how to stand out

PVCCHoo · Oct 23, 2019

Everything you have done so far is right on track and also the same things everyone else who is applying is doing. I am sure you will shadow a CRNA if you have not already, but that is kind of a no-brainer.

The one thing I would do that will really set you apart is to learn everything you can about what CRNA's actually do. I don't mean reading anesthesia books, but you should know the difference between regional and general anesthesia. You should know what an opt-out state is and what the anesthesia care team model is. This is basic stuff, but a lot of potential applicants don't really have a grasp on what exactly they are getting in to and if you do a little homework it will look good and serve you well.

For example, when I was doing the little meet and greet with current students at one school, there was a current student who did not know what anesthesia assistants were and they were training at the same hospital he was. Don't let that be you. Get yourself as familiar with the practice landscape as you can now. I still don't know a lot of it myself, but I've only just started my schooling.

One tip I read on here years ago was to read the book Watchful Care. It's put out by the AANA - I think - (go to their webpage and look around for a few hours while you are at it), and is a very long and somewhat boring history of the CRNA profession and the AANA. It goes over how nurses got involved in anesthesia and what they are up to these days. Not only will it give you something to talk about during an interview, but it will give you a solid history lesson on the career you are pursuing. I mentioned reading it in one of my essays and it was the FIRST question the director of a program asked during my interview! Name drop Agatha Hodgins and you are in for sure.

It's an expensive book, but you can probably get it at the local health science library if you happen to have a big medical school anywhere nearby. Good luck.

Rn0126 · Oct 24, 2019

20 hours ago, PVCCHoo said:
Everything you have done so far is right on track and also the same things everyone else who is applying is doing. I am sure you will shadow a CRNA if you have not already, but that is kind of a no-brainer.
The one thing I would do that will really set you apart is to learn everything you can about what CRNA's actually do. I don't mean reading anesthesia books, but you should know the difference between regional and general anesthesia. You should know what an opt-out state is and what the anesthesia care team model is. This is basic stuff, but a lot of potential applicants don't really have a grasp on what exactly they are getting in to and if you do a little homework it will look good and serve you well.
For example, when I was doing the little meet and greet with current students at one school, there was a current student who did not know what anesthesia assistants were and they were training at the same hospital he was. Don't let that be you. Get yourself as familiar with the practice landscape as you can now. I still don't know a lot of it myself, but I've only just started my schooling.
One tip I read on here years ago was to read the book Watchful Care. It's put out by the AANA - I think - (go to their webpage and look around for a few hours while you are at it), and is a very long and somewhat boring history of the CRNA profession and the AANA. It goes over how nurses got involved in anesthesia and what they are up to these days. Not only will it give you something to talk about during an interview, but it will give you a solid history lesson on the career you are pursuing. I mentioned reading it in one of my essays and it was the FIRST question the director of a program asked during my interview! Name drop Agatha Hodgins and you are in for sure.
It's an expensive book, but you can probably get it at the local health science library if you happen to have a big medical school anywhere nearby. Good luck.

This is awesome thank you so much! I currently listen to beyond the mask and at the head of the bed - two podcasts about CRNA, but had not yet looked into books. I can’t wait to begin reading it !

Shanneliz SRNA, DNP · Nov 12, 2019

I'd say you did what you needed to do to at least score you some interviews. Something that I did to prepare for my interview and to help me shine is study the school's website like crazy. Find out what kind of interview style they use, and go from there. Look on here for people in the past who have interviewed at that same school and see what advice that they may have! For my interview, I created a study guide, which is on page 2 of this forum that I posted. Doing this helped me tremendously and helped keep my interview study thoughts in order. I bought multiple pharmacology books to learn medications down to the cellular level. Practice even personal questions. Even though you cannot possibly know exactly what they will ask you, you can at least spin off of a question you did prepare for. Practice out loud! I cannot stress that enough because practicing in your head vs out loud is a completely different ball game lol. I asked my managers and also some members from administration to give me a mock interview. Also, try to practice in a mirror if you can. I realized I did some weird things with my facial expressions along with too much movement with my arms. I wore a black suite with a white dress shirt underneath. Dress comfortably for interviews but you want them to know you mean business! Lol, but anyways, even youtube crna style interviews, or just even interview tips. Google crna school interview help, interview questions etc. because I gathered information from all of those sources. Good luck!

loveanesthesia · Nov 12, 2019

3 minutes ago, shanneliz123 said:
though you cannot possibly know exactly what they will ask, you can spin off of a question you did prepare for

A lot of helpful points, but I’d caution against trying to memorize answers to questions. Listen to the questions and answer the question asked. Some people who interview have a script they prepare and it almost doesn’t matter what questions they are asked, they’re going to perform their script. Or worse, someone else’s script they’ve memorized. Would you want to teach someone who avoids answering a question by ‘spinning’? Read and learn to take really good care of your patients. That’s going to result in good references and will come across authentically in an interview.

