Understanding the Role of the CRNA

First and foremost, the role of the CRNA is dictated if not defined by its essence as an advanced practice specialty. Overall, the CRNA’s all encompassing aim is to ensure the safety and comfort of patients of all ages, those who are facing every conceivable form of surgery and procedures, in an equally diverse array of set ups. Simultaneously, and particularly in terms of the CRNA’s specialty, the CRNA, while a member of a multidisciplinary team, enjoys a high level of autonomy in their profession, that is, they are qualified to deliver anesthesia sans physician direction. While the CRNA functions largely independently, they so still maintain clear communication with anesthesiologists. In the OR, teamwork is not only expected by indispensible, with each member being dependent upon the other. There is a distinct intensity in the OR, with each team member focusing on their role. The CRNA’s relationship to the surgical team is more defined than with the RNs, particularly the CRNA to surgeon and technologist. This is due to the fact that the surgeon is reliant upon the CRNA’s expertise with the pharmacology, particularly if a patient must be stabilized, at which point the CRNA is in fact in a lead role. Unlike physicians, the CRNA does not refer patients to other providers, but instead receives referrals; the CRNA’s patients are in most cases under the care of a surgeon. CRNAs are not meant to have a patient caseload, unless they are aiding patients in need of pain management. Instead, CRNAs primarily function via consultations, which make up the bulk of their daily work. The consultations are essential for a number of reasons stemming from a patient’s care plan, not the least of which are legal and clinical reasons. Moreover, surgeons recognize and rely on the CRNA’s proficiency in anesthesiology, turning to them to understand completely any risks involved in an upcoming surgery. This is not to say that the CRNA never sees a patient directly or the patient’s family. Indeed, the CRNA must be able to quickly establish a rapport and trust with patients and their families. What makes the role of the CRNA truly exclusive, and adds to their autonomy is that their specialty commands a great deal of authority across healthcare teams. The CRNA is called upon to help in assessing patients, but also to inform and bolster the efforts of residents, and CRNA students. They teach via demonstration, not only in terms of clinical acumen, but particularly in terms of professionalism, competence and as a role model for others. The CRNA has the capability of affecting change in perioperative and perianesthesia care by not only personifying aptitude, but also by imparting their expertise clinically and not just academics. Conversely, though, many CRNAs do in fact teach and train upcoming CRNA students. The CRNA is an integral part of the surgical team, and must maintain strong ties with perioperative team members, from the surgeons to the RNs, technologists and anesthesiologists. This also means that the CRNA is a part of a different administration, separate from other clinical staff. Despite these differences, though, the CRNA is essential in terms of supporting the efforts of all nursing staff, advancing healthcare, ensuring patient safety and an overall exceptional healthcare experience for patients.

SAT and ACT 2015 dates to remember

Black Jack! Top 21 Ways Customize Your Resume and Get the Interview!

You search hard for the perfect jobs to apply to.  Shouldn't your resume and other application materials be customized for each job and company/entity you are applying to?  Your application materials are a reflection of who you are, the pride you take in your work, and it is the first impression a prospective employer has of you.

Ask yourself these questions 'before' you hit submit!

1. Does my resume reflect me as an ideal candidate?

2. What was emphasized in the job listing and how did I tailor my responses and resume to meet the employer's needs?

3. Have I shown off my most relevant experiences?

4. Have I focused on accomplishments or just my duties?

5. Don't just post your accomplishments, explain how you achieved them!

6. Have I exaggerated too much or not said enough?

7. Read other people's resumes, such as on LinkedIn for similar positions.  Can I borrow or paraphrase some of the same language?

8. Have I gotten my resume down to one page?  Can I justify it being more than one page?  If so, make sure to put the most relevant information on the first page!

9. If you bullet list things, put the most important information first!

10. Get rid of resume fluff!  Get to the point and use as few words as possible.  Sound bite it!  Elevator speech it!  Give them the executive summary!

12. Avoid silly adjectives/adverbs/buzz words.  Instead, give solid examples of your successes.  If you must use adjectives/adverbs, use "power" verbs, such as directed, improved, launched, etc. Avoid job jargon, though, even if 'you' think it is more precise.

13. Use powerful words to describe your top accomplishment(s)

14.  Wherever possible, quantify your accomplishments!  Example: increased sales by 120% in first quarter on the job.

15. Don't repeat words.  Don't repeat words.

16. Divide your resume into categories such as Experience, Education, Skills, etc, but lay it out logically.

17. Ask a mentor or colleague to read over your resume and to be brutally honest.  Ideally, ask someone outside the equation to look it over and give you honest feedback.

18. Make sure your resume is up to date in terms of the people/places you have worked.  Example: has an old employer's business name, address or contact information changed?

19. Embellish your resume, but do not fictionalize your job titles!

20. Double-check all employment, education dates, and your contact information and proofread the whole thing carefully!  If you have the email address, "mrluck@hotmail.com" consider getting a separate, professional one, such as "johndoe@gmail.com".

