5 Year Plan?

[kleeschr, BSN, RN]

I am a prospective applicant for CRNA programs looking to start gathering information to apply. Interviews are my biggest concern right now, and I know a lot of programs will ask what my 5 year plan is. People who have been accepted, what did you say your 5-year plan was? Becoming a CRNA has always been my plan, so I am honestly not sure what I want beyond that. Just looking to hear what others have said, or if anyone has any other interview advice or resources that would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[Defibn', RN, EMT-P]

I interviewed at three places and didn't get asked this. Honestly, that's a hard question to answer. At this point you don't know what kind of anesthesia you want to practice or in which type of setting. I suspect this is more of a question to see what your extracurricular goals are outside of administering anesthesia. Do you want to be involved with the AANA, your state association, politics, do a medical mission, etc...

I could be way off but that's my interpretation of that type of question. Be honest about it though. Don't try to say that you're really interested in the politics of anesthesia if you aren't. They'll know.

[ptier_MNMurse, BSN, RN]

I agree with Defibn’. Everyone’s five year plan is different. Try to look at what interests you in anesthesia, then you can formulate what you might want to do with your career. Then you can create a plan for how to get there and your five year plan would be integrated into that timeline.

Make sure you have shadowed, researched and explored the field so you know what avenue you want to go, then you will have an answer to this question.

I think you would more likely get the question “why do you want to be a CRNA?”. Make sure you can answer this, then extrapolating on your plan will additionally set you apart from other applicants in showing how in depth you have thought things through.

[BigPappaCRNA]

I have never heard of that question ever being asked. I have been involved with interview committees for two different programs, and that has never been brought up by committee or potential candidate. I would not lose sleep over this one.

[HappyCCRN1, BSN]

This was a question for one of my application essays.

If you’re involved in committees or leadership roles now, do you enjoy them, and is that something you’d want to do as a CRNA? If so, speak to that. Have you done research before or find particular areas of anesthesia intriguing that you would want to do research in? If so, talk about that. Where do you want to work? Rural areas of the country or in academic medical centers (and why?). And exactly like the above posts were saying—are you interested in involvement with state associations, politics, etc.

I believe they want to know if you’ve given more thought than just “work as a CRNA” after you graduate. They want leaders in their program and those that think ahead to the future. They want to know what you’re impact and contribution will be to this profession.

At least that’s what I interpreted and wrote about.