Kaiser Interview Info 2011

KPSAN -

Day of interview

Location: KPSAN building in Pasadena

Interview is on the first floor in a conference room. Prior to the interview, you'll find yourself in another room with Sandra (one of the administrative assistants) along with several other applicants. Of course, the whole idea is to mingle and to try to get relaxed. Sandra is quite the character.

When it's your time to interview, Michael Boytim, the admissions director, will come in and escort you to the conference room. Prior to entering the room, he gives you a pep talk and tries to provide encouragement by letting you know you've come a long ways; that the board is familiar with your CV; and to give you an idea of what to expect when you enter. He'll introduce you to the panel, then you'll introduce yourself and begin to share why you want to be a CRNA.

It's a huge room. There's a small table and chair for you to sit on. Did I mention that the room is HUGE?! There's about 15-20 people sitting in front of you in the shape of U. You're introduced to the panel. You introduce yourself and begin your story.

Once you've articulated your reasons for why you want to be a CRNA, the board will begin asking you questions based off of your answer. To be honest, it's hard to predict what they'll ask you, but here are some pointers on what you should be prepared to answer:

1. Why you want to be a CRNA
   
2. How have you prepared yourself for graduate school (i.e. research, volunteer, shadowing)?
   
3. Be able to discuss your shadow experience
   
4. Know what a CRNA does
   
5. Know what the program is about (i.e. read the program's mission statement and reflect on how it relates to you and how it influences your goals with being a CRNA)
   
6. Think of a clinical scenario or typical patient you've cared for on the unit you work on
   
7. What are your short and long term goals?
   

If you can rattle off answers from those 7 questions, you'll be a solid interviewee. They didn't really ask me specific clinical questions, but they did inquire about the subspecialty I worked in. There's a couple of SRNAs on the panel, CRNAs, MDs, and administrators.

It's a laid back vibe. They want to get to know you as a person. Relax. Let me know if you have questions. The whole thing lasted 7-10 minutes. It was fast.