Moderator ventana Posted February 26, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 26, 2011 A job has come up at the local VA medical center -running homeless shelter, and some of the community clinics (one of which is right in my home town). As prior military this really has sparked my interest - anyone work for VA and can comment on it? good, bad, ugly? I have applied as the closing date is next week but hoping to get a little info on what the VA is like (obviously it varries from place to place, but if everyone is great or everyone is horrible it might make a difference....) Also, see a HUGE difference in listed pays when I search on usajobs - range from 55k to 120+K per year - I assume GS-13 is where I would end up (have AAS, BS, MBA, MS and about 10 years experience) anyone have any hints on getting competitive pay? Is anyone at a GS-14? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradtPA Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 The VA pay scale is similar to, yet different from the GS scale. I am not sure what your experience will qualify you for in your local area, but at Fort Bragg, two years experience will get you GS 12 step 1, the max you can start at as a PA here. There is also a twenty percent added bonus for medical on top of that. A friend of mine works a clinic at Fort Bragg and has it made in benefits. He never works past 3:30 PM, all government holidays off, 30 days vacation, retirement after ten years government service because he spent twenty years in the Army, medical, dental, disability, and malpractice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted February 26, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 26, 2011 do you have the option of becoming a public health service officer in this position or are you unable to complete 20 yrs of service by 64? (that's their nice way of saying are you too old....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Not sure if this is helpful, but at my prior hospital I knew a physician and several nurses who worked at the DFW VA. All of them loved the job and said the pay, benefits and workload are excellent. Seems like a very noble job with a lot of security. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted February 27, 2011 Author Moderator Share Posted February 27, 2011 do you have the option of becoming a public health service officer in this position or are you unable to complete 20 yrs of service by 64? (that's their nice way of saying are you too old....) not sure my idea was to double dip with the public health service ready reserves (when ever they figure out what that is going to entail) Would rather do the VA as the full time gig and the USPHS on the side (but honestly if they pay enough I just want one job) I have for, for years, thought of going back into the USAF as a PA (was prior enlisted) but just doesn't work for AD or reserves. This seems to be a great thing...... The pay has me worried - I have just under 10 years experience, and two different masters and looking at the qualifications listing this puts me at a GS-13 - and this for the boston/albany area is around 90-100k so that is not bad. Most concerned with if people stay with the VA or just move on..... would be about an hour drive on some days (covering different clinics) but think it would be okay Anyone have any luck getting a 36 hour commit with 4 day work week out of the VA? They say they can be flexible.... but with medical too? AGE - 42 with 4 years prior military service so at age 58 could retire.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted February 27, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 27, 2011 my idea was to double dip with the public health service ready reserves (when ever they figure out what that is going to entail) I'm also anxiously awaiting the ready reserve announcement. would certainly be interested in this but I'm also close to the cut off age so it needs to happen soon or not at all. would also consider going full time with the phs if a slot opened up in the er at the local va medctr. spoke with a friend about this recently who thinks I would start out as a commander given yrs of experience+ masters degree. he is a captain in the phs and retiring this yr at 58 after 31 yrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted February 27, 2011 Author Moderator Share Posted February 27, 2011 I'm also anxiously awaiting the ready reserve announcement. would certainly be interested in this but I'm also close to the cut off age so it needs to happen soon or not at all. would also consider going full time with the phs if a slot opened up in the er at the local va medctr.spoke with a friend about this recently who thinks I would start out as a commander given yrs of experience+ masters degree. he is a captain in the phs and retiring this yr at 58 after 31 yrs. have you heard anything about pay scales ? PM if to private.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted February 27, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 27, 2011 have you heard anything about pay scales ? PM if to private.... nope, but there is a standard wage calcuclator on their website. the question is what step will we be placed at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brannow Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I have an instructor that just got out of the VA, he loved the job, but hated the patients. He is an ortho specialist, so all he saw were guys waiting to get out of the military and wanting to milk the gov't teet for disability. He said he left because he couldn't stand being lied to everyday by the people who were supposed to be the most honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted February 28, 2011 Moderator Share Posted February 28, 2011 one of my former classmates is the national pa recruiter for the phs. when the ready reserve stuff comes out he is supposed to let me know asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted February 28, 2011 Author Moderator Share Posted February 28, 2011 I have an instructor that just got out of the VA, he loved the job, but hated the patients. He is an ortho specialist, so all he saw were guys waiting to get out of the military and wanting to milk the gov't teet for disability. He said he left because he couldn't stand being lied to everyday by the people who were supposed to be the most honest. Geez I hope he doesn't think it would be any better with "regular people" just had one guy swear up and down to me two days after seeing me the injury happened at work, although I am 90% sure he said it happened at home..... and it is one of the few times I did not document it in the chart...... This particular position would be covering a lot of community based clinics where retire's get seen and then 2 seperate homeless shelters and very little AD or recent seperated AD people so can't imagine I would have much (although I am sure there is always some) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Bunnell MSHS PA-C Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 The VA is not an option for PHS Billets. PAs get anywhere between GS-9 and GS-13. There are GS-14 jobs but they are not clinical PA jobs. Sorry to hear that brannow's acquaintance had a bad experience. I serve in the VA and it is an honor to serve those who have served. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Expect a long arduous process... Over the yrs, I have applied for 3 VA positions. I've been short-listed for each of them but seem to always be doing something else when they call. Waiting 8-13 months to start a job sucks. YMMV Contrarian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted March 14, 2011 Author Moderator Share Posted March 14, 2011 Waiting 8-13 months to start a job sucks. Contrarian 8-13 MONTHS!!!! is this common for VA jobs??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeg Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I applied for the VA job I currently have in July 2010, started December 2010. The time frame depends on SO many issues. For example, if the closing date on the job announcement is more that 4-6 weeks from the date it opened, chances are there is not really a job opening, they are just looking for names to put on a list for future jobs. The pay depends on a committee looking at your application and...through magic that only the fed govt. understands...they determine what your pay will be...?...I don't understand it, that's just the way they did me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 8-13 MONTHS!!!! is this common for VA jobs??? From what I have been told by ALL the VA employees that I know (~20+)... YES..!!! 8-13 months depending on the position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted March 15, 2011 Author Moderator Share Posted March 15, 2011 thanks for the info - have to reset my expectations (and take that vacation I have been wanting to !!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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