MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Dr. David Shulkin, the Department of Veterans Affairs secretary, faces staffing shortages and challenges with hiring medical staff at some VA hospitals.
There is a critical need for nurses. The VA Inspector General's Office estimates the VA lost nearly 5,000 nurses in 2015 due to missed opportunities to retain them. That same year they hired 8,528, according to the VA.
Shulkin said the VA has followed hiring practices that have proven unduly burdensome and could get in the way of reform.
The VA is making changes. The time it took to hire medical center directors was reduced by 40 percent.
President Donald Trump signed the Department of Veterans Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act in June. The new law gave Shulkin more authority to fire underperforming employees.
