Air Force journey update!! Info needed about Wright-Patterson Chief Nurse Interview.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.

Well, it has been a really long time since I have posted anything due to the fact that I have been waiting in limbo since January!! The last thread I started in Dec/Jan was hijacked!! So, I am starting a new thread on what's going on.

As some may know and may have read, I started my journey in March 2008. Took a year to lose the weight needed to start the process. Then, I had to deal with a new recruiter who seemed to have no interest in helping me get things done and eventually passed on my information and packet to a different recruiter in another state. This recruiter has been awesome!! Well, we pretty much had my packet completed by December, but then had to put everything on hold because the specialty area I am trying to enter the AF as was filled for this year. So, I was told that I would have to wait til Sept. So, I contacted my awesome recruiter in March/April to get things rolling again only to find out that he was no longer a healthcare recruiter and I had to talk to the new healthcare recruiter in that office. I felt like I was starting all over again!! Eventually, our (new recruiter) email conversations lead to the MSgt (bossman) calling me and telling me not to beat up his recruiters and that he was going to be working on my packet and information with this new recruiter. So, finally back on track. I had to have my recommendation/reference forms re-done because I was told that they are only good for 6 months. Then, I received a call from the awesome ex-healthcare recruiter a few weeks ago telling me that he was personally taking it upon himself to make sure my packet was complete and ready to go and to move forward with scheduling the chief nurse interview and have my packet submitted to the board by the end of September!! He said that my actual recruiter was/is going to gone for training until October. So, if it wasn't for him taking it upon himself to make sure my stuff got done this time, I'd probably be sitting here for another year waiting!! Like I said before, this recruiter is AWESOME!

Now, here we are, finally, after many months of waiting, and everything is complete. My chief nurse interview is scheduled for Friday September 10th at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. I went back through the threads to find the Chief Nurse Interview info and read through it. I was unable to find any info about interviewing at Wright-Patt. Someone had asked about it but never received an answer. So I am asking, is there anyone here who has interviewed at Wright-Patt? What was the interview like and/or what can I expect? I am excited and nervous at the same time because I have waited so long for this and really, really do not want to screw this up. Any advice is very much appreciated.

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OMG I did my interview at WP. I was so llooking forward to happy go lucky interview, but the guy who nin tervieewd me wanted to grill me on my qualifiv=cations. My graduate and my progress towards my doctorate degree seemed to **** him off. in the end he gave me a glowing review even though I walked away thinking I would never make it in the military. My suggestion - go in balls to the wall and be yourself and you will be fine

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I had my Chief Nurse interview at Wright-Patterson last January and it wasn't bad at all. She is really nice and made me feel comfortable. This forum actually helped me prepare for it. I would know the core values and the mission statement as well as why you want to join. She explained to me the educational opportunities and how deployment works out. She allowed me to pick her brain and ask questions about her experience and bases she has been to. Don't worry about it too much, just go in prepared, ask questions, be yourself and you will do just fine. Good luck :)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.

Thanks! Anyone with any other advice concerning the Chief Nurse interview?

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med/Surg.

I am interested too in any advice. My interview is tomorrow! :yeah:

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Sit up straight and don't fidget. Definately plan on sharing why you want to serve and why you are such a great candidate. Know the Air Force values. And think how they impact your everyday life.

Go in with a couple of questions on your list. Let them know you are serious and focus.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med/Surg.

I am happy to report I think it went well. My chief nurse was professional, kind, and not at all intimidating. She asked about my reasons for joining, explained the process of job selection, new assignments, deployments, etc. She also shared her 19 year career achievements and different opportunities she was able to pursue through the Air Force. She is very much a mentor. I hope the chief nurse at my first duty station is cut from the same mold! She definitely assuaged some of my fears regarding joining.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Congrats. Feels good to get that done, doesn't it? I had a great experience on my interview. But I can't say that I have anything to do with the chief nurse here. lol. I'm on nights for now. So we don't see too much of the people who run the place. (I consider this a positive. lol) But my element leader is very visible and involved. The element leader is my direct supervisor and my rater, she's a major.

Let us know when you get accepted and get your COT date and assignment!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med/Surg.

Thanks Mid! I finalized my application with my recruiter yesterday. It is going to the November board. I am hoping to hear in December but will try to remain patient. We did change my availability date to July because I was getting freaked out about the finances and wanting to have time to save up for uniforms and at least a month's salary due to the expected pay issues. I think realistically I would not be going until July, August or later anyway but at least now I can be sure. I am hoping for the sign on bonus but I want to be financially prepared in case it is not available. I signed the form that said I would take it if offered but I know this doesn't guarantee it will be offered. At times I wish I were leaving sooner but then trying to imagine it all really happening gives me heart palpitations! Thanks again for your support! I appreciate all of you that have "been there, done that" sharing with the rest of us. It really helps the anxiety!

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I know how you feel. Literally. lol. I turned my paperwork in finalized on October 28th. I don't think I heard back until end of March. Be forewarned. I think if you have gotten so far that you turned in your full packet, they will take you (otherwise it would probably been stopped sooner, in my opinion.). I haven't heard of anyone who got their packet in and got rejected. There's just too many stopping points along the way.

I went to COT in May. Be warned about summer surge. All the HSPS (health scholarship students going to college to be doctors) students go in summer and the classes swell in size - mine was 289. And it is a ton of kids who are full of excitement. But it's hard to corral all those people. It was also really HOT and humid. You will be inside alot, but the outside activities are not at all stopped or avoided in the heat. We got used to being wet and sticky.

I know how nice it is to have some advise before you go. Carolinapooh was a savior for me. So I'm happy to answer anything that I may know. If I don't know, I say so. lol.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med/Surg.

Thanks Mid! I am sure as time goes by, I will have a million questions :lol2:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.

Well, I had my interview last Friday morning and I think it went fairly well. Was nervous going in because at the last minute I was told that I was meeting with THE Chief Nurse and not the assistant chief nurse (different personalities and different interviewing styles). I wasn't sure how to feel about it until I talked to my recruiter about the interview. He feels that I must have done well based on the fact that he has had many nurses do their interview with this chief nurse and has come to know his emotions and responses regarding the interviews. I was asked a lot of questions and asked to explain a lot of my information. In the end, I believe I did the best I could and answered his questions to the best of my ability. My recruiter sent my packet to TX after the interview for the October board.

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