Midwestern CRNA 2022

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I created this forum for nurses applying to Midwestern University's CRNA program starting in 2022. 

Let's do this!

Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Should I sign her up for it now ? That would give her a year to go over all the material. 

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Specializes in PACU/ER.
31 minutes ago, Keane517 said:

Hi. My daughter applied this year to two schools. She got interviews at both places. Did not get in. She graduated with honors from Ohio State and has the ICU time but was told her interview skills are lacking. I don't think she has had many interviews in her life. Would the CRNA SCHOOL PREP ACADEMY help ? Is there another way she can go through the interview process with someone or a company ? I'm just trying to help. I appreciate it. 

There are plenty of free resources out there too. You could have her write out questions to interview questions, find critical care specific questions and pharmacology/anesthesia related ones. She could do mock interview with you and other friends/family so she is more comfortable with interviewing and talking through her answers. Even applying to jobs she doesn’t actually want to gain experience interviewing too would help. 

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Specializes in CRNA.

She can practice talking about how she makes clinical assessments and decisions. If you’re a CRNA, you can help her with that. Programs are trying to assess if she knows the ‘why’ behind what she’s doing in the ICU.

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Specializes in Flight/CVICU.

CRNA PREP SCHOOL ACADEMY has a lot of courses on developing your “why” and also has mock interview options ($150) per interview. I did this after one school rejection and then got into a second. I found it very helpful as they review with you your interview and even give you specifics to work on. 

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Specializes in CRNA.

When I say ‘why’ I’m referring to the scientific basis of your clinical practice. Understanding the pharmacology and physiology of your decisions in patient care.

After interviewing candidates this year, I can tell you about the 4th time I heard the same scripted answers, and the same avoidance techniques for questions that the candidate didn’t have a scripted answer, I asked what a candidate she had done to prepare. And I heard of this prep program.
 

If you want to stand out, have a good knowledge base that allows you to clearly articulate your clinical decision process. Read about pharmacology and physiology. 

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Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. It means a lot coming from someone who is part of the interviewing process. She's a smart kid but if you can not get through the interview process then you will not be able to show them they made a good decision. I will pass this onto her. Thank you again. Jim

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@Keane517 I get that you’re trying to help your daughter but I don’t believe she is ready to be a CRNA. I have a feeling the admission committee picked up on that. 

A high level of maturity, responsibility, and an ability to act independently is required to safely deliver anesthesia. CRNA school isn’t your typical graduate program and the average age of students these days is late 20s/early 30s. Most students have 3+ years of critical care experience. If your daughter truly wants to be a CRNA she needs to be the one seeking out these answers, not you.  

 

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@CFRNtoSRNA

Well, those are quite the assumptions to make about someone you don't know. She was mature enough to graduate in the top five of her class at Ohio State. She was mature enough to be given the job of her choice at Ohio State's hospital and hold it for the last five years. However that does not mean you are not correct. There must be something they saw that they did not like. Her lack of interview skills did not help and I am sure her nervousness shown through. I guarantee you she is looking for answers. I remembered this site when she was an undergrad student. A lot of smart people in here and I just thought I would ask. 

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Specializes in CVICU/COVID ICU.

@Keane517 

I think its great that you are being so supportive and looking for ways to help your daughter as I'm sure she is looking for her own. I would look around even Google Midwestern interview questions and as stated before practice practice practice. Thats been my strategy. I did use CRNA prep academy and found it to be helpful as well as doing mock interviews with crnas online. 

I hope the best for your daughter and I'm sure she will get through this and become a strong DNP.

Best of luck! 

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@Keane517 I would also recommend that she apply to more schools including some less competitive ones. I am 22 with 2.5 yrs experience most likely didn’t get into Midwestern d/t lack of interview skills. However, I did get into less competitive programs. But I applied to 7 schools and got 7 interviews increasing my chances. 

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Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. I sincerely appreciate it. 

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On 11/20/2021 at 7:47 AM, Keane517 said:

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. It means a lot coming from someone who is part of the interviewing process. She's a smart kid but if you can not get through the interview process then you will not be able to show them they made a good decision. I will pass this onto her. Thank you again. Jim

I think its important to know that many of the students applying aren't fresh ICU nurses. Many are late 20s or early 30s with tons of experience. Some have been NPs already bearing the burden of being a provider,  teaching RNs as a CNS etc etc.

She's competing with folks that just plainly have much more life experience.

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