Shanneliz SRNA, DNP · Nov 12, 2019

7 minutes ago, loveanesthesia said:
A lot of helpful points, but I’d caution against trying to memorize answers to questions. Listen to the questions and answer the question asked. Some people who interview have a script they prepare and it almost doesn’t matter what questions they are asked, they’re going to perform their script. Or worse, someone else’s script they’ve memorized. Would you want to teach someone who avoids answering a question by ‘spinning’? Read and learn to take really good care of your patients. That’s going to result in good references and will come across authentically in an interview.

Right, hence why I said you cannot possibly know what they will ask you but for myself if I looked at nothing I would've made a fool of myself in the interview ? They also go off of what you say. You run the interview.

Shanneliz SRNA, DNP · Nov 12, 2019

3 minutes ago, shanneliz123 said:
Right, hence why I said you cannot possibly know what they will ask you but for myself if I looked at nothing I would've made a fool of myself in the interview ? They also go off of what you say. You run the interview.

And by "spinning" I mean, for example. I got asked what drug class preceded was and could not for the life of me remember what it was. BUT, from what I studied I told them about what was happening at the cellular level, what receptors were being stimulated, etc. and they were pleased with the answer I provided although I didn't provide the DIRECT answer. "Spinning" in my case may be a whole different definition lol. I'm just letting ppl know what worked for me. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is going to work for someone else. Just providing info that got me accepted ?

loveanesthesia · Nov 12, 2019

Absolutely, you’ve succeeded in gaining acceptance to a program. I am giving the perspective from the other side of the table.

Shanneliz SRNA, DNP · Nov 13, 2019

3 hours ago, loveanesthesia said:
Absolutely, you’ve succeeded in gaining acceptance to a program. I am giving the perspective from the other side of the table.

Yeah, I understand! By no means was I saying memorize answers. If you do that, you're screwed and you basically have no personality to them lol. In my interview, the beginning, they asked where I was from and I told them Lake City, FL. and I said it's ok if you never heard of it. Most ppl say they got gas there and that's about it. And the whole interview committee laughed and then one of the interviewers said oh there's an orange picking stand out front? And I said ohhhh you've been there lol. SO those first few seconds set the tone for the whole thing so it's good to not memorize answers because if that were the case, I wouldn't have showed my personality there and it would have been pretty much like any other interview. But because of that in the beginning I was able to pretty much express that I was nervous but I could remain calm under pressure I guess in an indirect way lol.

someonelikeyou5 · Nov 15, 2019

On 10/23/2019 at 6:54 PM, PVCCHoo said:
Everything you have done so far is right on track and also the same things everyone else who is applying is doing. I am sure you will shadow a CRNA if you have not already, but that is kind of a no-brainer.
The one thing I would do that will really set you apart is to learn everything you can about what CRNA's actually do. I don't mean reading anesthesia books, but you should know the difference between regional and general anesthesia. You should know what an opt-out state is and what the anesthesia care team model is. This is basic stuff, but a lot of potential applicants don't really have a grasp on what exactly they are getting in to and if you do a little homework it will look good and serve you well.
For example, when I was doing the little meet and greet with current students at one school, there was a current student who did not know what anesthesia assistants were and they were training at the same hospital he was. Don't let that be you. Get yourself as familiar with the practice landscape as you can now. I still don't know a lot of it myself, but I've only just started my schooling.
One tip I read on here years ago was to read the book Watchful Care. It's put out by the AANA - I think - (go to their webpage and look around for a few hours while you are at it), and is a very long and somewhat boring history of the CRNA profession and the AANA. It goes over how nurses got involved in anesthesia and what they are up to these days. Not only will it give you something to talk about during an interview, but it will give you a solid history lesson on the career you are pursuing. I mentioned reading it in one of my essays and it was the FIRST question the director of a program asked during my interview! Name drop Agatha Hodgins and you are in for sure.
It's an expensive book, but you can probably get it at the local health science library if you happen to have a big medical school anywhere nearby. Good luck.

This is an amazing post. Thank you! I was wondering when students do meet and great to the potential applicants, does admission committee asks you about your thoughts on the candidates?

someonelikeyou5 · Nov 15, 2019

Hello everyone,

I am also applying to CRNA program. Do you guys have any suggestions on how to stay calm during the interview? What strategies have you used?
I have been to multiple interviews before, did presentations But when I had the interview for crna program I could not stop shaking. Not sure what got to me. They probably think I can’t control myself under the pressure. If I’m in the room with a crushing pt , I know exactly what to do. But this was not the case at the interview. I was just wondering if anyone has any tips.
I greatly appreciate.

Alwayslearning258, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2019

It is all about practice. Do it in front of a mirror, have someone interview you and go over your answers. My first interview was unprepared, underwhelming and I probably made a bad impression.

I wrote down and memorized at least 30 clinical scenarios I can use and play off of in case I’m asked specific questions so I can provide examples.

After practicing and writing down examples, you should be able to confidently answer the questions appropriately. Look up different versions of each question, and be yourself. Don’t make stuff up, talk about things you’ve actually done. Being honest will make your answers more genuine and you’ll be more relaxed.

I am sure there is more and there are others here who provided wonderful examples. That watchful care books is a great recommendation and is a wonderful book to learn more about the profession and tool for your interviews!