Another step forward ...

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I went to Walter Reed for my physical exam on June 9, and had to submit some extra info to my recruiter (more LASIK follow-up notes, that kind of thing). Found out today that my physical has been approved by a USAREC physician. Yay! One more thing done. :D

According to my recruiter, the Army Nursing Board isn't actually meeting in October for AD applicants; it'll be November 16, as far as she's heard. But hey, what's one more month? :)

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

First of all, congrats! Secondly, WHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?! :uhoh3:

Yes, yes.. what is one more month when we have been waiting around for an entire year? :rolleyes:

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

Hey, Congrats!! I remember exactly where I was when I got the call that my MEPS had finally been approved.

Right now you are all gungho and focused on getting in. And I'm working on adapting. It's not easy. I'm prior service and thought that I'd be ok with being government property again. You can't refuse a flu shot even. lol. My unit works 3 days one week and 4 days the next. I never worked overtime as a civilian. And I'm on nights for this month. I used to get paid extra for overtime and night shift. Not anymore. Plus, there is a mandatory meeting Monday morning at 6a, but I work Monday night and it'll throw off my sleep cycle. No matter, it's mandatory.

Ok, I whined on your thread. My intention is not to dishearten you, but to give you a heads up that all that waiting a paperwork that we all went through fighting for this job.... is just the beginning. We will all continue to struggle through this process. On a happy note... my pay is finally right. And I LOVE being a nurse again (rather than in training). I like my patients - and I could not have always said that on the civilian side.

I'm still loving your enthusiasm, Lunah. oh... and I'm considering putting a half marathon on my to do list. :)

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Ok, I whined on your thread.

*hugs* You can whine on my thread any ol' time! I appreciate the reality check, truly. I was just discussing military shifts with my management coordinator last night, because my schedule is about to change (and not for the better, either), and I'm not looking forward to it much at all. I've had the schedule I wanted, for the most part, for 5.5 years, so I'm going to have to suck it up and deal and do what's best for my department for the next ... well, however long. So yeah -- it's on a much smaller scale, I know. LOL. I'm glad you like your patients! That is awesome.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Yes, yes.. what is one more month when we have been waiting around for an entire year? :rolleyes:

I know, right?! I had it in my head that October 1 = FY2011 = board meets. Ha ha. But she said the info she has now says they meet for AD in November. Of course, that's subject to change. :D

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
hey, congrats!! i remember exactly where i was when i got the call that my meps had finally been approved.

right now you are all gungho and focused on getting in. and i'm working on adapting. it's not easy. i'm prior service and thought that i'd be ok with being government property again. you can't refuse a flu shot even. lol. my unit works 3 days one week and 4 days the next. i never worked overtime as a civilian. and i'm on nights for this month. i used to get paid extra for overtime and night shift. not anymore. plus, there is a mandatory meeting monday morning at 6a, but i work monday night and it'll throw off my sleep cycle. no matter, it's mandatory.

ok, i whined on your thread. my intention is not to dishearten you, but to give you a heads up that all that waiting a paperwork that we all went through fighting for this job.... is just the beginning. we will all continue to struggle through this process. on a happy note... my pay is finally right. and i love being a nurse again (rather than in training). i like my patients - and i could not have always said that on the civilian side.

i'm still loving your enthusiasm, lunah. oh... and i'm considering putting a half marathon on my to do list. :)

along with the honor to serve, i hope to hear that soon i too can experience job satisfaction! i love nursing too, but i hate doing it as a civilian. i work overtime without consent (4-5 days a week sometimes every week) and i have to attend mandatory meetings as well. so that will not be a hard change for me. thanks for posting and letting us know of your experience. keep us updated. :)

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
I know, right?! I had it in my head that October 1 = FY2011 = board meets. Ha ha. But she said the info she has now says they meet for AD in November. Of course, that's subject to change. :D

Yes. ;)

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Right now you are all gungho and focused on getting in. And I'm working on adapting. It's not easy. I'm prior service and thought that I'd be ok with being government property again. You can't refuse a flu shot even. lol. My unit works 3 days one week and 4 days the next. I never worked overtime as a civilian. And I'm on nights for this month. I used to get paid extra for overtime and night shift. Not anymore. Plus, there is a mandatory meeting Monday morning at 6a, but I work Monday night and it'll throw off my sleep cycle. No matter, it's mandatory.

You could be like me and just tell your flight CC all these meetings are stupid and serve no point or you may want to wait until you have been in a few more years and know your flight CC a little better.....:D

You got to stir the pot every now and then just to let them know not everything is a good idea, and that you can still think independently even if you aren't Colonel.

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Congratulations, one step closer! :D I've been reading the posts on this board for the past few weeks and have seen how tenacious and positive you've been. I hope everything works out for you!

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

lol. I'm not quite that lost yet that I would tell them just how I feel about the meetings! Good news is that I got a text today that Monday's 6a meeting is cancelled. I get that time back ... this time. lol. :)

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Specializes in Emergency.

Well this is the first time that I have posted on this subject, I can breathe a little easier that the board is in NOV...because my recruiters are driving me up the wall!!

Now that is out, Lunah Congrats on having your physical approved. I am waiting to hear on mine. I think I still have to go somewhere to be taped since it was not done when I had my physical:mad:and USAREC will not accept it if it is done outside of their command. Now I am stuck waiting to find a place for it to be done.

I am also waiting to have my credentials approved for M5 identifier. I just sent the last of my stuff yesterday. Do you know how long the review process took for you to be approved? Also I think I heard you mention that your choices were different/expanded beyond just the MEDCEN's. Is this true?

The recruiters that I am with are nice and all and in their defense it did take me forever to decide that I finally wanted to put in a packet( I have been enlisted 9 yrs{4active, 4reserve, currently reserve}) but now that I am ready to spin the wheels I get the impression that my recruiter has not be doing this very long, and this does not give me confidence that all the fine details will be taken care of...

so again 1 more month makes me breathe a little easier.

Best of luck to everyone else in the process:uhoh3:

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I'm still waiting on the results of my credential/CV review. My recruiter submitted my materials a couple of times (in June and July), and it got kicked back both times because they told her it was "too early." LOL. I think they finally accepted it a couple of weeks ago, so I'm expecting to hear something in a couple of weeks or a month. Maybe. :D

My recruiter told me that those with the M5 identifiers can request duty stations at the various Army Community Hospitals, not just the MEDCENs. She gave me a list of locations when we first met in January (wow, that seems like a long time ago now!!). My recruiter is great. She's getting married in October, so we've been working hard to get all of my paperwork done and completed before then so we'll be ready for submission way ahead of time.

I believe packets have to be submitted by 1 November (as always, subject to change), so you do have a little time! Probably more than you realized. :) Do you have your CEN? I've been told that is the "gold standard" to getting the M5 identifier, although I'm sure there are plenty without it. It's just so much more competitive these days!

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