1st Interview done(Need Cyberhugs)

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Well folks, I have been reading all postings about interviews and just completed my first interview and boy was it a doozie!!! I wasn't nervous until right before the interview! it was 3 30 minute interviews and thought it went well for 2 of them but flubbed the 3rd. The 3rd is the 'do or die' section where you run a megacode and the interviewers are the CRNA director and the MDA director of the hospital. I knew in advance that this was going to be the 'good cop/bad cop' part and that they would try to intimidate me to see how I handle stress. I think I answered most of their questions ok(you seem to be an overachiever, why is your GPA so low (3.2) for your business degree and 3.8 for nursing, you havent had pharm in 7 yrs why do you think you can do grad pharm with no probs etc). MY BIG QUESTION (also a running thread here) was the MDA vs. CRNA debate. THe question: DO YOU THINK ANESTHESIA IS A PRACTICE OF MEDICINE OR NURSING_PICK ONLY ONE AND DEFEND YOUR ANSWER!! I, of course, picked the nursing aspect (since I can't speak from any prior medical experience on the MDA opinion) stating the medicine is primarily treatment of disease process and nursing is caring for the whole patient ie. preanesthesia assessment, pt safety in OR while under, post anesthesia followup etc. I did not view anesthesia as a disease process so that it was therefor primarily a nursing function and had been for over 100yrs. I got the 3rd degree from the MD stating that anesthesia is THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE and he has 8 yrs of medical training for it, that nothing in nursing school prepares a nurse for the complex task of anesthesia etc. He also questioned the safety of CRNAs practicing in rural areas etc without MDA backup. Anyway I stood my ground on that. My big test it seemed was: I'm practicing in rural area, no MDA backup, surgeon wants to do LIFESAVING procedure (pt has 45min to live takes that long to transfer to bigger facility) and I've never done anesthetic case like pt scenario before-do I do the case. This was an extension of an earlier scenario with rural surgeon wanting to do procedure on a stable pt ie elective surgery that I did not feel safe doing and had declined to perform the case for pt safety reasons. This was then advanced to the procedure is now the lifethreatening case: at this point I said yes because procedure was necessary to save life of pt (would die before transfer complete). Anyway, sorry for rambling, 1st interview second guessing myself and just wanted a cyberhug from those that have been there and felt like they totally flubbed the interview and also, any opinions on the above.

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Kestrel,

I would love to know the name of the school. Send me a private message if you wish.

Frankly, I am appalled at the tenor of the interview--getting you involved in CRNA/MDA politics. You are what you are--that is an RN. None of us think we are physicians, but we know what we can do regarding anesthesia. I think you handled it well and probably made a good impression on them.

I give you all a lot of credit. The way things are today, I would never qualify--I would not have passed that interview.

YogaCRNA

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You sounded like you did just fine. I bet the outcome is positive. Hope you do not have to wait too long to find out the news.

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WOW!

That takes some audacity for that MDA to address a student in that way. An interview should be all about you. I find it inapproriate in the interview setting, that the MDA would self-reference as s/he did. You should feel solid in your rebuttal to them-- perhaps the CRNA/MDA question was meant to assess your behavior and knowledge of the profession.

It sounds like you performed well under pressure, and I hope you get accepted. Please keep us updated.

Oh, you asked for it... "hugs and :kiss "

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hey - glad to read you held up under the pressure. one of my interviews went "tough" like that. it can be stressing.

how many other interviews are you going on? is this the program for you? what did they ask about you and your expectations of them? where was this? pm me if you do not want to post it. i am @ the same place - trying to decide, going through the motions.

gc.

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If they are that rude now-just wait till you get in.

Run Forest Run!

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The MDA/CRNA question was obviously a double edged sword, being that both answers would have been wrong in the MD's eyes. Seems like they set this up to see if you would stand up to an MD. That's just my opinion. Several buddies of mine are police officers. Same type of double edged sword question in their oral boards. They wanted you to commit to an answer and not back down when confronted.

This is just my opinion. I think you handled it very well. Good luck and some hugs to ya.

Donn C.

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Kestrel,

I feel qualified to agree with Yoga, new here, but a CRNA since the early 70's.

Anesthesia school is tough but I never would have passed that interview either.

You did a good job....apply to other schools also, that doesn't seem like a good situation.

I have been lurking here for a week or so and your post prompted me to register, Thanks.

I went from anesthesia school to rural practice and worked with one other CRNA for my entire career. ( I saw a question about this on another thread).

Hello to all, hope that I can make some contributions to this forum.

Dale

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Well kestrel1121 sounds like a Gonzaga interview to me. I'm sure you did fine though. The students really seem to like the program even if it's a pain to get in. Best of luck to you.

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Wow! I can't really understand the tack they took. I probably would have decided right there and then that I wasn't about to spend the next 2 years with them. I was supposed to interview there this Monday too, but I got my acceptance letter at my first choice school the Thursday before. I'm thankful I didn't fly all that way for that. Sounds like you did a great job and I hope you get in if that is what you want. Is that where you really want to go?

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((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

I'm sorry it wasn't much fun, but I have to say that was totally wrong on the MDA's behalf to get into that conversation. Your opinions on that don't have *#@& to do with whether you're a qualified student for their program. I'd say run from that school as fast as you can. Best wishes!!!

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It's interesting to hear your perspective. I had the same questions posed to me two years ago. I like your answers. Best of luck to you.

P.S. The docs really aren't that bad.

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