Interviewing at UB!

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Specializes in I/DD.

So I got my invitation to interview for the Nurse Anesthetist program at University at Buffalo! I couldn't be more excited :) Is anyone else here interviewing? And do any current students have any tips? I know the basics- making sure I am ready to discuss various vasoactive drugs, hemodynamic parameters, and so on. What I could use help with is nailing down a good clinical situation (I know tips should be easy, since it is my job and everything). But here are the examples I was thinking of:

I had a really good opportunity to discuss an end-of-life decision where I was able to reframe what the physicians had been telling the patient's mother in a caring, but straight forward manner. The patient was a coagulopathic ESLD patient on CRRT minutes away from coding. I was able to help her understand the futility of CPR at that point. It definitely helped her come to grips with her son's diagnosis and make an informed, and most importantly guilt-free decision. I feel that example demonstrates the communication skills I have developed throughout my career, and that I am able to remain empathetic and patient centered. My hesitation is that it is not necessarily a clinical decision, especially one that a CRNA would make. It's just an example of a time when I went home and knew that I had done the right thing although it wasn't easy.

The only other things I can think of are protocol driven when you think about it. Examples are, the patient who had a vasovagal response about a week ago, but we still had atropine hanging around at the bedside because no one had bothered putting it back, even though we didn't think it would happen again. When it did happen again (3rd degree HB that quickly progressed to asystole) I knew exactly where it was and acted quickly and efficiently. Yay so I know ACLS. Another one that comes to mind is when I caught a post-TPA cerebral hemorrhage quote early. Yay so I know how to so q1h neuro checks. It just doesn't seem like a big deal to me. If anyone has any input or examples of what you talked about to help me getting juices flowing I would truly appreciate it. Thanks!!

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