Does anyone have interview at MTSA/or current student

[pbilbrey]

HI,

I have an inteview at MTSA in a few short weeks. Just wondering if anyone else has one and how are you gettting ready for this?

Found an older post but it was started back in 2006?

If anyone is current student I would take any advise you will give me.

I know this year they are giving patients to the hopeful student and I am guessing will be asking all kinds of questions according to which ICU you work in.

[RN910]

Yes absolutely! This day has been exhausting! Hopefully we will both be admitted and can discuss the strenuous interview! It will be a long week for sure! :/

[MurseWithAMission]

You said it! Spoke with a person who started MTSA this summer. She said she got her acceptance phone call on Wednesday, 1 day earlier than the scheduled call-back day. So make sure to have your phone nearby this Wednesday. Just in case.

[RN910]

Wow, I will be thrilled with any phone call....period! Hopefully the rest of my application will pull me through, becuase I did NOT feel great about that interview! Whew!

[RN910]

MurseEagle, saw where you have your CCRN certification. I take mine Monday...wish I would have had it pre-interview. Tried to let the administrative staff I was taking it next week, not that it will help me any at this point. I've been studying the Pass CCRN! book. Any helpful hints on that exam?

[MurseWithAMission]

You and me both. Keep in mind, they don't expect you to know everything. They really put us through this process to see how well we handle ourselves under pressure bc nurse anesthesia is a job that requires you to be calm and collected in crisis situations. I know people who were unable to answer hardly any questions in the interview but still got accepted.

[MurseWithAMission]

I used the Pass CCRN book too! Seriously, just focus on the Cardiac and Pulmonary sections as these two make up about 40% of the exam. Then fluff professional/ethical care questions make up another 20% which are mostly common sense. That's 60% right there. I got a lot more ventilator Qs and asthma Qs than I anticipated. And obviously know your PA cath numbers like the back of your hand. Know vent settings and ABGs and when to titrate vent settings and what to titrate. You should do fine with your experience in cardiothoracic nursing!

[MurseWithAMission]

P.S. You must be a glutton for self-punishment! MTSA interview on Thursday and CCRN test on Monday?! That's nuts! Good luck though! I remember thinking that I may have failed during the exam but actually got like 15-20 Qs correct over the base required for passing.

[RN910]

Thanks! Yes, I used the CCRN book to study for my interview as well. Hopefully the CCRN test will have a better outcome than that interview! I feel pretty comfortable with the hemo and vent management. I need to brush up on cardiomyopathies, and pathologic conditions--endocrine, etc.

Also...Any idea how many applied versus how many interviews they granted?

[MurseWithAMission]

I think approximately 1/3 of all applicants got interviews this time around. They usually interview 2x the number of slots available. 72 right? So about 150 interviewed and 450 applied. Does that sound right??

[RN910]

I have no idea! Wow that's pretty impressive! 450 applicants? Wow! I've seen other posts on here that "early" interviews are significant for some reason? Is this true? Will they have another "wave" of interviews later in the year? That may be an older process, but I just noticied some past applicants talking about "early" interviews. ????

[MurseWithAMission]

Hey. Out of curiosity, what time was your interview with MTSA?

[MurseWithAMission]

Yeah that's an old process. The past year and our year I think they interview ALL potentials over the course of 3 days, with those with the "most competitive GPAs" being interviewed on the first day (go us!!). That's gotta count for something right?