Interview tips for SUNY BUffalo

dfk, RN, CRNA · Jan 13, 2007

bring a warm hat, coat and gloves....

beekahx4 · Jan 15, 2007

bring a warm hat, coat and gloves....

Well they are having a mild winter this year. But if anyone has any real insight to SUNY Buffalo's Anesthesia program I would appreciate it.

watersportslover · Feb 4, 2007

Hello.

Just joined the forum and saw your post. I am a senior at Buffalo and may be able to provide you with a bit of info. Considering the date of your post, I'm hoping I'm not too late to help with respect to you interview date.

The overtly obviously. Dress code. Dress professional ie. business suit. Get there early. Be there at least 30 min. ahead of time. I'm sure that I am not telling you anything so far that you don't already know but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

The interview. The program directors are very fair people. Be exactly who you really are. Because of the significant number of applicants, they can be very choosy and are trying to see if you are a fit for "their" program.

Things to consider / things you will probably be asked:

-Tell "us" about yourself. I was asked this question and it paves the way for the entire interview. Really think about what you will say and how you will say it. Be concise, factual, and to the point. Do not be "wishy washy" with your responses.

-Why UB for school? Did you apply to any other schools? How are you going to pay for the program?

-Why do you want to be a CRNA? Explain the role of a CRNA? Have you shadowed a CRNA and / or MDA before? If so, where and how often? What is the difference between medically directed practice vs. medically supervised practice?

-Tell us about an experience that highlights your independent decsion making skills / clinical judgement skills where you made a difference in a patient outcome.

-Be able to describe (step by step) how you would insert a Swan Ganz catheter.

-Be able to interpret a Swan numbers ie. what would your Swan numbers look like in a septic patient, hypovolemic patient, etc.

-Be able to interpret EKG strips- you will be asked this.

-Drugs: know pressors, intropes ie. doses, mechanism of action, etc.; ACLS protocols and drugs

-You will be given a scenario (patient situation) and they will ask you how you would respond. This is a toughie because they can and will ask anything. Hopefully your experience is enough that you can muster up a reasonable answer.

-Look at the UB nurse anesthesia website. Be familiar with the structure of the program, clinical sites, etc..

-Look at the AANA website. Be aware of current issues for CRNAs. Know who the important people are ie. president, president elect, liason in Washington DC. Also, get ahold of an AANA journal and be able to intelligently talk about a couple of the articles.

-Key point: DO NOT GUESS about things during the interview-

EVER !!! If you don't know, say you don't know but DO NOT leave it at this. Specifically state you will look it up.

Your goal: is to firmly impress upon them that Buffalo is your school of choice. You must not leave any doubt with them about this point.

End of interview: You MUST have at least 3-5 good questions to ask them regarding the program. Be analytical. Extract information from them that will show them how serious you are about coming to Buffalo. This is crucial.

Most definitely, thank them for the interview and tell them you look forward to being a student at UB in the coming fall. If they state that the class is pretty much full for next year but you may be considered for the following year, have a good response ready. They are trying to see how badly you want "in" to the program. Do not respond with a defeated look and a sense that you will accept this. Again impress upon them that you are ready to go "now" , that you understand the commitment (financial and time wise).

Also, most definitely send each of them a thank-you card, thanking them for the interview. Send it out that day and of course make sure you spell their names correctly.

Hope that some of this is helpful. It's all I can remember at this time. The interview is fast and hard hitting, usually lasting between 30 - 60 minutes. In no way does the information I have given encompass all that may be asked, but at a minimum it will give you a place to start.

Best of luck to you.

TrainO4 · Feb 7, 2007

you should also see this thread:

help!!! my interview for the anesthesia program is in 1 week. any last minute

NWMTRN · Mar 11, 2011

Can you tell my about your Suny CRNA experience. Did the school well prepare you. How much Anesthesia resident competition did you experience. How much travelling did you do during the program? Thanks.