bkg98

Thanks for the info! Yes...I am on pins and needles right now just "dying" to find out how I did. Can't tell by the test questions whether or not I passed...even the nurses who took it at the same time, with YEARS of experience said all the studying that they did and the experience that they have seemed worthless taking that exam. Oh well...we shall see. I have until the end of June to find out...seems like forever!

I just took the Spring CCM exam...just wondering if anyone knows what the passing score is. Also, is it really true that 50 of the exam questions are not counted because they are "field questions"? Can anyone also tell me how soon to expect to hear from CCMC regarding the test results? Is it really 8-10 weeks? How soon can I expect to see passing names on the CCMC website database? Any other information will be greatly appreciated....I just can't tell if I have passed or failed. Everyone taking the exam with me that day were unanimous in saying after all the studying they didn't feel the test questions were even close to the study guide questions and the format was completely different. One nurse even said after being a nurse for over 30 years...she couldn't bring any experience to answer the exam questions. Just about everyone thought that they did not pass and the exam was not pertinent to NURSE case managers in most cases. Oh well, what done is done, just have to be patient about getting my results...just very anxious about it though anyway...thanks in advance for any information.

Thank you very much! I have just purchased the CM study guide taht includes the CDROM. I hope it will be enough. Wish me luck!

I will be taking the April 2006 exam...I have work comp experience but now in reinsurance. Any suggestions as to what the best resources are to study from? Is the www.casemanagerexam.com a good resource? Is the exam computerized or still manual? How long does it take to find out the results? Is it based on pass/fail? If not, what score must be achieved to pass? Any other suggestions or advice would be GREAT! Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I'm going to be taking the CCM in April...just wondering what the best books/resources are to study. I've seen the 900 questions cd-rom, but it's very costly. Is that one website legit and a good resource (www.casemanagerexam.com) ? Seems ok but I haven't seen a lot of reviews on it. Very nervous, as I hear the exam is pretty tough and it seems it has a lot of questions on subjects I'm not really familiar with (Medicare/Medicaid, Federal laws, etc...) Well....thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

Thanks again everyone for all of your input! I really appreciate it a lot. I didn't want to rely on just a recruiter because I have heard some nightmare stories about them. This is why I am doing my own research and trying to get as much real information as possible. The recruiter that I spoke to was NOT a nurse and he basically had no clue. He was able to provide simple basic info but not much help as far as nursing goes. He did say that there was somewhat of a possibilty to talk to a nurse, but I wasn't sure that I wanted the recruiter to set that up. If I talked to someone, I wanted someone neutral, who would give me an honest picture of what's it's really like...nursing and lifestyle. I think he was a bit surprised by me asking all the questions I asked...and I basically told him I wanted straight forward answers, I didn't want him to glamourize anything for me. As for my husband, he works in a very corrupt, very stressful, very dangerous city. The only reason he stays is because he's been there for so long and the benefits are decent. His retirement is fairly good but the medical benefits are excellent! I cannot complain one bit about that. But the stress is taking a toll and that's one of the reasons why he does photography on the side...to be able to fall back on it. As far as deployment, I understand thoroughly that once you sign the papers, the military basically "owns" you. This is why I am thinking long and hard about it and why I am asking so m any questions before jumping into a decision. I don't think I would mind the occassional short TDYs, or even being stationed overseas a few times...we both wouldn't mind that, so long as the family is together. But being deployed for a long period of time is what I think I would have the most trouble with. My understanding is, if you volunteer for TDYs, deployment and remotes...even take an assignment for a year overseas, it looks good on your record and counts for something toward your promotions and choice of next duty station. I think someone told my husband that sometimes you can take your family on remotes or those 1 year overseas assignments. My other question is, if I should join the AF and decide to leave before retirement (lets say I leave in 10 years) and then work for the VA, would all the benefits be the same? Would my 10 years count toward retiring from the VA? Let's say I'm in the AF for 10 years, leave, work for the VA for 10 years, would that be considered 20 years and then can I retire with a pension? Are the pension and other benefits the same as if I should retire from the AF? Thanks again for all the info!!!! :)

I believe McGuire is the closest. Dover is a little further than MacGuire. Willow Grove (I know is a Naval Air Station) is also not that far. Not sure if there's anything else around.

