Interviews in General

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2005

What are you interviewing for?

Preparation is the most important thing, when I interview it is apparent who hasn't prepared because you allow for nerves and you can bring the person through that but you cant pop the knowledge into their head. If you know what I mean.

WakingLife · Aug 14, 2005

What are you interviewing for?
Preparation is the most important thing, when I interview it is apparent who hasn't prepared because you allow for nerves and you can bring the person through that but you cant pop the knowledge into their head. If you know what I mean.

I see a lot of questions about CRNA graduate school interviews and that is also my interest. I agree with you about preparation! I thought it would be helpful to compile info after seeing a similar compilation on the Student Doctor site. I got to thinking...the experiences of others, while not all inclusive about your specific interview, can really help in preparation or help to at least point you in the right direction.

WakingLife · Aug 21, 2005

givin' it one more go :)

Pete495 · Aug 22, 2005

Here's how my interview went for the school I was accepted to. I posted this on a different thread. You can do a search for interviews, and find lots more info if you want. I have since switched programs so I did not have to move, and I am doing long distance education at my own hospital. I will try to post more later.

Anyway, the interview went like this:

I am from about 3.5 hours away, so I arrived 3 hours early, and spent some time wandering around checking out the hospital (on a side note, the yahoo directions took me through central philly, and I got stuck behind multiple trolleys). I went to the cafeteria, and had the hardest pancake I ever had for breakfast. I had to eat it with my hands. It was kind of funny really because it was a tyical hospital cafeteria. Because I got there at the end of breakfast, everything laid out was old or hard. It just so happen to be anesthesia week though, and the CRNA dept. had a bunch of presentations set up in the cafe, so I got to check out all the classes over the last several years. I was surprised by how small they were. In the interview, they told me they are now starting to take more students. they take like 18 a year now.

The secretary came and got me when I paged( about 45 min. early), and took me on a short tour of the OR suite, and told me a little about the place. She brought me up to meet the two directors of the program, then I went on a more extensive tour of the OR facilities w/ a junior student. I tried to ask as many questions as I could think of. We saw another student along the way about to do a case, and I asked her lots of questions too. Then I came up and interviewed with the director, and asst. dir. of the program. I was extremely impressed with the interview. It was more like a discussion about anesthesia, and they made me feel extremely comfortable. They did not ask me any real clinical questions, but I interjected some of what I knew about hemodynamics in the interview, which seem to impress them.

A word of advice to all. If they don't ask you any specific clinical questions, make sure you are telling them what you know, bu. Talk about hemodynamics and what drips you have experience with, the difficulties you've had with them, and the positive experiences you've had as well. I was honest about my strengths and my weeknesses, and most of all I said I wanted to become a CRNA. Believe it or not, that phrase goes a long way even though they've heard it before. My current supervisor had told me to talk myself up, tell them what I know, and advertise myself to them. That is what candidates should do during the interview process. I'm not saying come off as over confident, because that is a turn off. That is why I was honest to admit my weaknesses, but I also suggested ways in which I have been trying to get better at those weaknesses.

They laid out the entire program for me during the interview. I am not entirely sure, but I get the feeling they do a lot of interviewing over time, and select the best candidates in the spring. They seem to care about their students and operate as a family. from what they told me, they have a 100 percent grad. and board passing rate. If you're not sure about this one, definitely ask. anyway, this impressed me. He also talked a lot about the new fiberoptics they had available. I had a cartoon with me at that moment that showed a rather harsh nasal fiberoptic intubation.

The only confusing part in the interview is where I would be all the time. They said I would be stationed mostly at one facility, but there were a bunch of satellite hospitals that I may have to attend to get speciality experience, like Regional, Cardiothoracic, etc. It would require a bit of travelling, but I expected this to happen no matter where I went. I will have to sell my gas guzzling Jimmy, and find something more economical though.

All and all, it was a good interview, and after the interview I decided if I got in, it was where I wanted to go.

