mrs27smith

I also used these same two methods mentioned by Okami_RN (I also used Evolve Elsivier's PASS CCRN for the review questions that comes with the book, AMAZING) and just passed my CCRN yesterday with a 97% on my first try. It only took me 1 1/2 hours of the 3 hours allotted to complete the test, and I was rushing cause it was extremely cold in the facility that I was in. I believe that Laura Gasparis DVDs were nice if you are a visual person and need help with memorizing things. She is very entertaining to say the least. But I will say that her percentages were slightly skewed on the amount of questions presented on the exam. I believe that the AACN has the most accurate information needed in regards to covering everything on the exam. I would say do not try and read the CCRN book because it is so detailed, but DO THE PRACTICE QUESTIONS!!!! Some of the practice questions that I had on my exam were the actual questions from the ones online in the PASS CCRN review. And the test definitely wasn't as hard as everyone made it out to be. Hope this helped!!

WOW thanks for all the helpful info!! í ½í¸Š

Well lucky me I am not a guy, but I have my labs tested biannualy so I'm good on all of that í ½í¸Š

My recruiter offered me $45K bonus pay (to be broken down over a 3 year period after I complete flight school) or $50K of student loan repayment.

Super glad to get an update from you. Sounds like you had an eventful weekend? So yes, all these school must be completed, and you technically don't get your "bonus" (first 1/3 of it for starters) until they have all been completed!!! So I'm super interested in the hyperbaric training portion of the flight process, have you done that yet?

Kind of sounds like the GS process! Well hope to hear from you in the next couple of weeks when you have drill. Keep us posted!

That is AWESOME! We all look forward to hearing all about it, so "Hurry Up and Share" when it is over!! í ½í¸†

Ok so quick update, after my physical I was found to be temporarily disqualified because I had an "angioedema" episode (something like anaphylaxis but not as severe). So the MEPS physician and I had a disagreement about rather or not it was considered "anaphylaxis" or "angioedema" so I went to a specialist today. The MEPS physician took it upon himself to label it "anaphylaxis" and mark me as "disqualified" (DQ). I had scratch tests done for everything under the sun & the moon lol, and was found to ONLY have "angioedema". I knew this, but I was trying to be honest when they asked if I had ever had an allergic reaction, so I said yes. The allergy MD wrote me a "Memorandum to the Surgeon General & MEPS" stating all of today's findings. But the last sentence was the most important, and it read: "As patient doesn't meet criteria for "anaphylaxis" with ONLY cutaneous symptoms, there is no contraindications to military accessioning: no waiver required." Thank you Major Edwards for your help with moving me forward to the next step. So now my physical paperwork has to be sent up to the Surgeon General to be reevaluated with the new findings so that my disqualification can be over turned. So "NOTE TO SELVES"; if you have any allergies that require you to use an Epi pen (which mine did not) this is considered a "disqualifier" (DQ) for military service. So I would say to anyone going through the process, PLEASE make sure that you have records to back up whatever information you openly provide that might be a disqualifier to save you the trouble of having to do it later!! My friend was not so lucky, as she recently had her scratch test done last week and found out that she does have an anaphylactic reaction to ant venom and was therefore disqualified!! :-( But NO MATTER WHAT, ALWAYS be honest!!!

Ok so update time! Yesterday I had my MEPS physical. So my timeline is: 0530 - Arrived 0600 - Roll call and badges passed out 0730 - Briefing done by CPT 0800 - Taken to Medical floor to start physical 0900 - Completed Vision & Hearing test 0930 - Briefing given regarding HIV test, privacy, & preparation of paperwork for next stages of physical 1000 - Breathalyzer performed 1030 - HIV & urine test completed 1045 - Spoke with MD regarding medical hx 1100 - Did physical exercises (to include the infamous Duck Walk lol) Oh and did I mention this part is all done in only your underwear lol!?!? 1130 - MD exam (female or male parts "physical" exam) 1200 - Went back to Station 1 to receive copy of physical paperwork to take to Liaison to be sent to recruiter 1215 - Checked out (could have stayed for the lunch they provided, but it was 90 degrees and I just want to get back on my motorcycle and enjoy the beautiful day outside)!!! So there you have it, my MEPS day in a nutshell. I hope this helps those of you that are just reaching this point in your process as well!! I'll keep you guys posted as to what's next. ;-)

I got the email from my recruiter today. I was reading the requirements of the attire and such and it kind of made me laugh reading the part about "making sure to shower and wear clean underwear" lol!! But I am set and will be at MEPS at 0530 Wednesday morning. Says that I should be done by noon, we will see!!

Yeah he told me he would send me the packet this coming Monday morning so that I can prepare and "have the information fresh on my mind". I assume dress is important to set a precedence for Air Force standards? It would be nice to "move to the head of the line" as a commissioning officer. I do not consider myself better then the next person, but I'd like to not have to be there all day if I don't have to lol!! What was your interview with the CNO like? Were you given an opportunity to ask questions? What kind of questions were you asked?

Thanks Vona86 for that info. I was told I have to be there by 0530. He told me that he was going to send me a packet before my appointment so I know what to expect. Did you get a packet as well, for either physical?

*gilversplace Just texted my Recruiter with your question and this was his response: Not all bases have C-5s or C-17s. That's the type of aircraft that flight nurse fly aboard to care for patients.

