In the previous post, I talked about building a strong ICU foundation, academic and credential strength, and exposure to anesthesia. In this post, I will discuss more about developing clinical thinking, application positioning, and interview readiness.
Start Developing Clinical Thinking
CRNA programs select for decision makers, not task doers, who we are essentially used to as nurses. To start transforming your mindset from "notify the provider" to "what is actually going on?". An example is when your patient post-op from a surgical procedure is now hypotensive. Naturally, we evaluate the patient and then notify the provider in our role as an RN. Instead, transform your mindset to, "why is the patient hypotensive?", "what medications or interventions should I expect?", "what complications can I expect if this patient remains hypotensive?", "what is the physiology from the surgical procedure that could be causing the hypotension?".
Essentially, train yourself to think in mechanisms and as a provider, not as checklists.
Application Positioning
Strong applications show clinical maturity, pattern recognition, ownership of patient care, leadership or initiative, teaching/precepting experience, unit involvement, etc. Don't downplay what you do on the unit. Being a part of the code team, unit preceptor, or charge nurse all demonstrate leadership.
In my resume reviews that I have done, I notice that leadership gets muted as we combine it with things that we do or expect as part of our workday. Don't downplay anything! Take control of your narrative and how you contribute to the nursing profession.
Interview Readiness
Do not wait until you get an interview invite to prepare for interviews. Start early! Practice explaining hemodynamics out loud. I am a firm believer that if you truly understand the content, you will be able to teach or explain it to someone else who will understand. Walk through cases and see if you can connect the decision-making to the situation, like why are you using a specific vasopressor for a specific diagnosis, like septic shock. Continue teaching concepts like you are precepting! It might sound weird and funny at first, but I promise it will be very helpful when it comes down to interview questions. If your unit does formal rounds with the attending, intensivists, multidisciplinary team, consults, etc, ask questions and pick their brain! This is the best time to learn, especially if there are residents in your unit as well.
Program directors and the people interviewing you can tell if you're memorizing answers instead of understanding. Shift your perspective from now on. Every shift is training, every patient is practice, every tough case is interview material. Build real clinical depth and explain your thinking clearly, and you will be much more competitive!
Stay tuned for the next post, where I talk about what actually makes a strong CRNA applicant!
Sincerely,
Du