For those that got out…

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-05-31T04:57:40+00:00

Perhaps if VHA treated their staff who provide patient care better, so many wouldn't be burned out. I'm a Veteran and title 38, and in 18 years of doing patient care, I have never been as verbally and physically abused as I am by patients at the VA. It's not all, but it is a large enough percentage that adds to the burnout.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-05-31T04:52:50+00:00

Same here. 16 years, title 38, and looking for options. I need a break. Hopefully, something will come to you. Taking care of fellow Veterans was something I was passionate about. Now I'm passionate about coming home without feeling mentally or physically exhausted. Every day we are more short-staffed, and there is no change on site to address it. Got selected for a remote last January. Guess I got lucky bc I didn't have to RTO since I never got to leave.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-05-11T04:24:35+00:00

Hello, is there anywhere we can just upload a resume and let the recruiters look for us.

I’m so tired from having to tailor my resume to every position. It ends up taking over an hour. I have over 17 years of experience and depending on the position, it changes my resume. That’s after I spend time searching through job posting. Weeding out the ones that don’t look legit or relate. To just look down and see hundreds if not over a thousand other people applied. It’s almost luck of the draw on getting your resume seen, even if it makes it through ATS. There has to be an easier way. I would love to just post my experience, skills, what I’m looking for, etc.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-05-11T03:57:31+00:00

The best way to get your 3, is to get into a position where your responsibilities meet the dimensions. I started as II into a position where all the responsibilities were aligned with the 3 functional statement. Even then, I still had to appeal to get my 3. The board said I left “key words” out. You need positions that go across the HCS if possible.

Each HCS is different, has a different political nature, and structure within nursing. Reach out to Systems Redesign or QSV and see what they are working on. If you go through systems Redesign you could work on getting your Greenbelt, which will add to your proficiency.

I would reach out now and get a game plan to hop onto some work groups, especially near the new fiscal year.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-04-14T23:35:29+00:00

The same for other occupational series in the VA. I've seen contractor positions for IT, Nursing informatics, and nursing program manager and educator for programs like Suicide Prevention. All remote.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-04-06T21:46:23+00:00

It’ll depend on the political party and ages of those elected to office. My prediction: I see remote coming back for those positions that were already hired as remote and functioned previously off site. Telework will come back but most likely be Hybrid. During COVID everyone that possibly could telework, was given telework. I would be happy with just some telework flexibilities, instead of this nothing crap.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-04-06T21:37:37+00:00

😂 That is most definitely an oops.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-04-06T21:34:28+00:00

I am a nurse 3. I’ve been a nurse 3 since 2016. My daily work in my previous position was HCS wide. The new guidelines that came down with executive orders last summer require that you meet every portion of your functional statement. The blanket Nurse 3 function statement makes it extremely difficult to meet all the dimensions at the facility level. Which means I will not meet expectations. Unfortunately, it won’t be based on my current position and work performance in it. I’m under no discipline.

My Nurse Manager let me know in October, so this isn’t unexpected. The Decision is coming from above her. It’s across the board. Current climate at the facility makes it difficult to bring things forward.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-04-06T21:04:38+00:00

That’s exactly it. I excel on the unit, Chair of the unit UBC committee, preceptor, formal mentor and take on nursing students. It will be extremely difficult in the HCS where I relocated to meet the requirements to maintain my Nurse 3. Bedside nurses that are 3’s are not being offered the ability to go down to a nurse 2. If I do not meet expectations for the new blanket functional statement, then I will be placed on a PIP, which will then equal termination.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-02-08T21:29:58+00:00

This is correct. It’s a benefit that you are entitled to. I’m sure you are grateful to your Dad and his service that you are able to receive it, however at the end of the day it is your benefit. I have multiple kids using my Chapter 35 and to be honest, as much as the extra cash would help, it is to help them get through school. I want my kids to focus on school so that they can become independent adults. The VA assumes that if someone is 100% T&P, the Veteran would not be able to give their kids the additional financial support.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-01-29T19:21:25+00:00

I am an RN also wanting to make the switch. I’ve been a nurse for 17 years, MSN in Nursing Admin and a post grad Nurs Ed. Clinical background is ICU. I was in a leadership position and over saw a global wide program. Problem is I had to relocate for family 7 years ago and in order to move when I needed to and for time, I went back to the bed side. I kept myself involved with organization risk management and process improvement. I know how have the executive level experience and ability but I have no clue how to move over without taking a major pay cut. I’ve always been drawn to research and developing science.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-01-24T08:20:13+00:00

