may be obtained from any

VA facility.

Employment information can also be obtained by

contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs,

Placement Service, 1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1971,

New Orleans, LA 70112. The toll-free number is 

1-800-949-0002. Employment information and job

applications can also be found on the Internet at

www.VAcareers.va.gov.

URBAN BEAT COASTAL LIVING THE HEARTLAND CHOICE
2

THE BEST CARE

VA – Keeping the Promise to Those Who Served

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is one of the largest, 

most technologically advanced health care systems in the United

States. Our employees work at 154 medical centers, 875

ambulatory and community-based outpatient clinics, 136 nursing

homes, and many other facilities, such as domiciliaries and

readjustment counseling centers. More than a century ago,

President Lincoln made a promise to America's servicemen and

women, pledging the care and concern of a grateful Nation for 

the sacrifices they made to preserve freedom. Since 1930, VA's

mission has been to keep that promise.

THE BEST CAREERS

VA and Nursing

As the Nation's largest employer of nurses, VA offers the best range

of practice settings and opportunities. Whether you choose a position

in a VA hospital, clinic, nursing home, or other facility, you will be a

vital member of our interdisciplinary patient care team framework.

And you will have an ability that is unmatched in the private sector to

change nursing roles and pursue advancement opportunities

throughout your career.

Nurses as providers: First and foremost, VA nurses are care providers.

From the bedside to case management, our nurses are responsible for

ensuring that our patients receive the best treatment possible. The

work is challenging as veterans often require complex care. Today's

veterans include a whole new population of patients who are facing

polytraumatic injuries that will require care for the rest of their lives.

Nurses as leaders: At the forefront of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL

movement, VA employs CNLs who serve as the point person on patie

care teams. VA supports nurses pursuing advanced degrees in this

specialty by offering scholarship opportunities. VA nurses can also

further their careers as nurse executives, nurse educators, or in other

leadership roles through a variety of nursing leadership programs,

including the Nurse Manager Core Curriculum, Nurse Executive

Rotation, and the Nurse Executive Leadership Program.

Nurses as innovators: VA nurses are encouraged to pursue their ide

for improving patient care and patient safety. VA's most rapidly

adopted technology, its Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA)

system, was suggested by a VA nurse. Additionally, VA nurses have

received awards and recognition from the VA Office of Nursing

Services, the Joint Commission and National Quality Forum, the

American Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Credentialing

Center for their innovations in chronic pain management, spinal cord

injuries, wheelchair safety, and reducing falls.

Nurses as researchers: As one of the largest research organizations 

the U.S., VA offers funded research opportunities to nurses and

clinicians. This research aims to improve patient safety, evaluate care

delivery models and nursing systems of care, and determine how best

to use these delivery models to implement evidence-based practices.

Consider a career at VA. In return for your hard work and

commitment, VA offers its nurses unrivaled scholarship and

continuing education programs, competitive salaries, first-rate

employment benefits, ample paid leave, and nationwide job 

transfer opportunities.

WHY VA?
NBC News

“The VA health care system now offers what several surveys 

show to be the best medical care in the country.”

National Committee for Quality Assurance

“VA outperforms America's best private hospitals in all 

17 performance criteria we measure.”

Washington Monthly

“VA provides the best care anywhere. Today, they're producing the

highest quality care in the country ... [VA] points the way toward

solving America's health care crisis.”

Did you know that VA:

• Is the largest employer of nurses in the Nation, with more than

61,000 RNs, LPNs/LVNs, and nursing assistants.

• Provides clinical rotations to one out of every four professional

nurses in the U.S. through affiliations with nursing schools.

• Recently hired more than 100 nurses from the VA Learning

Opportunities Residency (VALOR) program.

• Serves a population of more than 7.8 million veterans, providing

inpatient care to about 600,000 veterans and managing more than

57 million outpatient visits each year.

• Treats 70 percent of veteran patients for obesity and one out of five

for diabetes. That's why VA is committed to battling these twin

threats with the "Healthier U.S. Veterans" program, many

components of which are coordinated by VA nurses.

• Has facilities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories.

• Provides medical care backup to military hospitals during national

emergencies, and operates command centers to coordinate services

through the National Disaster Medical Service during major disasters.

THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES

Nurses are essential to VA's ongoing ability to provide the best care to

our Nation's veterans. VA nurses have the opportunity to work in the

following areas:

THE BEST SYSTEM

VA fosters a culture of safety for both patients and its nursing staff. 

It does so through a range of initiatives:

• The VA Nursing Outcomes Database (VANOD) Program is building 

a national database of nursing-sensitive indicators to support

strategic decision making through benchmarking for all care 

across the continuum.

• VA has embraced Magnet® principles across all sites of care and is

supporting the achievement of Magnet designation at VA facilities.

• The Safe Patient Handling and Movement Program is a top VA

initiative that focuses on preventing musculoskeletal injuries to

nursing staff.

• VA has invested in the cutting-edge technology needed to support

its nurses and the entire patient care team, including the Bar Coded

Medication Administration system, a computerized patient record

system, wireless handheld connectivity, telehealth, and more.

