Anesthesia for Dummies???

[alitoala]

I have applied to CRNA school for the first time and currently in the process of submitting requested materials by the fall 2010 deadline. In hopes and preparation that I land an interview could anyone reccommend a good "basics" to anesthesia book I could start reviewing to lay a foundation for the interview process?

[scoochy]

During the 19 years in which I was a PACU nurse, I attended a few seminars presented by Kim Litwack, RN, PhD. I have to say she was the best educator in the field of PACU (perianesthesia) nursing. Her programs always "sold out" rapidly. She possessed a true gift in imparting knowledge in such a way that if you didn't understand it, then something must have been wrong with you, IMO. For me, she was very instrumental in the sound knowledge base I acquired with regard to anesthesia. No other seminar I attended in the 19 years I was a PACU nurse could hold a candle to hers.

She has published as well as edited textbooks; I had one that I considered my "bible" for PACU nursing. No other PACU textbook I had compared to hers. I no longer have that textbook, unfortunately (I let someone "borrow" it; the rest is history).

You can check out Amazon.com and buy one of her books used, so if it wasn't what you were looking for, you wouldn't have spent $$.

[Class2011]

They aren't going to expect you to know anesthesia at the interview (though they do want to know that you've shadowed and you know what you're getting into.

Most interviews, if they ask clinical questions, they will be about critical care and usually very similar to CCRN questions.

Study for and take that exam. It's not hard

[Be_Moore]

I second the previous post. They are going to ask critical care related questions, not so much anesthesia related questions. Get a good CCRN book and read that. If you can pass your CCRN before interviews, that would be optimal. Passing your CCRN means you are probably pretty prepared for the questions at the interview.

Also, don't be afraid to admit that you don't know the answers to their questions. You will get interviewed by a panel of people who know way more about everything than you do, and they are looking to humble you. They will ask you questions, and then more specific and harder questions, until you crack. It's not that they are trying to embarrass you, it's just they want to find out how much you know and also how you respond under pressure. So do your best, but don't try to BS them as they will see right through it. Just keep your cool, answer the questions you know the answers to, and let them know when they've stumped you. And good luck.