Finally got an interview

Hi Allnurses, I finally got an interview with the VA Hospital setup for next week. I put in plenty of applications with them online and someone finally called me back. The thing is, is that they said that I will receive about 20,000 less of what I am making now. They said that what I make now, their RN's make and I would take a huge pay cut. I wanted to know your advice on if you would take the chance of a pay decrease to get your foot in the door to finally get a nursing job? What I am doing now is not nursing (what I should be doing) but it is still with the government and I've worked my way up, it pays the bills and it has good benefits. I don't want to miss out on an opportunity of finally utilizing my nursing skills or because is paying way less. WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO? Also they will be asking Performance questions, is there a website where I can go and study up on these Performance questions before my interview?

Thank you sincerely Allnurses for any and all replys!!
Hi! I have had a few 'behavioral' type interviews and have a pretty good idea of how to survive those now. Send me your email and I'll send you some tips and a list of questions I've compiled from my own actual interviews.

You have listed your pros and cons in your post. Can you afford the pay cut?

I don't think any of us can answer this question for you, because it really depends on what your personal priorities are. If what they would pay you really is the going rate for new grad RNs, then obviously they can't pay you more just because you happen to make more in your current, non-nursing position -- that's irrelevant, because you wouldn't be working in the same field.You need to ask yourself if you can afford the pay cut, and if so, do you want to be an RN badly enough to accept the pay cut? If the answers are "yes", and "yes" then go for it!

$20,000 is a lot of money.I think I would keep the job I have, and get a job on the weekends in an LTC to get some nursing experience.How long would you have to work as an LPN in the VA system to get back to thepay scale you are on now?Do you like what you are doing? You may find that nursing in the VA is not what you want to do.Good luck.

Quote from StillSeekingHi! I have had a few 'behavioral' type interviews and have a pretty good idea of how to survive those now. Send me your email and I'll send you some tips and a list of questions I've compiled from my own actual interviews.

Quote from lkwashingtonYou have listed your pros and cons in your post. Can you afford the pay cut?

Quote from noahsmamai don't think any of us can answer this question for you, because it really depends on what your personal priorities are. if what they would pay you really is the going rate for new grad rns, then obviously they can't pay you more just because you happen to make more in your current, non-nursing position -- that's irrelevant, because you wouldn't be working in the same field.you need to ask yourself if you can afford the pay cut, and if so, do you want to be an rn badly enough to accept the pay cut? if the answers are "yes", and "yes" then go for it!

Quote from Mulan$20,000 is a lot of money.I think I would keep the job I have, and get a job on the weekends in an LTC to get some nursing experience.How long would you have to work as an LPN in the VA system to get back to thepay scale you are on now?Do you like what you are doing? You may find that nursing in the VA is not what you want to do.Good luck.

Thank you everyone sincerely for your advice on this thread.I guess I should go to the interview anyways to see what they are talking about

I would definitely go to the interview -- at least you can practice your interviewing skills!What about doing an LPN-RN bridge to get yourself up to the RN pay scale? I don't know if those programs require that you have experience as an LPN, or if just having the license is enough? -- but might be worth looking into? Can you afford to work as an LPN for a year or two before doing a bridge? Can you do part time IT work on the side to help close the income gap? As to the question of how long you'd have to work as an LPN to get back to your current rate of pay -- from $31,000 to $51,000 is a 65% increase! And don't forget that you would (I assume) also be getting raises if you stay in your current line of work. I think the timeline for getting back to where you were before would pretty much be "never" -- unless you can manage to do the LPN to RN bridge at some point.Good luck with whatever you decide!

V.A usually have great benefits, and a system in which you can move up quickly.

Quote from steelcityrnv.a usually have great benefits, and a system in which you can move up quickly.