• Many VA facilities offer flexible work schedules, such as four, six, 

or 12-hour tours.

3

“I was active duty military throughout nursing school, and I knew 

I wanted to work at VA after I graduated. My assignment to the cardiac

step-down unit was intimidating at first, but my orientation was so

great, I felt ready for the challenge. But my favorite thing about VA is

the veterans. I don’t have to read about history, I hear it firsthand!”

— Laurence Wallace, RN

• Direct patient care

• Acute care med/surg

• Ambulatory care

• Critical care

• Emergency care

• Mental health

• Polytrauma

• Rehabilitation

• Specialty services 

• Informatics

• Administration

• Research

• Education

• Teaching

• Health systems 

management
VA's mission is to provide the best possible care for America's

veterans. In return for helping VA achieve this goal, VA offers

extensive employment benefits.

LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS

• Full-time VA nurses earn 26 days of paid annual (vacation/personal)

leave each year and may accumulate up to 85 days. Annual leave

begins to accrue immediately and can be used as it is earned, with

supervisory approval.

• Nurses earn 13 days of sick leave each year with no limit on

accumulation.

• There are 10 paid annual Federal holidays.

• The Family and Medical Leave Act and the Family Friendly Leave Act

allow employees to balance their work and family lives by taking

reasonable amounts of leave for medical reasons, for the birth or

adoption/foster care of a child, and for the care of a child, spouse,

or parent who has a serious health problem.

• The Voluntary Leave Transfer Program allows Federal employees 

to donate annual leave for a medical emergency of an employee 

or family member.

• Military leave is authorized up to 15 days a year for active reservists

and National Guard members.

HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE

• VA offers a wide variety of health insurance plans with premiums

partially paid by the Federal Government. You may change plans yearly

during open season.

• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts,

which allow you to set aside tax-free dollars to pay for medical,

dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your

health insurance plan.

• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are

available with the cost shared by the Federal Government.

• Long-term care insurance is available as an option.

BENEFITS

MOBILITY AND LICENSURE

Where can a nursing career at VA take you? How about anywhere you’d

like to live in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 

An employee may seek employment at any VA location where there is 

a vacancy and, if hired, transfer without loss of benefits. Only one active,

unrestricted state license is required to practice in a VA facility in any of

the above locations.

RETIREMENT

VA Nurses are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

FERS is a three-tier retirement plan composed of Social Security benefits,

FERS basic benefits, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Similar to the 401(k)

savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows

employees to tax defer up to a fixed dollar amount of their income each

year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. The

Federal Government also provides a basic contribution and matching,

depending on the amount of the employee contribution. For retired military

personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or

pension. Retirement health care insurance is also available.

LIABILITY PROTECTION

As Federal employees, VA nurses are protected by the Federal Government in

instances of alleged malpractice or negligence resulting from the performance

of their duties in or for the Veterans Health Administration of the

Department of Veterans Affairs. The United States Government accepts

responsibility and liability for its employees' negligent or wrongful acts or

omissions during the exercise of their official duties. This applies when

employees' actions are in accord with the policies of the institution in

which they are practicing.

AWARDS AND HONORS

VA bestows both monetary and honorary recognition for superior

performance, along with awards for special or unique achievements.

Annual VA nursing award programs include the Secretary's Award for

Excellence in Nursing, the Secretary's Award for Advancement of Nursing

Programs, the Office of Nursing Services Innovation Awards, and National

Nursing Awards. In addition, substantial monetary rewards are available to

nurses who participate in VA's Employee Suggestion Program.

• Free parking at most facilities

• Smoke-free and drug-free

workplace

• Child care at some facilities

• Uniform allowance

• Employee associations

• Annual physical examination

• Employee wellness programs

• Fitness centers at some facilities

• Compensation for attaining

national certification in practice

area (e.g., oncology nursing,

critical care, etc.)

• Compensation for job-related

illness and injury

• Credit unions

• Dining facilities and retail store

• Public transit subsidies at some

facilities

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

4
EDUCATION

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

VA is committed to offering education opportunities throughout 

a nurse's career, beginning when he or she is in school. These

opportunities are designed to enhance participating nurses' knowledge

and enable them to deliver better patient care. In addition to clinical

rotations for students and extensive orientation programs for all newly

hired nurses, VA offers in-service education courses, leadership courses,

and National Employee Education Services courses. VA also leads the

industry in providing educational assistance and incentive programs

that help nurses repay their loans and obtain advanced degrees.

“I'm honored to have been a VALOR participant. 

I cannot express the amount of knowledge,

teamwork, and hands-on skills I accumulated

through the program. I was eager to apply here

after graduation and have loved being an

employee ever since. The dedication to patient

care makes every day a wonderful experience.”

— Kristin Gunnell, RN

VA Learning Opportunities Residency (VALOR) – The VALOR

program allows outstanding students who have completed the final

semester or quarter of their junior year in an accredited baccalaureate

nursing program to participate in a paid work experience with a

preceptor at an approved VA health care facility.

