Had my interview Figured u guys would be interested :P

[MmacFN]

Hey all

Well, let me run down the interview for you.

- started with hellos and a board of 3 ppl sitting in front of me inckuding the program director.

- basic questions about my background and education as well as experience.

- Begin 10 case studies.

- Case studies included IABP cases with waveforms i had to interpret related to the case, also included swan waveform strips related to cases which i had to interpret and discuss Tx. Also included vasious 12 leads with dx's i had to make of wpw, lgl, brugada other long QTs, basic ST elevation, depression and flipped T's. Hyperkalemia with acute t waves, in the MIs i had to relate the elevation to the coronary involved and where on the heart that would be as well as what i may expect as a complication for that location of MI. They had an intubation laedarl dummie there that they wanted me to bag and intubate with both the miller and mac blades. There was more, but you get the idea

This reminded me of FN interviews only 100X more intense. I asked afterward if this was a typical interview. They said it was not typical and in fact, none were. Interviews were always related to the experience and workplace of the individual who is interviewing. Skills, both physical and technical are evaluated based on the workplace, job desc. if the person interviewing. Essentially, i was hammered. Tough interview.

In anycase, it was an excellent experience and i want to say that all of you here have helped me enormously in regards to this issue. If not for the ppl here who started making me question how indepth my pharm. knowledge really was i would not have nailed some of those questions at all. Especially the propofol ones!! hehe.

I appreciate all the help and if im lucky, i might have gotten in we shall see.

In anycase, it was awesome and im excited to get on with things and learn more here! WooHoo! Im stoked!

[MmacFN]

hey debbie

Let me add that they were a great group of ppl. Also, im not sure that my performance on the questions were as much to guage my knowledge but to learn more about me and how i deal with stress, who knows. At the end of the interview they were all smiles and asking me personal stuff.

While the clinical questions were serious, the people were very nice and id love to learn from them!

[WntrMute2]

You know what's really weird, I interviewed at 4 schools and had exactly no clinical questions. All each school wanted to know was how I was going to manage the academic, personal and financial stress. I kept asking do you have any clinical questions for me and they all said "no, your resume and reccomendations speak for themselves." I thought it was a bit wierd but I was offered a spot at all the schools where I interviewed. Go figure.

[apaisRN, RN, CRNA]

DebbieSue, I highly doubt they will care about statistics! But they could grill you on obscure electrophysiology, congenital defects, all kinds of stuff. I don't even know enough cardiac physiology to have an idea what arcane area they may wish to discuss. But you will do FINE. I think they care less whether you know an answer (although you'd better know a few) than how you handle yourself.

[csojet]

What's an FN?

[MmacFN]

Hey csojet

FN stands for Flight Nurse

What's an FN?

[Tranman]

As a CRNA, Ima call BS on your interview. Sure I understand it was b/c of what was on your CV. That is NOT at all a typical interview. You seem like a really experienced RN, top of your class and who knows it type of guy, so they took you too your limits. Anesthesia people will go down the road as far as you wanna go. They have an image to uphold. Anyways that is definitely great experience and sounds like you did great. Guaranteed they'll be calling you. The more prestigious schools that get 200+ applicants for 16 positions have to up the bar/standards. They are always finding ways to weed the weaker applicants out. What I don't agree with is that many of these schools will tell people they are not ready for anesthesia school or don't have enough experience base on their ultra hard interviews. This is completely BS. As a matter of fact you can teach a monkey to do anesthesia. You just can't teach him critical life saving thinking/judgment skillz which is devloped over time. You don't necessarily have to have these prior to the interview process.

Also your post reveals what many miss. I'm constantly trying to motivate ICU RN's into anesthesia. Many decline for personal reasons. What they don't realize is that they already possess many of the skillz needed to do anesthesia. Many CRNA's on a daily basis care for patients that are less sick than ICU patients. Your job as a CRNA will likely be less stressful than ICU work b/c the stress comes periodically and it's not constant like ICU. That's why there's a high burn out rate in ICU 6-8yrs typically.

Many ICU RNs are only 2.5-3yrs away from a less stressful, more enjoyable job that pays 3-5 times what they make now. If you think about it, many ICU RNs are already practicing anesthesia when your managing a vented patient on a propofol drip w/ narcs and paralytics. Just add inhalation agent and viola.

BTW, the 2.5 yrs is really 1 yr of graduated book study reviewing subjects you've already had (chem, pharm, A&P, research) and anesthesia. The other 1.5 yrs is typically all clinical (super fun) with test. Yes you'll be busy, but its not big deal. time goes by really fast. before you know it, you're done and reaping the benefits. But yet many will not go.:smackingf

[MmacFN]

hey Tran

Yup they told me they usually do come clinical questioning but it is always taliored to the experience of the individual. Obviously i have no idea they typical interview process as im not at all privvy to their practices. The other 2 interviews ive done were all like a meet and greet. So i would agree, this isnt typical (from my own limited experience and reading here).

In anycase, i am not sure i will get accepted. From what i was told by the admissions guy before hand, there are 175-200 apps yearly with all of 18 slots. They are considering increasing to 20 but it seems a balancing game. The more students you add the less oppertunity for cases. As you sid, the real learning comes in the clinicals. There could easily be others more qualified than myself. I work with people who have forgotten more than i will ever know.

Thanks for the well wishes!

[KannRN]

.

Also your post reveals what many miss. I'm constantly trying to motivate ICU RN's into anesthesia. Many decline for personal reasons. What they don't realize is that they already possess many of the skillz needed to do anesthesia. Many CRNA's on a daily basis care for patients that are less sick than ICU patients. Your job as a CRNA will likely be less stressful than ICU work b/c the stress comes periodically and it's not constant like ICU. That's why there's a high burn out rate in ICU 6-8yrs typically.

Many ICU RNs are only 2.5-3yrs away from a less stressful, more enjoyable job that pays 3-5 times what they make now. If you think about it, many ICU RNs are already practicing anesthesia when your managing a vented patient on a propofol drip w/ narcs and paralytics. Just add inhalation agent and viola.

BTW, the 2.5 yrs is really 1 yr of graduated book study reviewing subjects you've already had (chem, pharm, A&P, research) and anesthesia. The other 1.5 yrs is typically all clinical (super fun) with test. Yes you'll be busy, but its not big deal. time goes by really fast. before you know it, you're done and reaping the benefits. But yet many will not go.:smackingf

Tranman,

Your posts seem to show a genuine passion for this field. How long have you been a CRNA? Your post here was motivational and encouraging for those in pursuit. Thanks!

[Tranman]

Just shy of 4 years. 4 years in October since I graduated in Oct 2002.

[EvelynRN-BSN]

I have applied for Nurse Anesthetist School for Fall 07 at two different Universities. I am waiting to hear from them, but they both said it will be after the deadline before they even review applications. So I am having to wait until after October for one and November for the other.

I hope to get accepted to at least one of them. This is my life long goal and I hope to be joining the class of Fall 07.

For those CRNA's out there, I look up to you all!!!

[mocha12]

Thanks for the encouraging words. I am a critical care nurse toying with the idea of CRNA school. I am torn between working my butt off or spending time with my family, my burning passion is to be in OR doing what I know best, (helping people) in a high intensity setting. I would love to be more incharge and call the shots instead of always taking them. Wish me luck.