Yeah that was my initial thought as well, but unlike the AD route things are done differently. Recruiter states that he has seen scrolls come back between 1 week and 6 months. I actually had the opportunity to speak to an active reservist who had his scroll come back after 2 1/2 weeks, before he even had his MEPS appointment. I trust my recruiter, he has been honest about things that could have turned me away (negatively affecting his recruitment numbers). I just hope the process goes as smooth and quickly as it has been thus far. I mean it hasn't even been a month and I am already almost done with everything. Optimism for me is important!! Patience is not one of my strongest virtues lol!! #HURRYUPANDWAIT

The scroll is the paperwork that is sent to the Secretary of Defense with all of your information to be reviewed and approved for your commissioning. Apparently it is the part of the process that takes the longest, which is why my recruiter says that it is the first thing that he does when starting the process. Why would they DQ you for a sprained ankle? Do you have residual issues from it?

I recommend the Laura Gasparis DVDs and Pass CCRN book (to include the access code for the review questions & practice tests online).

Thankfully for me (blessed), I have never had any medical issues where I have been hospitalized besides the birth of my children. I kind of have OCD when it comes to my health so I keep a strict regiment regarding dentistry & medical check up and interventions. I recently had a complete blood panel performed, OB/GYN, and dental examinations performed about two months ago, so I know my current health status. Von86 do you know when your scroll was sent up? I am just curious as to the timeframe for approval from SecDef? Where there any issues that delayed your process? I have noticed the trend with various areas of the US having a delay in the process. I guess in my case, being 20 minutes from my recruiter's office helps with me pushing the process forward. But my recruiter states that the approval from SecDef could take about 6 months before it comes down, so that is why the scroll was sent up as quickly as possible.

Thanks Vona86 for that valuable information. Thus far my timeline is: 28 March 16: Initial Recruiter contact 6 April 16: First appointment w/ Recruiter (sign docs) 8 April 16: Scroll sent up 11 April 16: All paperwork turned in 4 May 16 (future): MEPS physical My Recruiter days that the flight nurse CNO here is very punctual and likes to get things done quickly. He states that she likes to get her interviews completed within a week of the applicant passing the MEPS physical, so I am hopeful that I get that step completed soon after. He also states that she generally only takes 24 to 48 hours to make her determination of rather or not the individual is "hired". Vona86, I'm curious as to how the flight physical went? What does it entail? Everyone seems to make it seem like it is intense, can you provide insight to your experience (possible timeline of your day)? Thanks!

The process for a job on USAjobs can be very frustrating so learn some sort of relaxation technique lol, that is the first piece of advice I will give you. So the first thing that you want to do is check the eligible applicants for the job. Some position are internal and are not hiring from the public. Next you want to format your resume. I believe there is a resume builder on their website that you can utilize. Next you want to make sure that you have ALL the required paperwork that they request. If you leave one thing out the system will not even consider you. You will need to apply for the position, submit all the required paperwork by uploading it on their website, and complete whatever questionnaire that goes along with the application.

*gilversplace I am not sure about rather or not every AF base has flight nurse drilling. I wouldn't see why they wouldn't as long as it is an AF base and not like an Army base or something. I can ask my Recruiter just to verify for you. And yes it is true that reserves flight nurses have to do two weekends per month, once week of basic and one week of flight training.

Have any of you simply taken a "test run" at the test just to see what it was like so you can actually study confidently knowing what your weaknesses are?

I would definitely recommend the Laura Gasparis review DVDs (it comes with a copy of the slides & provides you with a test that you can send in and get 12 contact hours as well). Plus if you haven't already, purchase the PASS CCRN book (the one that includes the code to do the practice questions). It is spot on with rationales that allows you instant answers as to why a certain answer should be chosen over others).

I am in the process of joining the Air Force Reserves as a flight nurse. I have completed my application, my scroll has been sent up (per my recruiter), and I am now awaiting the appointment for my physical so that I can schedule my face to face with the CNO. So I know that the process is different for AD and Reservist, my question is what is the determinant for the bonus?

Hey bsuciu I just spoke with my recruiter (texted 2 days ago) who just came off leave, again lol! So he informed me that he has already sent up my scroll after our last appointment and we are still waiting for that. He said that he received my transcripts for my BSN and that my medical records have been sent to the CMO for review. He says that I should receive word of my physical this coming week for my physical. *(A little inside information) I think that my recruiter tells me that he is going to be on leave for a week only because he doesn't like the fact that I am very persistent and ask a lot of questions. So if he tells me again before I get my actual physical that he is going on leave I am just going to show up at his office (which is about 20 minutes away) and see if he was telling me the truth. My recruiter, because of a little bit of miscommunication, told me that he supports 70% of Texas alone and that is why I sometimes don't get replies for a day or two. He said with the reserves process, there are no boards and after the face to face interview with the CNO you could know within 24 to 48 hours if you are "hired". I have already scheduled a text for Tuesday April 26th at 0900 to question the status of my physical. Don't get discouraged "bsuciu", just stay focused and keep everyone posted. I will be sure to let everyone know if I make any progress in this process. :-)

*BERM123 Any information that you could provide that you believe would be useful would be much appreciated!