preparing for interviews

[gentamicin]

hi all,

i was just wondering how you guys prepare for your anesthesia interviews. is it common for interviewers to ask you clinical questions to test your knowledge? is it even worthwhile to spend some time reading about anesthesia to prepare for interviews?

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[adleyinga]

hi all,

i was just wondering how you guys prepare for your anesthesia interviews. is it common for interviewers to ask you clinical questions to test your knowledge? is it even worthwhile to spend some time reading about anesthesia to prepare for interviews?

Not common

 

[Idiopathic]

In 4 interviews so far, I havent been asked a single clinical question about anesthesia re: plans or problems. Ive been asked some basic questions (abuse potential, suicide rate) and then some questions about my interest, but nothing really difficult (yet...)

I just try to read up about each program so I have something to bring up at the interview when asked "why our program?".

 

[E'01]

I got the "how would you handle stress in the OR" question. What do you say??? I've thankfully never been on a dangerous case. I was on one case (a possible emergent C-sxn) but thankfully it went okay. The interviewer then warned me about the high drug abuse rates among anesthesiologists. I was thinking that I should discuss the whole how I have a well-balanced life, outside hobbies and support from love ones, but I'm not sure if that was what he wanted to hear.

 

[mich12580]

So,
in 1 out of the 7 interviews that I have done, the interviewer
saw that I worked for the dept of ob anes at my school.
coincidentally, he was the head of ob anes at the place
I was interviewing, so he asked me the teratogenic effects
of induction agents and opiods, then asked me when I would
convert a c-section from epidural to general or when to do
a spinal. it was not a big deal, but it kind of surprised me.

 

[QofQuimica]

I have also been told that anesthesiologists have a greater potential for drug addiction problems than other specialists, although EM docs and psychiatrists are apparently at relatively high risk as well. Do you guys think that anesthesiologists are at higher risk because they're around the drugs and have easy access to them (i.e., the drugs are there, so people are tempted to try them who probably would not become addicts under other circumstances)? Or because the people who go into anesthesiology self-select and tend to have addictive types of personalities (i.e., addicts purposefully choose a career in anesthesiology to get access to drugs)? I've even heard the idea that maybe it's because anesthesiologists are exposed to the drugs inadvertently as an occupational hazard (i.e., the patients are expiring volatile anesthetics that the anesthesiologist then gets exposed to second-hand.) Anyone have thoughts about this?

 

[ThinkFast007]

I have also been told that anesthesiologists have a greater potential for drug addiction problems than other specialists, although EM docs and psychiatrists are apparently at relatively high risk as well. Do you guys think that anesthesiologists are at higher risk because they're around the drugs and have easy access to them (i.e., the drugs are there, so people are tempted to try them who probably would not become addicts under other circumstances)? Or because the people who go into anesthesiology self-select and tend to have addictive types of personalities (i.e., addicts purposefully choose a career in anesthesiology to get access to drugs)? I've even heard the idea that maybe it's because anesthesiologists are exposed to the drugs inadvertently as an occupational hazard (i.e., the patients are expiring volatile anesthetics that the anesthesiologist then gets exposed to second-hand.) Anyone have thoughts about this?

yah cept the surgeon, or scrub nurse, surgical assistant, surgical resident, and med student all in on the case are ALSO getting exposed to the gas

 

[mich12580]

yah cept the surgeon, or scrub nurse, surgical assistant, surgical resident, and med student all in on the case are ALSO getting exposed to the gas

On one of my first days on my anes rotation, I was filling the sevo tank
with the liquid and the seal was not to tight. I ended up spilling a bunch
on the machine and floor and got a heavy dose of it. It is not very
pleasant- like I was going to faint, little nausea. I guess it would be desirable
I suppose if I wanted to pass out, but I don't feel like volatile gases
are recreationally abused by many. It's mostly opoiods and nitrous oxide.
So I don't think it's an "incidental" thing. It's probably a curiousity from
being around drugs and the personality of anes is usually social,
possibly partier. But you never know I suppose, I heard about some resident
who abused thiopental of all things...