21.Save your resume as a PDF so you don't inadvertently save a mistake.  Then, save your resume with a helpful name, such as Last Name, First Name - Resume.  When submitting it, include a job id number or title in the file name if appropriate.

Do this all and Blackjack!  You will get more call backs!

As always, it is our belief that these guys write quite possibly the best Resumes on the Internet!  MyStatementofPurpose.com

Perfct Cover Letters & Resumes - You can DO this!

Perfect Cover Letters & Resumes: You can totally DO this!

We live in an age of perfect information, with the answers to many of our most common and most complex issues literally at our fingertips.  You've got a one-of-a-kind story to tell, so let's get it right the first time!

So here it is, a list of probably the best tools available for creating a Cover Letter or a Resume that gets results!

I tried to make this a good mix, from the simplest infographics to full-fledged interactive writing guides.

Cover letters are frequently only one page, so you've got 300 words or less to make it truly effective.  Resumes are the same situation - one page to say it all.

Overall, the best advice I could possibly give you is this: do not use a cookie cutter approach!  Customize your Resume - yes, your resume! - as well as your Cover letter to your audience.  Recruiters, admissions boards, and more know what a form letter looks like as opposed to a thoughtful, well-planned, customized document.  It makes a difference and, frankly, it's your life.  You get out of it what you put into it.  So put in your best!

More specifically, cater your cover letter and resume to the company or school you are applying to, such as finding out names of contacts, reading, digesting and responding to the school's or company's mission, and or values statement.  Additionally, and by no means least, cater your skills and experiences to the position or program to which you are applying!

Resumes

Purdue OWL: Introduction to Resumes – It's not just for APA and MLA citations!  Make your resume count! OWL provides a list of optional sections and offers specific suggestions to tailor your resume for each perspective employer and or academic program.

ALA JobList: Resumes – the American Library Association resume resource page offers a variety of suggested topics for creating and maintaining your resume, including librarian the Resume Review Service Committee (service requires ALA NMRT membership).

UC Berkeley: Writing Effective Resumes Online Workshop – Excellent example-focused video guide that offers a comparison of presentation formats, sections to consider including, as well as industry and objective-based suggestions. Advice from a panel of human resource representatives provides practical tips for improving resumes and avoiding common mistakes.

Entrepreneur.com: How to Impress the Robots Reading Your Resume – Entrepreneur offers an entertaining and informative infographic that can help you understand how to tailor your resume to better appeal to filtering technologies, known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), to make your resume less susceptible to being filtered out of the selection process.

Boston University: Anatomy of a Resume – When researching resume writing you will encounter many terms regarding presentation styles and sections, such as chronological versus functional formats. Anatomy of a Resume is an interactive tool that allows users to identify common formats, sections, and styles with descriptions and tips to help you choose which ones best fit your needs.

Cover Letters

Purdue OWL: Cover Letter Workshop – OWL asserts that the cover letter may be one of the most difficult documents you will write and offers a wide variety of advice regarding formatting as well as writing tips to help you get your audiences’ attention.

The Ladders: How to Write a Great Cover Letter – According to The Ladders’ research-based article on writing a cover letter, generalizations (such as a blanket salutation) can make you seem lazy and work against you. This article provides examples from hiring professionals on content and format to help you connect with perspective employers.

The Muse: The Pain-Free Cover Letter Builder – This interactive tool helps applicants create a custom cover letter (requires Muse account).

Boston University: Anatomy of a Cover Letter – Anatomy of a cover letter is an interactive tool that demystifies the components of a cover letter and provides specific recommendations for each section to help you refine your letter and make an impact.

The Muse: 31 Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter Examples – This article lists introduction suggestions for opening statements to cover letters that will help your resume get attention. You can also sign up for a free cover letter writing guide.

And of course, it is our belief that MyStatementofPurpose.com is quite possibly the only writing site you will ever need.

Spring Semester Deadlines for US Universities

Spring Semester Deadlines for US Universities. Deadlines for MS in US, PhD for Spring 2014, Spring 2015. Most of these deadlines are correct, but couple of Majors may have different deadlines. So, check the graduate department website of the university for the exact deadline information.

