Go west: Job opportunities await on the West Coast with VA

If you visited our LinkedIn page recently, you may have seen the question, “What area of the country are you looking for work?” Our poll then divided the country into four regions: East Coast, West Coast, Midwest and South.

Over the last two months, we’ve explored the East Coast, and then traveled a little further inland to see what the Midwest had to offer. Now, we’re heading over to the West Coast to see what kind of jobs can be found along the Pacific and beyond.

Veterans Integrated Service Networks

Veterans’ health care in the United States is separated geographically into 18 regions known as Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). These regional systems of care work together to better meet local health care needs and provide greater access to care for Veterans.

Along the West Coast, there is some overlap between states based on population, but overall, there are three VISNs specifically along the coast:

• VA Northwest Health Network (VISN 20) covering Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington State
• VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21) in Northern California and Nevada as well as American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands and the Philippines
• VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network (VISN 22) in Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico

Even though it doesn’t touch the Pacific Ocean, we’ll also include VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19) in Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and Oklahoma as part of our exploration of the West.

Find your place

Across these four VISNs, numerous jobs are available in all sorts of facilities. In just the Northwest Health Network, there are six medical centers, 31 community-based outpatient clinics, 19 Vet Centers, and more, all of which need different resources to help maintain our mission of serving Veterans. That means plenty of opportunity for you to join our team.

Here are just a few of the jobs you’ll find out west.

• The VA Montana Health Care System has multiple openings for nurse practitioners across 14 facilities, particularly those who specialize in geriatrics and long-term care.
• If you’re looking to explore, our Pacific Islands Medical Service is looking for a primary care physician primarily in Honolulu, but may include short-term travel to neighboring Hawaiian islands as well as Guam, Saipan and American Samoa.
• The VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System is looking for a clinical psychologist to work in the Reno Pain Clinic.
• As a medical support assistant, you’re in high demand in the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, with multiple opportunities available both in Utah and in neighboring Colorado.

These are by no means the only jobs available at these facilities, but even just this small sample shows that there are hundreds of hands that work together to provide our Veterans with the best possible health care.

Work at VA

No matter where you live or where you want to go, from major cities to rural communities, opportunities abound for you all across the country.

• EXPLORE the networks that make up VA.
• LEARN about the benefits of a VA career.
• READ about the hiring process.
• SEARCH for your VA career at www.VAcareers.VA.gov.