 

[adleyinga]

I have also been told that anesthesiologists have a greater potential for drug addiction problems than other specialists, although EM docs and psychiatrists are apparently at relatively high risk as well. Do you guys think that anesthesiologists are at higher risk because they're around the drugs and have easy access to them (i.e., the drugs are there, so people are tempted to try them who probably would not become addicts under other circumstances)? Or because the people who go into anesthesiology self-select and tend to have addictive types of personalities (i.e., addicts purposefully choose a career in anesthesiology to get access to drugs)? I've even heard the idea that maybe it's because anesthesiologists are exposed to the drugs inadvertently as an occupational hazard (i.e., the patients are expiring volatile anesthetics that the anesthesiologist then gets exposed to second-hand.) Anyone have thoughts about this?

NUmber of factors
1. Best reporting system
2. Best recognition
3. Easy access may have more drug than alcohol but if include alcohol as drug other docs may be just as at risk

BUT IF YOU EVER SERIOUSLY USED DRUGS IN COLLEGE OR MED SCHOOL THAN AVOID ANESTEHSIA LIKE THE PLAGUE- IT YOUR LIFE YOU WILL BE PLAYING WITH

 

[adleyinga]

I have also been told that anesthesiologists have a greater potential for drug addiction problems than other specialists, although EM docs and psychiatrists are apparently at relatively high risk as well. Do you guys think that anesthesiologists are at higher risk because they're around the drugs and have easy access to them (i.e., the drugs are there, so people are tempted to try them who probably would not become addicts under other circumstances)? Or because the people who go into anesthesiology self-select and tend to have addictive types of personalities (i.e., addicts purposefully choose a career in anesthesiology to get access to drugs)? I've even heard the idea that maybe it's because anesthesiologists are exposed to the drugs inadvertently as an occupational hazard (i.e., the patients are expiring volatile anesthetics that the anesthesiologist then gets exposed to second-hand.) Anyone have thoughts about this?

NUmber of factors
1. Best reporting system
2. Best recognition
3. Easy access may have more drug than alcohol but if include alcohol as drug other docs may be just as at risk

BUT IF YOU EVER SERIOUSLY USED DRUGS IN COLLEGE OR MED SCHOOL THAN AVOID ANESTEHSIA LIKE THE PLAGUE- IT YOUR LIFE YOU WILL BE PLAYING WITH

 

[QofQuimica]

NUmber of factors
1. Best reporting system
2. Best recognition
3. Easy access may have more drug than alcohol but if include alcohol as drug other docs may be just as at risk

BUT IF YOU EVER SERIOUSLY USED DRUGS IN COLLEGE OR MED SCHOOL THAN AVOID ANESTEHSIA LIKE THE PLAGUE- IT YOUR LIFE YOU WILL BE PLAYING WITH

lol, I'm the biggest square you've ever met. I've never even smoked a cigarrette.

 

[chicamedica]

lol, I'm the biggest square you've ever met. I've never even smoked a cigarrette.

ditto, nor do i have any desire to.

 

[Tan Son Nhat]

So,
in 1 out of the 7 interviews that I have done, the interviewer
saw that I worked for the dept of ob anes at my school.
coincidentally, he was the head of ob anes at the place
I was interviewing, so he asked me the teratogenic effects
of induction agents and opiods, then asked me when I would
convert a c-section from epidural to general or when to do
a spinal. it was not a big deal, but it kind of surprised me.

I have no real experience yet in OB anesthesiology, but curious if anyone can shed some light on this?

 

[TortuousVein]

I guess it would be desirable
I suppose if I wanted to pass out, but I don't feel like volatile gases
are recreationally abused by many.

that's hilarious

 

[Arch Guillotti]

holy necrobump. shout out to idiopathic.

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

that's hilarious

Necrobump!

 

[PMPMD]

I guess it would be desirable
I suppose if I wanted to pass out, but I don't feel like volatile gases
are recreationally abused by many.

that's hilarious

It's not that hilarious really, when you know about residents who've died from doing this. The ones who survive often have their lives ruined, so not really funny there either.

 

[TortuousVein]

It's not that hilarious really, when you know about residents who've died from doing this. The ones who survive often have their lives ruined, so not really funny there either.

Had never heard of this in my life -- literally thought it was a joke. Thank you for setting me straight --- seriously.