CRNA Interview Questions
And Correct Answers
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
1Tell me about yourself. - ANS-Hi, my name is Rachel Walz, and I went to SDSU
for my nursing degree and collegiate soccer. For the last two years, I've worked
at Sanford's Critical Care in Sioux Falls. In my free time, I love to spend time with
friends and family, traveling, enjoying the outdoors, and learning something new.
My desire to learn and grow led to my role as a performance improvement board
member, an ACLS instructor, and Sioux Land AACN's Treasurer. I'm excited to be
here today applying for your CRNA program because I am passionate about
learning, managing critically ill patients, and increasing my autonomy and
leadership in nursing. And I believe your nursing anesthesia program is the
perfect place for me to grow in these areas.
Why do you want to be a CRNA? - ANS-When I was in high school and I
researched nursing careers, I did a lot of research into the CRNA roles,
responsibilities, and lifestyle and I found that the CRNA role was the perfect fit
for my goals for my life including a job that:
i. Embodied the full scope of nursing.
ii. Has critical thinking and application and endless learning opportunities.
iii. Has numerous job opportunities and promotes autonomy in nursing.
iv. Can be flexible and embrace family life.
v. Ability to be a positive influencer and leader in the nursing field.
What have you done to prepare? - ANS-· To prepare for this DNAP program, in
nursing school, I took courses outside of our required courses to make sure I had
all the CRNA pre-requisites including organic chemistry, statistics, and
epidemiology. I also pushed myself in some of these classes to learn the content
well enough to tutor the cohorts of students after me.
· While in nursing school and since graduating, I have completed about 32 hours
of CRNA shadowing.
· I studied and passed my CCRN to expand my CCU knowledge.
, · I got involved in my unit at Sanford on PI team and AACN to expand my nursing
knowledge and scope of practice and learn about ways to practically apply
evidence-based practice.
· I am starting out as an ACLS instructor to improve my knowledge and
confidence in code scenarios.
· The last two years, I have attended critical care educational seminars through
AACN and taken extra critical care trainings to be competent with more complex
patients.
Do you see any barriers? - ANS-I think the main barrier for me with CRNA school
with be the potential strain on my relationships because of stress, lack of time,
and living away from my husband during clinical rotations. It has been a few
years since my husband and I had to do a long-distance relationship, so that
makes me a little nervous. But we got through it by communicating, setting
expectations, and connecting when we can find time.
Why is now a good time? - ANS-Now is a good time for me to start anesthesia
school because I feel I have grown tremendously in my nursing practice the last
few years and I feel confident in my professional nursing development to take on
this next challenge. I believe that these last few years have given me a great
foundation of knowledge to lead me to be successful in this program, and I am
also not too far out from school where I feel like I could jump back into the
routine of school, clinicals, and studying. Now is also a good time to take on this
challenge because I have good support system to lean on, especially after
getting married last year, developing my friendships, and staying close with my
family. My husband is in a position at work that he has a very stable income and
predictable schedule, which allows me to give my full attention and dedication to
CRNA school.
What do you have planned for financials? - ANS-While growing up I was fortunate
to have parents and grandparents that saved up money for my college degree.
Then when deciding on colleges, SDSU offered me soccer and academic
scholarships that covered most of my college expenses. Those scholarships
allowed me to save the money from my parents and grandparents and use it to
further my education for CRNA school. That money will cover most of my school
expenses and my husband will be working during my school to be able to cover
our living expenses.
Explain the roll of a CRNA in surgery. - ANS-From shadowing experiences, the
main role of the CRNA is to be prepared. CRNAs prepare by gathering their
patient history, putting together a plan for intubation or management of the
case, preparing medications or gases, and setting up their space. In addition to
being prepared, their roles include skills and having knowledge to fix situations
that arise. For instance, CRNAs transport patient to the surgery, place IV lines
And Correct Answers
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
1Tell me about yourself. - ANS-Hi, my name is Rachel Walz, and I went to SDSU
for my nursing degree and collegiate soccer. For the last two years, I've worked
at Sanford's Critical Care in Sioux Falls. In my free time, I love to spend time with
friends and family, traveling, enjoying the outdoors, and learning something new.
My desire to learn and grow led to my role as a performance improvement board
member, an ACLS instructor, and Sioux Land AACN's Treasurer. I'm excited to be
here today applying for your CRNA program because I am passionate about
learning, managing critically ill patients, and increasing my autonomy and
leadership in nursing. And I believe your nursing anesthesia program is the
perfect place for me to grow in these areas.
Why do you want to be a CRNA? - ANS-When I was in high school and I
researched nursing careers, I did a lot of research into the CRNA roles,
responsibilities, and lifestyle and I found that the CRNA role was the perfect fit
for my goals for my life including a job that:
i. Embodied the full scope of nursing.
ii. Has critical thinking and application and endless learning opportunities.
iii. Has numerous job opportunities and promotes autonomy in nursing.
iv. Can be flexible and embrace family life.
v. Ability to be a positive influencer and leader in the nursing field.
What have you done to prepare? - ANS-· To prepare for this DNAP program, in
nursing school, I took courses outside of our required courses to make sure I had
all the CRNA pre-requisites including organic chemistry, statistics, and
epidemiology. I also pushed myself in some of these classes to learn the content
well enough to tutor the cohorts of students after me.
· While in nursing school and since graduating, I have completed about 32 hours
of CRNA shadowing.
· I studied and passed my CCRN to expand my CCU knowledge.
, · I got involved in my unit at Sanford on PI team and AACN to expand my nursing
knowledge and scope of practice and learn about ways to practically apply
evidence-based practice.
· I am starting out as an ACLS instructor to improve my knowledge and
confidence in code scenarios.
· The last two years, I have attended critical care educational seminars through
AACN and taken extra critical care trainings to be competent with more complex
patients.
Do you see any barriers? - ANS-I think the main barrier for me with CRNA school
with be the potential strain on my relationships because of stress, lack of time,
and living away from my husband during clinical rotations. It has been a few
years since my husband and I had to do a long-distance relationship, so that
makes me a little nervous. But we got through it by communicating, setting
expectations, and connecting when we can find time.
Why is now a good time? - ANS-Now is a good time for me to start anesthesia
school because I feel I have grown tremendously in my nursing practice the last
few years and I feel confident in my professional nursing development to take on
this next challenge. I believe that these last few years have given me a great
foundation of knowledge to lead me to be successful in this program, and I am
also not too far out from school where I feel like I could jump back into the
routine of school, clinicals, and studying. Now is also a good time to take on this
challenge because I have good support system to lean on, especially after
getting married last year, developing my friendships, and staying close with my
family. My husband is in a position at work that he has a very stable income and
predictable schedule, which allows me to give my full attention and dedication to
CRNA school.
What do you have planned for financials? - ANS-While growing up I was fortunate
to have parents and grandparents that saved up money for my college degree.
Then when deciding on colleges, SDSU offered me soccer and academic
scholarships that covered most of my college expenses. Those scholarships
allowed me to save the money from my parents and grandparents and use it to
further my education for CRNA school. That money will cover most of my school
expenses and my husband will be working during my school to be able to cover
our living expenses.
Explain the roll of a CRNA in surgery. - ANS-From shadowing experiences, the
main role of the CRNA is to be prepared. CRNAs prepare by gathering their
patient history, putting together a plan for intubation or management of the
case, preparing medications or gases, and setting up their space. In addition to
being prepared, their roles include skills and having knowledge to fix situations
that arise. For instance, CRNAs transport patient to the surgery, place IV lines
