Department Of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Reviews

Pros

Salary and benefits are two of the top reasons. It is difficult to earn a starting salary any better than here. Personally satisfying as you help our Veterans.

Cons

Parking is difficult. It is easier to catch colds and the flu and other easily spread diseases because it is a hospital. Communication is in need of improvement.

Advice to Senior Management

Communication needs to be improved.

Pros

Pay and benefits re great

Cons

can be stressful at times

Pros

benefits if you can stick it out to retirement. Good if you join later in career as retirement requires 30 years service or as little at 5 years if you're over 59.
opportunities to DO IT ALL!

Cons

current management micromanages and doesn't share their bonus funding.
frantic pace to squeeze every ounce of productivity out of employees means a joyless day most days (something as simple as no one has the same lunch schedule-increases coverage but means no networking).
I have hopes for the new folks coming up the ladder-the Peter Principle is in effect here.
also minimal support from clerical staff-lazy or crazy isn't a reason to fire, but can make one question giving 100% when they don't (have to).

Advice to Senior Management

Management's job should be to clear the runway so providers can help the vets. There are three phases: crushing us, staying out of the way, or helping us. Right now I'd settle for less micromanaging. There are many opportunities presented, but no time in the day to take advantage, and certainly no time to reflect on how we could do better- and no one knows what we can do because no one ever asks us, the people who do the job.

Pros

Being able to serve our Veterans

Cons

When you not able to help a vet.

Pros

Federal employment offers secure employment with quality benefits. They rarely fire employees they mostly provide treatment for their ills. they have a mostly automatic pay raise with incentives and advancement.

Cons

"secure" can change as elections and new appointments come and go and political power transfers. The culture is unique, must be flexible day to day.

Advice to Senior Management

Use the peoples money wiser, provide equipment and resources you promise or don't make the promises in the first place. funnel resources into an area of impact rather than just broad waste.

Pros

Co-workers and patients.
Nurses, doctors, technicians, volunteers...fantastic!!! Top-notch!

Cons

PO-LI-TICS!
Necessary: integrity and gratitude towards current LONG TIME committed employees.
They put out notices to hire and then hide and interview, then hire externally without at least a chance. Misleading!

Advice to Senior Management

Shame on you!

Pros

Good benefits and job security.

Cons

Horrible management on all levels. No career growth possible.

Advice to Senior Management

Take some management courses and pay attention to your duties and employees

Pros

All of the equipment is state of the art and the computer systems are very user friendly. There is also a very high level of teamwork and support between coworkers and management.

Cons

Sometimes there are staffing shortages among the nursing staff. Also, there should be more housekeeping staff, especially during the evening and night shifts.

Advice to Senior Management

The senior management of the hospital need to come out of their offices and go to each floor of the hospital to observe the daily operations. They should also shadow the staff and gather input from them on how to improve patient care and the working environment.

Pros

Pay for some jobs
Ability to serve this nations heros, ther are many wonderful veterans who do recieve good care. There are also some challenging veterans.

Cons

Management shuffles bad employees around. Good employees are overburdened until they burn out or quit. A bad employee can ruin someone else career with unfounded accusations which are not evaluated.

Advice to Senior Management

Find a way to get rid of poorly performing employees, especially managment out to serve their own careers. It is important to serve our nations heros and not just support poor employees

Pros

- Comparatively good pay and benefits
- Excellent colleagues and very collegial atmosphere
- Proud to work with veterans
- Clear mission to serve veterans

Cons

- Chronically understaffed, so that people are pulled in a lot of directions and overstressed
- Budget cuts make it difficult to get supplies
- Little opportunity for advancement or career growth

Advice to Senior Management

Work harder to reward excellent staff and show appreciation for outstanding service. Be clearer about the reasons for difficulties (i.e., budget cuts).