Interview Questions Asked to me.....

Specialties CRNA

Published

Many people have inquired about what types of things are asked in interviews, so I thought I would share what was asked in mine. The interview questions were:

Tell us how your clinical experience will help you in anesthesia.

What roles do you have in your job now?

Did you shadow a CRNA and what did you like about it?

Mostly just specific questions about my experiences and jobs I have held..

What did I think of the GRE?

Situation: "Suppose I told you the answer to a question is 3, but with all of your experience and clinical expertise you know the answer is 2, and the answer is 2, but I SAID IT WAS 3, how would you handle it?"

Without ICU experience, how comfortable do you feel working with vasoactive drips and intubated patients?

"You are pretty much at the top rung of the career ladder right now, how will it feel to be back at the bottom of the barrel and can YOU handle that?"

If we admit you to the program, can you get some exposure to more ICU patients before classes begin and/or do you have a plan?

There were a few others, but I wasn't asked the first clinical question. It seemed as if they were mainly concerned with how I dealt with problems, my personality, and my communication skills. I have a different nursing background than most applicants. I have 6 years ED experience and presently work as the Clinical Coordinator for all units in a small hospital where we do not have a CVICU or anything like it. We treat and transport almost all of our critically ill patients to larger facilities. I also am the SANE Coordinator for the county in which I live and work collaboratively with others in the area on the program. They commented that they really liked my being so "well-rounded." I hope this information helps some of you, I wish I had found this site prior to my interview, I probably wouldn't have been soooo nervous. I wish you all the best of luck.

I just found out today I was accepted to University of South Carolina in Columbia and will begin in January.

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Congrats on the acceptance, I wish you the best.

Craig

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Thanks Craig!!

I am very excited and very relieved to have finally found out. I look forward to beginning the journey.

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I really appreciated reading your interview questions. I am also curious as to admission essays. I will be applying to the two local (within 80 mile radius) CRNA programs for fall of 2003 and one of them requires an admission essay. The application said to write about your philosophy of nursing etc. Should I keep it very straight and academic or show some creativity? Any thoughts?

GOOD LUCK to all new students!-Lacey

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Lacey,

Show yourself!!! Be you, I'd suggest creativity! Good luck and keep us posted!

Brett

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Lacey,

I wasn't required to write an admission essay, but I wrote what they call a "Statement of Purpose" or "Letter of Intent." It may be something totally different, but I would suggest writing about yourself and your personal philosophy. It is an opportunity to tell them things about yourself that you may not otherwise be able to tell them in the interview. Good luck to you!!!!

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Lacey

In terms of the admission essay, it can be both academic, and creative. Remember that the purpose of the admission essay is to evaluate your writing skills, and not your opinions. I picked up some good tips when I was writing my admissions essay from "petersons" website. I received the CD when I purchased their review book for the GRE. The one important tip I kept in my mind when writing my admission essay is that the admissions comittee reads hundreds of essays each week. Try not to put them to sleep when they read your essay. Try to make them remember you!

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Thanks for sharing the interview questions KK. I was wondering tho how you guys would answer to the situation question. Its a very good question because I am sure the SRNAs run into that alot with different clinical instructors telling them different "right" ways to do things. I heard as a SRNA you say 'OK' alot, do it their way and then when you are on your own then do it the way you think best... but how would one answer that in an interview?!

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Exactly as you did, Our instructors told us, this was the way it is. Almost verbatum to the way you put it.

Craig

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Well Rhon-

When I answered the situation question, the entire committee began laughing in an uproar. I wasn't sure what I had said that was so funny. But, they informed me they weren't laughing at me, they were laughing because I had given the "absolute PERFECT" answer to the person who had asked the question. Evidently, there were some underlying issues to the question. I answered as follows: After class, I would go to you and say, "Help me understand how you arrived at three for the answer. I could have sworn the answer was two, but I may have missed something. Please show me how you got three, I really don't understand."

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Thats good that you got some comedy relief during your interview! I hear the panels can be quite stoic and one has NO idea of what they think of their answer. Thanks for letting us know how you answered that question, Im sure I wasnt the only one wondering. Yes, it sounds as if there was something else going on there. Hopefully with Nilepoc's daily logs, we will see what the issue is with that! Because I am sure he will have that encounter. All of you who are in programs or starting we would love to hear your experiences. In the meantime, we will enjoy Nilepocs. So KK, congratulations and keep sharing! By the way, I thought you had the perfect answer too.

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I tried to add a bit of comedy to my interview as well. I was asked whether I had ever made a drug error and how I had responsed. I replied that, "of course I had, and do you want to hear the funniest one?"

"When my wife was nine months pregnant, I was working on a neuro floor, and had the joy of taking care of one of our most difficult long term patients. The gentlemen had had a stroke and usually sat in the hall, posied to a chair, screaming at everyone all day long. Well, this morning, I saw that he was ordered 100mg of Codeine. I thought this was a strange order, but knew that he had fallen recently and had been complaining of some hip pain. I checked with several of my colleges, asking them if they too thought the order was wierd, and although they agreed, finally went and administered it. Well, a hour later the gentlemen was sleeping in his chair and was quiet for the rest of the day.

It was only later, to my horror, that I realized the order read, Colace 100mg. I had the responsibilty of calling the attending physician, who then thought I was a dolt, and informing him of my error." :D

What did I learn? That when under stress people's senses can deceive tham and to always listen to your gut, which was telling me at the time that something was hokey.

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