Interview in 2 days, UGH!

javajunkie · Oct 16, 2003

I have not personally gone through any interviews yet, but from what I hear, many schools are trying to determine how you respond under stress. So my plan would be to lay off the starbucks the day of the interview (shaky hands, bad), get a good night's sleep the night before, get there early, and keep saying to yourself: "They asked ME to come here" as in, YOU are an invited guest of thiers, so act accordingly. Also, I don't think it's a good idea to B.S. ANY questions, personal or clinical. One great trait of a future student is the ability to admit you don't know and ask. Also, I wouldn't stress out about clinical questions (I'll cross my fingers for you). All the clinical stuff you know, you already know, so I hope you aren't studying as we speak. I wish you all the luck in the world.

Christina

P.S. Hurry up and get in so you can give us all the gory details!

go2slp · Oct 16, 2003

Javajunkie,

Thank you for the reply and the support. I am actually reviewing hemodynamic monitoring (swan readings) as we speak....I am nervous because my experience is in the surgical, burn and trauma ICU, not cardiac. From what I'm told, they seem to ask alot about cardiac gtts. My experience did not include a lot of cardiac drugs. We used a lot of propfol, fentanyl, ativan, versed, some amiodarone and LEVO (we love levo in our unit)!!!! When it comes to dopamine, dobutamine, dilt, etc...we just didn't have a need to utilize them with our patient population. so, yes, as week communicate, I am studying.....I will keep you posted...If anyone else out there has interviewd at Rush or is a student at Rush, I would like any and all advice..Again, THANKS for your support!

Maximus · Oct 16, 2003

I only had to interview once and my interview focused mainly on what type of person I am and what I had done to prepare for a vigorous graduate program. I would recommend being prepared for different types of interviews. Then when you get into the interview you will be able to see by the direction that they take what they want to find out about you - clincal competentce, knowlege of CRNA profession, how much you planned for grad school, or what type of person you are. If you go into the interview focusing on the interviewers needs then your more likely to address their concerns. My interview focused on me as a person and how much I had prepared for grad school financially, in relationships, and by having realitstic expectations. I had to drop all the weeks of planning for clinical questions and focus on those issues. Also by focusing on their needs in the interview, I think it shifts your focus off of your own nervousness. I don't mean to be totally flexible though. It is still good to have a few important points that you want to come across in the interview. For me, since I was younger than most applicants, I wanted them to be assured that I have the maturity level for grad school so I conveyed that in many of my answers.

I think a few other things are important. Blow off steam that morning, no caffeine, have meaningful questions, and write a follow-up thank you letter or e-mail within a couple of days. Good luck!

go2slp · Oct 16, 2003

Thank you Maximus....I feel pretty confident in answering questions about myself and why I want to become a CRNA, etc, etc, etc, I'm just really nervous about the clinical aspect of the interview....So, did you get in? I wish you luck!!!

versatile_kat · Oct 17, 2003

I wouldn't worry too much about clinical questions you think you have to "brush up" on. At my interview I was the only one with CSU experience and they gearded thier clinical questions towards my specialty, while the other applicant's had specific questions related to their individual units (MICU, CCU, Trauma ICU).

Trust me when I say to have your generic answers to questions DOWN PAT! I was pretty confident in my answer to "why do you want to be a CRNA" and "what are your positive and negative character traits", but as soon as I entered the room I had the biggest brain fart ever! And I can honestly say that I don't get stressed out about anything - unless it deals with money. So go over in your head the main points you want to get across, just in case your mind goes blank (i.e., 'working with a great team in the OR', 'my love of pathophysiology', 'wanting to know more of the 'why' then the 'how'', etc.).

I got up early and did a long run the day of and it really helped calm me down ... do something you know will relax you. You will do great ... we'll be crossing our fingers! LEt us know how everything goes :)

TraumaNurse · Oct 17, 2003

So today should be your big day! Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

go2slp · Oct 17, 2003

Thank you guys sooooo much for your advice and words of confidence. I am really nervous because I have worked 5 years to get to his interview and I don't want to blow it. I have never been so scared, nervous, happy, excited...(well you get the picture, in all my life. I'll write back later today to let you know how it went. I hope someday to see all of you current CRNA's and SRNA's at a CRNA conference (Hopefully in some place like Hawaii or Greece) I have to set my goals high!! again, THANKS for all of your encouraging words!!!

dontae · Oct 18, 2003

We're waiting................

I can't wait to hear about your interview. Mine is next Thursday. I am experiencing short periods of extreme confidence coupled with periods of extreme nervousness.

I wish you all the luck

Dontae

gooser · Oct 18, 2003

Dontae, where are you interviewing?

CougRN · Oct 18, 2003

So how did it go? The waiting from now until the response will be torture but you will make it. Hope to hear good news from you soon.

go2slp · Oct 18, 2003

Dontae,

The interview went really well. It was split up into two sections. A personal interview, asking the basic why do you want to be a CRNA, etc.. They really were interested in what I had done to prepare myself for the CRNA program and what I had done to assure that this is really the area of practice that's right for me and a clinical expertise interview. The clinical questions I had pertained to ACLS. what do you do with a patient in V-fib. V-tack. They wanted me to go over the algorithm. Pretty simple stuff. I was lucky to get such a easy question. Some people had to read swan readings and interpret the condition of the patient and what would you do to treat them. After the interviews were completed they took us on a tour of the facility. Overall, I was there for almost four hours. The institution will be notifying all accepted applicants by Thanksgiving. So now I have to just sit and wait....wait....wait.....wait....wait. I just want all of you to know that I really appreciate all of the support and advice that I have received. You all are GREAT!!!