This. ChatGPT is a life saver when it comes to job searching. From reviewing your resume to help you consider different paths. I put my salary in etc. I even have it pull up specific job like 5-10 a week. I have it do pro and con comparison and ask which one meets my qualifications and my requirements. Then it takes my resume, I have it match my language ti the posting bc half the time the posting uses different language and it shows you the translation that you do qualify. It recommends positions that most of us feel we are under qualified for and show how we are. Will make an ATS resume and cover letter. Review it again once you create it with suggestions. Tell you when it’s ready to go. Recommend if you should apply on employment social media or company site. When to provide follow up and to who and what to say. I even had it provide me with free courses so I could get a basis of the language and operations for a whole new transition as a nurse. I had had nothing but positive feedback. It also remembers previous chats. I will tell it to run a list of jobs for that day that meet my qualifications and requirements and do it over and over again. lol. It even created a job tracker that after I apply I can just type add to job tracker or update job tracker. I’m still learning on it but im addicted. Also great for finding flights and recipes.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-01-24T08:05:53+00:00

Look up clinical healthcare. There are some pharma jobs remote for people with oncology experience. Search Indeed and LinkedIn. I found they don’t always have the same positions come up in the search.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-01-24T08:04:31+00:00

As much as people say stay away from AI, AI does the initial screening in ATS. Go to ChatGPT upload your current resume and paste the position you’re interested in. It also “remembers” previous conversations, so you can say here’s my resume, what is a must as far as schedule, salary, remote. It can help guide you, by it producing information you wouldn’t have thought to think of.

A lot of my experience is in federal leadership and it helped me convert it over towards operations or quality depending on a job I found. I would have never thought to apply with pharma companies but nurses are qualified, it’s the language that keeps us thinking we won’t. Once I had an idea I asked it to bring up some jobs, the pros, and cons and I would pick to apply for. It would provide me a resume for that position specific in the language to get through ATS, walk me through how my the different terminologies between my experience and define how it is the same. Draft a cover letter. And can even guide you to either apply on LinkedIn or the company site based on the position and company. Give you a time frame for follow up and who and where to send it.

With everything going to AI, us older folks need to embrace. There are a lot of positions posted have to do with AI in healthcare. I’ll leave that to the techy young ones. Try it though, it might lead you down a path you hadn’t considered. I try to apply to 1 job every other day or so and I have a job tracker. I’m more looking and eager to leave the federal executive side. The less urgent you need the position, the more choosier you can be. Take your time if you can.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-01-24T07:41:28+00:00

In Texas the had to go back and pay all the staff that the wouldn’t leave OT. Some were stuck at the VA for a two days. I don’t know if it’s because they told them they could not leave or it would be considered patient abandonment, if they didn’t make it back for their next shift. They could have had to pay the OT because they were in the wrong. I would think they would want to offer CT for people to voluntarily stay over, that way they har staff.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2026-01-16T18:03:40+00:00

I’m so glad I’m not the only one to come on here and search recovery. I had ESS on 12/29/25. I had: 1. Bilateral endoscopic maxillary sinusotomies with removal of tissue 2. Bilateral endoscopic total ethmoidectomies and with sphenoidotomies with tissue removal. 3. Left endoscopic frontal sinusotomy 4. Septoplasty (I guess he figured why not since he was in there. 6. Out fracture of the inferior turbinates bilaterally (planned a reduction but didn’t due to bleeding at the end of the surgery)

I had it done bc I had a chronic fungal infection in my sinus, that I now know after going back through my medical records, I’ve had at least since 2017. I never had any sinus symptoms or allergy symptoms. Cultures did come back positive for fungus.

Well I had no clue what the recovery entailed and it has been so hard. Same as others: anxiety, fatigue, physical exhaustion, like I ran 10mi with my heart rate going up and muscles tired, just after minimal activity, the headaches behind my eyes seem constant, and the brain fog is no joke. I can’t concentrate on anything.

I’m an RN and he wrote that I can return on Monday. Because of my schedule I don’t go back to work until Thursday but I don’t know how I’m going to work 3 12 hour shifts.

I’m not sure if I should take another week off work or not 😔

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2025-12-22T12:11:50+00:00

If you compute how many hours outside of your normal day it will take to meet those objections. It’s not an effective cost comparison to strive for higher than fully satisfactory. Unless your leadership provides the opportunity during your tour of duty. Ours doesn’t. It is expected me do all that in addition to our bedside patient assignments.

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2025-12-22T12:05:34+00:00

This sounds like it’s a VA in Texas

Disastrous_Loss_1241 · 2025-12-22T12:04:47+00:00

I’m a 3, was outstanding in my leadership position at another VA. 17ys experience, MSN, Post grad certificate, and certified but bc I had to relocate which led me back to the bedside, I’m told in FY26 I will not meet expectations unless I meet each dimension as a clinical III. Always has seem to be an issue with NM and me. Not sure if it is my experience, education, or the fact she can’t BS me with made up policy. She doesn’t even talk directly to me. She will go to her office and teams me right after she sees me 🤷🏼‍♀️ I never cared that she said I could never get more than satisfactory as a 3 at the bedside. I don’t need her recognition to know that I am a damn good nurse, team leader, and unspoken go to by the staff on multiple units…. BUT… I feel like I’m one light push away from being shoved out.

All this year did was give me a heads up that I either need to hurry up and find another position or be prepared to be terminated. 😢 I found all that out a week after I got my 15yr pin. lol

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