Akron Interview

[suarc]

Hello,

I would like to get some help from anyone who might know about the interview questions at akron, if you have interviewed or know some one who did. What questions were you asked? I was told that they test drug knowledge, but do they expect you to know dosages as well. Every little bit helps. Thanx

[jls189]

A nurse that I worked w/ a couple years ago interviewed there, and she said it was like retaking the ccrn exam. She said it was like rapid fire questions. Another girl I work w/ now interviewed there last year, and there's a critical care exam pre-interview. She said that after she and the other's took the exam, the people there graded them and laughed as they graded. She said it was like they were making fun of them for getting the wrong answers. I also worked w/ a nurse that interviewed there last year. She didn't get accepted. She went to undergrad there and was also halfway through the core grad classes. She had an undergrad gpa of 3.72 and a grad gpa of 3.64. Her gre was total 1180 (w/o stuudying). When she called to ask why she was not accepted, they said it was her gpa. She asked them what they had listed for her gpa. They said "3.27". She reminded them what it was and that she was also doing well in grad school. They explained that they transcribed all her numbers onto a sheet of paper (as they do w/ all the candidates) and they use it for the interview. They kindly said sorry and encouraged her to re-apply this year. I'm sure you can imagine how she felt. How horrible! Anyway, study hard prior to the interview (even the drugs). Probably more important than the dosages, I would study how the drugs work (levo, neo vaso, propofol, succs, vec, etc.) Also know your hemodynamics very well. I am not telling you this to scare you, but rather to prepare you. I read on one of the posts here that Akron lost their certification sometime in the past 10 years, and that is when their interviewing process became so brutal. I don't know if this is true. May just be hearsay. Anyway goodluck. I hope I didn't dampen your mood.

[suarc]

Jls189,

Thanks for the insight, do you know specific questions they asked?

[jls189]

One specific question was "When floating a swan, what is the most commom arrythmia?" She answer vfib/vt. They told her she was wrong. This nurse had worked in the G-5's (cardiothoracic icu) @ the clinic for 10 years. They wouldn't tell her what tha answer was/is. I have assisted on many Swan placements and hat is what I have seen, and I asked a Cardiologist and he agreed. I've told that they ask specifically ask how vasopressors work. Sorry, hat's about all I know. Good luck.

[suarc]

thanks

suarc

[jls189]

Your welcome. And again, good luck!!

[vikingirl]

Premature ventricular contractions are the most common arrhythmia associated with PAC insertions, usually while the PAC is passing through the right ventricle. Sometimes the arrhythmia appears as short bursts of VT. Right bundle branch block and the progression of left bundle branch block into complete heart block are also potential complications.

[suarc]

thanks for clarifying that viking girl. Because I also thought it was vt or vfib, but it does make sense that the MOST common to occur would be PVC's:yeah:

[jls189]

I do agree w/ you that pts. have pvc's, but in my experience, they don't usually just have one pvc, a couplet or triplet. They'll have a triplet, a sinus beat, 4 pvc's and so on. So, Akron really got her on a technicality. I didn't mean to imply that these pts. go into full blown vf/vt. Sorry if I confused anyone.

[JockoJohnson]

A nurse in my unit interviewed there, and I remember she told me they asked how beta-blockers work, and some questions about ET tubes and vent settings.