Horrible experience

Specialties CRNA

Published

Hey everyone. I just had the absolute worst interview experience of my life and trust me I know everyone says it is horrible. Let me kind of give you a brief summary. Walk in to the room..panel of 8 CRNA's. None of them introduce themselves. Just ask you to sit down and then they just start grilling me with why I chose to use my preceptor in ICU for a reference instead of my supervisor(explained to them that I felt like my coworkers know my skills better and have seen me work) I feel that my manager just sits in her office and makes sure that all the requirments for the unit get done. I thought I covered that questions well. But maybe schools are asking more for supervisor input then cowokers?? Plus I never told my supervisor that I wanted to go back to school. Next, I occasionally pick up shifts in the ER and they grilled me as to why I was still working in the ER and if I was going to quit ICU to go back to the ER if I didn't get accpeted this year. Anyways, that is just kind of some of the questions they asked. One of the people pulled out a hemodynamics question, but thought I nailed that down pretty good. Now here is what I thought was pretty rude and want your input on this part mainly. During my interview most of the people on the panel looked totally not interested in what I had to say. Some people were talking with each other and one guy was actually looking at something on the floor:( I totally felt like they had already had their minds made up as to who they were going to pick and that they gave me an interview just out of courtesy. At the same time some of then were shuffling through their papers, but I was just under the assumption that when you are evaluating some one on something this important you should be at least making eye contact with them. For people who have had interviews and been accpeted does this pretty much mean that they pretty much have decided not to accept me???? Anyways I guess I find out either way in the middle of the week and then I can just go back to life working in the ICU and plan to apply more next year. Good luck to everyone having finals and ones that are having interviews:)

Tia Sophia

should consider posting their information here. Power is a two way street and rude people (and institutions) should suffer consequences for such behavior. Too many powerful people (and institutions) believe that they can act with impunity when dealing with those who have less power. If I were in your shoes, I would return their acceptence letter (if it came) with a note explaining that I would NEVER consider attending an institution that treated prospective students in such a manner. THEN, I would CC a copy to EVERY administrator and member of that school's board of directors. Of course such an attitude is probably why I will never get accepted to CRNA school let alone graduate. Be that as it may "bullies" must be aggressively confronted if they are to be deterred.

Tia:

RE: CCRN exam:

I say, go for it!

If nothing else, you get some "practice" preparing and taking a national certification exam.

It looks good on your application.

It boosts your confidence a bit (job well done kind of thing)

Some facilities even pay more for CCRNs.

Nothing to lose by taking it. There are review courses, and there are review texts specific to the test.

Good luck.

Oh, and as for the interview; well, I think almost any job-related question is fair game, but rudeness and disrespect; not acceptable. I was asked some questions (this was long, long ago!) that I thought were rather odd, but I answered them, and after acceptance, found that they asked the "out there" questions to test my ability to think on my feet and respond to the unexpected. Not bad character traits in a SRNA/CRNA.

I def also agree with going ahead and getting the CCRN!!! Good luck!

tia

get the CCRN, it looks great, and I know one person who applied without, and was rejected, got her CCRN and got into the same school the next year. She thinkis it is why she got in.

BTW you just need 1000 hours of ICU experience to sit for it.

craig

That's right Craig, I forgot about the hour part.

In regards to your question Tia, I did well with just studying from the AACN review book.

I can relate to the anxiety and stress with not knowing whether you were accepted. I waited about a week after my interview and was actually nauseated with the stress of not knowing. I don't recommend you necessarily do this, but I finally called the school and asked them. I just couldn't take it anymore. LOL.

Tia

I do not know what your stats look like, but if they are just average scores, and I do not mean this in a demeaning way, then the CCRN can definitely determine whether or not you get accepted into a program. I take it that the program you applied to before did not require the GRE or MAT, as you stated that you are going to take the GRE? Most programs require one or the other.

London88

You are correct in that the program I applied for didn't require the GRE..they just asked that you write a statement of intent(explaining why you want to be a CRNA) I am going to get CCRN and GRE now so that they don't have ANY reason to not accept me. Although after the interview I don't think I will be interviewing with the school again. Stanger things have happened and that may have just been a way to see how much it takes to rattle me. If I don't get in it just gives me more determination to make myself a better nurse and heck you never know I might meet some really cool people in the process. There is always more opportunities out there, buy you just have to be willing to move on and find them yourself. Thanks everyone for the support..I really appreciate it. Whatever decison they make doesn't change who am as a person, just makes me more determined!!! At this point I am totally assuming that they aren't going to accept me. Happy Holidays to all!!

Tia Sohpia

What school was so Rude? Was it in Kansas?

This is a really old thread but I'm curious, is Tia an SRNA now?

Here, a member of the hospital personnel office must be present to oversee an interview and ensure it runs fairly and correctly. If I were you I would ring the personnel dept and make an appointment to speak to the relevent person about your experience. Lets face it, 8 people is overkill and intimidating at the best of times. Someones made a mistake there.

+ Add a Comment