CRNAsoon

I've been reading this thread with great interest because I just enrolled in an MBA program with a specialization in Health Care Administration. I have never taken any business classes and am concerned about accounting. I'm going to take my time with this degree and take classes part-time, but I'm wondering if the graduate level accounting 501 that I have to take is just as hard as this advanced managerial accounting that you guys are referring to?

HeartICU, Just wanted to say "Thank You" for you willingness to be so helpful to everyone regarding Case Western's program. Last year, when I interviewed for the first time, you were instrumental in my having a calm, relaxed interview. Thanks and I hope you're doing well in the program. CRNAsoon

CaseAlum, I also interviewed and feel like I did very well. I interviewed last year and was not accepted so this interview was more of ... "what have you done since last year?" type questions. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and post as soon as I know the results. Let me know how it goes for you, okay? CRNAsoon

msav59 ... Thanks for the positive vibe. I felt like I was under the great big white interrogation light, and am so glad that it's over. That letter can't get here fast enough. CRNAsoon

Ether ... Your emoticons are so funny. That's exactly how I felt :-)

zoozoo, I applied to Case Western Reserve, as well. My interview is coming up soon, but it's nothing like Akron so I'm very relaxed and eager to get going. Good luck at Oakland. CRNAsoon

I just got back from my Akron interview and all I can say is OH MY GOD!!! This has to be the most difficult, anxiety-producing event that I have ever been a part of. First you have to take a written test. Then you have to go through three rooms of people for rapid-fire questions. Each room is filled with three to five people who are CRNA faculty or anesthesiologists. Each room is only six minutes but it was so intense that I thought I was going to throw up. The questions were so fast and furious that you either knew it or you didn't ... no time for hyperbole. It was kind of like a game show with the clock ticking and your whole future depended on the answer you gave. After one answer, one of the interviewers leaned forward and said "are you sure?" ... It was excruciating!!! They slammed me on general ICU stuff like ABG interpretation, vasoactive drugs and dosages, ACLS interventions, post-CABG scenarios, ventilation modes, and IABP. I actually think that I did pretty well, but you never know. They are interviewing 70 people for 32 slots so it could go either way. They said that we would receive notification in the mail in about five days. I just feel like I've been through a war-zone and had to vent to someone. Anybody else going through Akron's interview and need to vent?

Any kind of education/experience is usually positive ... Balloon Pump, Ventricular Assist Devices, Echmo, CRRT, etc.

What classes are you referring to? The program doesn't start until June so are there pre-req's?

Thanks for the input. Looks like I've got a lot of work ahead of me.

KrinklesRN, I am preparing for October interviews at U of Akron and was wondering if you could share some insight as to the process (since I see you were accepted). Should I really buy the books and prepare like Mr. Barton requested? Was the test and interview as difficult and intense as I've seen talked about on this board? CRNAsoon

Conqueror, I am in the fifth week of the NURS 6100 course, right now, at Walden University. Each class is broken into 8 week segments. Each week has three distinct areas: Learning Resources (reading assignments and dvd's), Discussion (posting and replying to classmates in a threaded discussion forum), and application (homework - generally writing papers). All posts must be done by Wednesday so that all replies can be completed by Sunday. Any homework must be done by Sunday, as well. The actual catalog description of NURS 6100 (Understanding Health Care Systems) is as follows: "This course provides a critical analysis of economic, sociological, and political factors that affect the nursing and health care delivery systems. U.S. health policies that impact access, quality, costs, delivery systems, professional practices, and reform are discussed. Current issues and concerns related to health care financing and payment systems are explored. Course assignments focus on nursing practice applications." The class is really more challenging than I expected it to be but I think that I can attribute it to this new learning style (I've never taken online classes before). For me, the most difficult part is posting every week regarding a specific topic. For example, this past week our topic of discussion was the difference between public and private policy. Our posting assignment was to identify a public policy that affects our practice on the local level. I have included a copy of our actual assignment below for your review. Please feel free to ask any other questions that you may have. CRNAsoon ---------------------------- Our actual assignment was as follows: Consider this information from a personal perspective by focusing on one public policy that is having an impact on you at the local level: What is the policy and where was it initiated? Which driver was this policy designed to address: access, cost, or quality? In your experience/opinion, how would you assess its effectiveness in doing so? Why? What have been the effects (adverse or positive) of this policy on the other two drivers? How is this policy affecting your role as a nurse? Your organization? The level of service you provide? Next, consider a different issue--something you care personally about, or see or experience on a daily basis--about which you would like to influence a change of policy. With this in mind: Post a description of a public policy that is having an impact on you at the local level. In your description, address the bulleted questions above. Then expand your posting by describing an issue about which you would like to influence a change of policy. Very briefly explain why you are concerned about this issue and what you would like to see changed. Read a selection of your colleagues' postings, looking for situations about which you have questions and/or for which you can offer helpful insights from your own practice or experiences. Respond to at least two of your colleagues' postings in one or more of the following suggested ways: Suggest why you might see things differently Ask a probing or clarifying question Share an insight from having read the colleague's posting Offer and support an opinion Validate an idea with your own experience Expand on the colleague's posting [*]Review your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have had as a result of the comments made by your colleagues. Also consider how your insights/learnings might impact your future actions. Reminder: Be sure to support your postings with appropriate references to the Learning Resources. If you use sources other than the course Learning Resources, please follow APA (American Psychological Association) guidelines and provide a proper citation and reference for each source. Refer to the APA Publication Manual, sent to you with the materials for this course.

Looks Great! Thanks for sharing.

Got mine a few days ago and renewed online.

Patty, This was my first online class experience. You're exactly right ... It's very different, but I'm glad I'm doing it. We go through the program one class at a time for 24 months so I feel like I'm just slowly picking away at it. Good luck to you, as well ... CRNAsoon