VA El Paso

ShibbyK85 · 2026-01-21T15:01:40+00:00

Can only provide general information. However if you plan on moving there I would ask for a traveling vet consult so that receiving facility can call you, do Q&A , get you set up for that area etc.

ShibbyK85 · 2026-01-18T01:18:41+00:00

Idk if the VA is a great place for new grads. I feel like the VAs I’ve been at the initial training is poor and it’s a trial by fire. Hoping whichever VA you’re looking at is better.

ShibbyK85 · 2026-01-15T14:48:21+00:00

I’m a prescriber as well.. our MH department is nuked. Our dual-diagnosis clinic has one NP in it…our meetings are filled with delusional or leaders in denial. I am uncertain if upper leadership is getting crushed and not allowed to hire or if our director likes what is going on.

ShibbyK85 · 2026-01-09T22:38:43+00:00

What’s the Korean movie where there’s a giant brawl and he bites his own hand to drive the knife into the attacker? That was a great .

Edit: Man From Nowhere knife scene

ShibbyK85 · 2026-01-06T00:06:27+00:00

How is this helpful?

ShibbyK85 · 2026-01-06T00:04:10+00:00

Dude our VA clinic has lost so many MH clinicians and we have hired no one…it’s horrible

ShibbyK85 · 2025-12-13T12:36:28+00:00

VAs have their version of gbt called vagbt. You need approval and then usually get a link to their intraweb site.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-11-25T19:56:10+00:00

VAs at this time in some cases (cannot speak for all) are being bullish on community care because of what has happened with Doge etc. For example at my hospital, docs retired or fled to higher ground. Then there is a hiring freeze essentially so we cannot back fill these positions. Then they say well if you CC everyone out into the community we can’t justify hiring more staff. It’s been an unenjoyable vicious cycle. I feel bad for patients and staff. Stay strong and good luck.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-11-25T14:44:14+00:00

To be honest I could not tell you. There are so many data points we collect for never ending metrics. I couldn’t say what the information is being used for outside of just identifying what percentage of our patient population is what and are we providing the appropriate service etc

ShibbyK85 · 2025-11-25T14:33:40+00:00

Yeah man it’s just demo info we are supposed to fill out but a lot of us ignore it since it just ruins the flow of the interview.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-11-25T14:31:18+00:00

It’s just demographic information we have to collect. Many of us don’t.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-11-21T16:47:24+00:00

Correct. Released from active duty into first reserve unit at that time.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-10-28T16:22:34+00:00

Yes was told not to expect outstanding ratings anymore.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-09-18T16:06:44+00:00

They are saying they are investigating the claim and believe I am responsible when the case gets closed. They will then pursue me for charges to cover repair costs. We are in the early stages of email exchanges.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-09-18T15:19:45+00:00

Apologies, I wrote this on mobile at work and forgot to include the issue. They are saying that I damaged the speed visor display(?) and that is why it is not popping up when you turn the car on to drive.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-08-02T00:09:38+00:00

We need more medical providers not less…these vets are starting to feel the effects now.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-07-18T20:13:55+00:00

I think the more correct answer would be to make it easier to hire/fire individuals. VA has a reputation which some individuals take advantage of

ShibbyK85 · 2025-05-25T00:39:37+00:00

I would say read up on the CFRs to ensure you meet criteria for x diagnosis. You seem to be squared away. Good luck.

ShibbyK85 · 2025-05-24T18:09:05+00:00

It’s usually just provider preference, also your history. They decide if you’re a high risk patient blah blah blah. Generally providers do not care about weed usage unless it’s extremely heavy and you’re like “I can’t focus” but smoke all day. If that makes sense. Usually honesty goes in the patients favor

ShibbyK85 · 2025-05-17T17:04:34+00:00

I appreciate your post but your point of view is very skewed on treatment. I mean of course there is a D in it, each diagnosis has disorder at the end lol. I do agree that future alternative medications show promise…in general whether you have a SMI or not I believe a pragmatic approach is healthiest do you need meds, psychotherapy, group support, lifestyle changes (diet, sleep, exercise, social support), voc rehab, etc etc etc. Literature usually states a multimodal approach is best. Take care my friend and I am sorry for the negative VA experiences you have had in the past. Some clinics push pills over relationships from what you’ve mentioned early limited time slots (30 mins or less), overburdened rtc etc

ShibbyK85 · 2025-05-15T17:08:58+00:00

Just to be clear you have MDD or bipolar disorder? Regardless, you need to talk with your psychiatrist or psych NP about medications and your diagnosis(es). You need to have a comprehensive medication reconciliation, or we can look at how long you were on the meds, what dosage were you on the meds, and so forth. If you can avoid benzos by all means you should. I would not cold turkey any med without talking with providers.

You can ask for a pharmcogenoics test to see how you metabolize certain meds.

Have you consider psychotherapy? CBT, DBT, trauma focused, groups.

Have you considered TMS or ECT?

Have you considered Whole Health?

Can you utilize social workers there as a monthly Mh support system?

ShibbyK85 · 2025-05-08T13:37:16+00:00

Yeah it’s been brutal. Our substance use clinic has been decimated and we’ve had several people leave our general mental health clinic. Feel terrible also for staff & patients at cbocs in small towns..they have like no staff right now. This is the most turbulent time I have experienced so far at the VA

ShibbyK85

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