I think VA PGY-1 residency is a good idea, as most are a good mix of inpatient and am care. The downside of a VA residency is that critical care is usually really not that "critical", if you're looking for that.
As far as VA jobs, all depends on each individual VA, and how management runs the place. Been at 2 VAs so far. One had a lot of dysfunctional things about it (had to look up diluent each time verifying an IV, vanc kinetics or other individualized dosing not done until the clinical pharmacist comes in the next day with 1g q12 or whatever the doc puts in initially verified, staff pharmacists who refused to dose aminoglycosides, etc...) but at least the staff didn't feel like they're going to be fired by failing some stupid metric, and there was very little weekend work. At my current one, I sometimes feel like the place is run like a business, which is odd considering it's the VA. Tons of quantitative metrics with performance standards that are pretty hard to meet, as well as having to rotate through a substantial amount of evenings and overnights (where you are alone for the whole pharmacy, have to respond to codes while doing admission med rec and ER discharge meds/counseling, etc...).
On the plus side, while pay might be lower in Cali than some other hospitals, we do get good benefits. I get pension as well as loan reimbursement, which will work out to be a good amount of money if I stay here long enough without burning out or getting fired. The loan reimbursement program is slowly being phased out though as pharmacists aren't in demand anymore, so it might not exist by the time you get a job. In addition, if you are from another state, you can work in Cali without a Cali license.