Thanks so much again! All the information that you have provided is VERY helpful. Everything sounds really good. The AF has a lot to offer. Civilian nursing definitely does not offer anything close to what the AF does. And I have worked in small companies, non-profit orgs, community hospital, as well as a HUGE major university trauma 1 center...they all don't offer the same or even close. Actual base pay is better in the civilian world, but when you count in the housing, food, clothing, dependents, medical, travel, vacation (have NEVER heard of 30 days vacation and they don't dock sick time!)etc...AF pretty much offers more. Now our other decision will be the most difficult one...is it worth taking the chance as far as getting deployed for extended amounts of time? Will my husband be able find a job in the areas we get stationed (he's a police officer so he can work for companies that need surveillance and he's a photographer). The biggest concern is retirement. If I join, it will have to be for 20+ years. We would need the pension and benefits. As a police officer, my husband can retire right now in 9 years with pension and full medical and dental benefits (they are pretty much like the AF, we have only paid co-pays, nothing else). I just have to make sure that we can adjust to living the military lifestyle until retirement and that I can do the things I need to do in order to continue in the service and get promoted. Once I join, I know, it's no looking back for me...I will have to stay until retirement. Such a huge decision. This is why I am asking so many questions and asking people their honest opinions of AF lifestyle and how they like it. I know it's not perfect, no job, place of employment or career is. I expect that, and I would question anyone's opinion if they did say it was all "chocolates and roses". This is one of the biggest reasons why I don't want to just rely on a recruiter. Not that I have anything against them, but their job is to recruite people and the more the better. Thanks so much again for all the information...this is really one of the first most detailed and informative threads I have read on these message boards. Frankly, I am very surprised someone responded so quickly. Thanks again!!!!

wtbcrna... I agree. Thank you very much for all the information. You really spelled it out very well. Question about the 30 days vacation...is that really PTO (paid time off) used as sick, vacation and personal days? I read on another post somewhere that nurses can be so busy, one would be lucky to get the 30 days, then end up losing the time in the end. What about emergency situations such as if one of my children were sick or injured in school, could I leave the shift early? Are the shifts pretty much like civilian shifts? Do you know if OR nurses are also on call for the OR (ie: trauma, too many surgeries going on at once, etc...) What about holidays? Are they just rotated like civilian nursing? Do the shifts rotate? Do you know if I would be able to have a "brush up" course for the OR...a little rusty since it's been over a year since I worked in the OR. Again...THANK you very much, you provided GREAT information!

Hi Everyone! I have 10 years civilian nursing experience (everything from med-surg, home care, OR, even case management). I am very interested in Air Force nursing mostly because of retirement benefits and advancement opportunities, team work, respectful treatment of peers and management (I would think it's better in the military). I spoke to a recruiter and he said that I would be able to go in as a Capt because of the experience. How is the pay rate? How are the benefits? What does a Capt's rank entail as far as nursing responsibilities? What about promoting to Lt. Col and Col? Is it difficult? Do you have to test each time you want a promotion? Sign on bonus? I would probably enter in my main specialty, OR nursing (is that in demand in the AF?). I am currently a Case Manager and would rather do that or discharge planning. The recruiter didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I would appreciate any information...I need the good, the bad and the ugly. I'm just afraid the recruiter might paint a prettier picture just to get me to sign up. I would love to ask him to set me up with an RN so that I can talk to them, but I'm afraid he will set me up with someone who won't be completely honest either. What is the Commissioned Officer's Training like...what is their PT like? What's the likelihood to get deployed to a combat zone or a danger zone? How long are deployments? What about TDY and "Remotes"? I have two very young children and would hate to be away from them for a very long time. How is the housing for Capts? What about civilian husbands? Are there many since nursing is more of a female dominant job? How long are the typical tour of duties? What's the liklihood of getting the place that you want to go? What's the liklihood of retiring in 20 years as a Col or above? Any information will be GREATLY appreciated!!! Thanks!