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – The EDRP allows VA

to provide education loan repayments for recently appointed health

care professionals in designated critical or hard-to-fill positions. The

education loan(s) must be for courses that led directly to qualifying for

the appointed position. This program covers principal and interest on

debts, up to $49,585 over five years.

National Nursing Education Initiative (NNEI) – The NNEI scholarship

is awarded to permanent full- and part-time registered nurses who have

worked for VA for at least one year to cover tuition costs and related

educational expenses for courses in which they are currently enrolled.

Employee Incentive Scholarship Program (EISP) – This program

provides VA nurses with scholarships to further their education and

obtain degrees qualifying them for health care positions for which

recruitment and retention is difficult.

Tuition Support Program – Employees in health care disciplines that

have been identified as VA shortage categories may be eligible for

funding to enroll in job-related courses, continuing education courses,

and conferences.

Upward Mobility Training Programs – These programs offer, on a

competitive basis, opportunities to advance to higher-level positions.
HIRING POLICIES

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum qualifications for appointment as a VA nurse are:

• U.S. Citizenship (non-citizens may be hired on a temporary basis

when qualified citizens are not available)

• Graduation from a state-approved and NLN/CCNE accredited school

of professional nursing 

• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate

professional nurse in a State, Commonwealth, or Territory (e.g.,

Puerto Rico) of the United States and in the District of Columbia 

• Successful professional record for experienced nurses 

• Personal interview

• Satisfactory physical examination (may include drug screening)

• English language proficiency

SALARY INFORMATION

• VA nurses are compensated according to a Locality Pay System (LPS),

in which salary ranges vary according to facility location. The LPS

ensures that they are paid competitive rates within each local labor

market. Pay is reviewed periodically to ensure competitiveness with

salary rates in effect in the local community.

• Starting salaries and pay grades are recommended by a Nurse

Professional Standards Board, and are based on the nature and

extent of professional education, training, and experience.

• VA offers premium pay to nurses for on-call, weekend, overtime,

and holiday duty. Nurses receive 10 percent of their base hourly

pay rate for night shifts, 25 percent for weekends, 50 percent for

overtime, and double pay for holidays.

• Nurses receive consideration for promotion to higher grades with

correspondingly higher salaries as experience requirements and

performance standards are met.

• Accelerated increases within each grade may be awarded for

length of service, enhanced qualifications or assignment,

specialized skills, professional achievements, or high levels of

performance.

• Cash bonuses may be authorized for certification, exceptional job

performance, or exemplary job achievement.

6

“Despite the multitude of hospitals needing

nurses, I chose to remain with VA. The work

environment is great, the benefits are good,

and, most of all, it's very fulfilling and

rewarding to work with the veterans.”

— Deloris A. Currie, RN
NATIONWIDE OPPORTUNITIES

“Working in the VA health care system has allowed me to travel

across the country and expand my horizons with ease. Since

1998, I have worked in both North Dakota and Texas, and have 

not had to file for a new nursing license. VA scholarship monies,

leadership courses, and mentorship opportunities

also have enabled me to experience staff nursing, 

mid-level management, and now unit/clinic 

management levels.”

— Jami Petry, RN

HOW TO APPLY

VA can take you anywhere you want to live and

work. We have facilities in all 50 states, the District

of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. So, whether

you're a confirmed urbanite, fond of the beach, 

or in search of peaceful Midwestern landscapes, 

you can explore VA nursing opportunities.

Because hiring decisions are made locally, you

should apply directly to the Nurse Recruiter or

Human Resources Management Office at the VA 

health care facility where you desire employment

consideration. Information about VA nursing and

application procedures may be obtained from any

VA facility.

Employment information can also be obtained by

contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs,

Placement Service, 1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1971,

New Orleans, LA 70112. The toll-free number is 

1-800-949-0002. Employment information and job

applications can also be found on the Internet at

www.VAcareers.va.gov.

URBAN BEAT COASTAL LIVING THE HEARTLAND CHOICE
NATIONWIDE OPPORTUNITIES

“Working in the VA health care system has allowed me to travel

across the country and expand my horizons with ease. Since

1998, I have worked in both North Dakota and Texas, and have 

not had to file for a new nursing license. VA scholarship monies,

leadership courses, and mentorship opportunities

also have enabled me to experience staff nursing, 

mid-level management, and now unit/clinic 

management levels.”

— Jami Petry, RN

HOW TO APPLY

VA can take you anywhere you want to live and

work. We have facilities in all 50 states, the District

of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. So, whether

you're a confirmed urbanite, fond of the beach, 

or in search of peaceful Midwestern landscapes, 

you can explore VA nursing opportunities.

Because hiring decisions are made locally, you

should apply directly to the Nurse Recruiter or

Human Resources Management Office at the VA 

health care facility where you desire employment

consideration. Information about VA nursing and

application procedures may be obtained from any

VA facility.

Employment information can also be obtained by

contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs,

Placement Service, 1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1971,

New Orleans, LA 70112. The toll-free number is 

1-800-949-0002. Employment information and job

applications can also be found on the Internet at

www.VAcareers.va.gov.

URBAN BEAT COASTAL LIVING THE HEARTLAND CHOICE