Let me know if anybody has any questions. Pete495

zoozoo · Aug 22, 2005

Here's how my interview went for the school I was accepted to. I posted this on a different thread. You can do a search for interviews, and find lots more info if you want. I have since switched programs so I did not have to move, and I am doing long distance education at my own hospital. I will try to post more later.
Anyway, the interview went like this:
I am from about 3.5 hours away, so I arrived 3 hours early, and spent some time wandering around checking out the hospital (on a side note, the yahoo directions took me through central philly, and I got stuck behind multiple trolleys). I went to the cafeteria, and had the hardest pancake I ever had for breakfast. I had to eat it with my hands. It was kind of funny really because it was a tyical hospital cafeteria. Because I got there at the end of breakfast, everything laid out was old or hard. It just so happen to be anesthesia week though, and the CRNA dept. had a bunch of presentations set up in the cafe, so I got to check out all the classes over the last several years. I was surprised by how small they were. In the interview, they told me they are now starting to take more students. they take like 18 a year now.
The secretary came and got me when I paged( about 45 min. early), and took me on a short tour of the OR suite, and told me a little about the place. She brought me up to meet the two directors of the program, then I went on a more extensive tour of the OR facilities w/ a junior student. I tried to ask as many questions as I could think of. We saw another student along the way about to do a case, and I asked her lots of questions too. Then I came up and interviewed with the director, and asst. dir. of the program. I was extremely impressed with the interview. It was more like a discussion about anesthesia, and they made me feel extremely comfortable. They did not ask me any real clinical questions, but I interjected some of what I knew about hemodynamics in the interview, which seem to impress them.
A word of advice to all. If they don't ask you any specific clinical questions, make sure you are telling them what you know, bu. Talk about hemodynamics and what drips you have experience with, the difficulties you've had with them, and the positive experiences you've had as well. I was honest about my strengths and my weeknesses, and most of all I said I wanted to become a CRNA. Believe it or not, that phrase goes a long way even though they've heard it before. My current supervisor had told me to talk myself up, tell them what I know, and advertise myself to them. That is what candidates should do during the interview process. I'm not saying come off as over confident, because that is a turn off. That is why I was honest to admit my weaknesses, but I also suggested ways in which I have been trying to get better at those weaknesses.
They laid out the entire program for me during the interview. I am not entirely sure, but I get the feeling they do a lot of interviewing over time, and select the best candidates in the spring. They seem to care about their students and operate as a family. from what they told me, they have a 100 percent grad. and board passing rate. If you're not sure about this one, definitely ask. anyway, this impressed me. He also talked a lot about the new fiberoptics they had available. I had a cartoon with me at that moment that showed a rather harsh nasal fiberoptic intubation.
The only confusing part in the interview is where I would be all the time. They said I would be stationed mostly at one facility, but there were a bunch of satellite hospitals that I may have to attend to get speciality experience, like Regional, Cardiothoracic, etc. It would require a bit of travelling, but I expected this to happen no matter where I went. I will have to sell my gas guzzling Jimmy, and find something more economical though.
All and all, it was a good interview, and after the interview I decided if I got in, it was where I wanted to go.
Let me know if anybody has any questions. Pete495

did they ask any questions about financing your school?

Pete495 · Aug 24, 2005

If I remember correctly, they asked how intended to pay. I believe I told them at that time, probably loans, stafford, and who ever else would give me money. I mentioned that there were a lot of options available out there for crna students, and they just needed to be found is all. They don't ask you about your credit history, or get to in depth with it if that is what you are referring to.

My personal preparation for interviews included reviewing ventilator ABG's, ACLS material, and invasive drips that I don't tyically use. It's a good idea to be aware of what they're going to ask you during the interview process. So ask around, and if necessary, call them, and ask them what is going to be included in the interview. I asked all my programs what the interview included, just so I knew what to prepare for. If you can't find anything out, then just make sure you are prepared for clinical questions re: drips (know your receptors), hemodynamics, acls, abg's, and vents. A basic review will probably cover it. I don't think you're espected to know everything.