Universities with Deadlines in June

1. University of Maryland, Baltimore County – 1-Jun
2. University of South Florida, Tampa – 1-Jun
3. Texas Tech University – 15-Jun

Universities with Deadlines in July

1. Florida Institute of Technology – 1-Jul
2. University of Pittsburgh – 1-Jul
3. Washington State University, Pullman – 1-Jul
4. North Carolina State University – 15-Jul
5. University of Illinois, Chicago – 15-Jul
6. University of Rhode Island, Kingston – 12-Jul

Universities with Deadlines in August

1. University of Michigan, Dearborn – 1-Aug
2. Kansas State University – 1-Aug
3. North Dakota State University, Fargo – 1-Aug
4. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo – 1-Aug
5. Wichita State University – 1-Aug
6. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – 15-Aug
7. South Dakota School of Mines & Tech – 15-Aug
8. South Dakota State University, Brookings – 15-Aug
9. University of Kentucky, Lexington – 15-Aug

Universities with Deadlines in September

1. Florida International University – 1-Sep & 1-Oct
2. Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago – 1-Sep with Funding 15-Oct without Funding
3. East Carolina University – 1-Sep
4. George Washington University – 1-Sep
5. Indiana University, Bloomington – 1-Sep
6. Lamar University – 1-Sep
7. Mississippi State University – 1-Sep
8. Oakland University, Rochester – 1-Sep
9. University of Nebraska, Lincoln – 1-Sep
10. University of Oklahoma, Norman – 1-Sep
11. University of Texas, Dallas – 1-Sep
12. University of Texas, San Antonio – 1-Sep
13. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University – 1-Sep
14. California State University, Chico – 15-Sep
15. Northeastern University, Boston – 15-Sep
16. Texas A & M University, Kingsville – 15-Sep
17. Tufts University – 15-Sep
18. University of North Carolina, Greensboro – 15-Sep
19. University of North Texas, Denton – 15-Sep
20. University of Texas, Arlington – 15-Sep
21. California State University, Fresno – 30-Sep
22. California State University, Northridge – 30-Sept Online, 31-Oct Doc

Universities with Deadlines in October

1. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb – 1- Oct
2. Tennessee Technological University – 1- Oct
3. California State University, Long Beach – 1-Oct Online, 15-Oct Doc
4. Indiana University Purdue University – 1-Oct with & without Funding
5. University of Detroit, Mercy – 1-Oct
6. Eastern Michigan University – 1-Oct
7. Illinois State University, Normal – 1-Oct
8. Minnesota State University, Mankato – 1-Oct
9. Oklahoma State University, Still Water – 1-Oct
10. Old Dominion University, Norfolk – 1-Oct
11. Oregon State University, Corvallis – 1-Oct
12. Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville – 1-Oct
13. State University of New York, Stony Brook – 1-Oct
14. Stevens Institute of Technology – 1-Oct
15. University of Colorado, Denver – 1-Oct
16. University of Houston, University Park – 1-Oct
17. University of Idaho, Moscow – 1-Oct
18. University of Iowa, Iowa City – 1-Oct
19. University of Louisiana, Lafayette – 1-Oct
20. University of Massachusetts, Amherst – 1-Oct
21. University of Nevada, Las Vegas – 1-Oct
22. University of North Carolina, Charlotte – 1-Oct
23. University of Texas, El Paso – 1-Oct
24. University of Virginia, Charlottesville – 1-Oct
25. West Virginia University, Morgan Town – 1-Oct
26. Worcester Polytechnic Institute – 1-Oct
27. Duke University – 15-Oct
28. Texas State University – 15-Oct
29. University of Georgia – 15-Oct
30. Villanova University – 15-Oct
31. California State University, Fullerton – 17-Oct
32. California State University, Los Angeles – 31-Oct

Universities with Deadlines in November

1. Florida State University – 1-Nov
2. Monmouth University – 1-Nov
3. Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn – 1-Nov
4. Portland State University – 1-Nov
5. University of Louisville, Louisville – 1-Nov
6. University of Miami, Coral Gables – 1-Nov
7. University of South Carolina, Columbia – 1-Nov
8. University of Utah, Salt Lake City – 1-Nov
9. University of Wyoming, Laramie – 1-Nov
10. Vanderbilt University – 1-Nov
11. Arkansas State University – 14-Nov
12. Marquette University – 15-Nov
13. New Jersey Institute of Technology – 15-Nov
14. University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth – 15-Nov
15. Marist College, Poughkeepsie – 30-Nov
16. Southern Methodist University – 30-Nov

Universities with Deadlines in December

1. Lehigh University – 1-Dec
2. Louisiana Tech University, Ruston – 1-Dec
3. New York Institute of Technology – 1-Dec
4. University of Houston, Clear Lake – 1-Dec
5. University of South Alabama, Mobile – 1-Dec
6. University of Southern California – 1-Dec
7. Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla – 15-Dec

Universities with Other Deadlines

1. Florida Atlantic University – 1 year before
2. Wright State University, Dayton – Rolling
3. University of Toledo – Rolling

Top 5 Scholarship Essay Mistakes to Avoid

1. Waiting to the last minute: Deadlines really light a fire under most people, but in order to do your best, start writing early!  Nothing is worse than sending out your application materials and then thinking of a great way of saying something better two days later.  Also!  Write when you are on vacation, the weekend, or other times when deadlines and demands on your time are at a minimum.

2. Not researching who/what you are writing for or about: Don't fall into the cookie cutter mentality!  While the bottom line is getting money for school, each application is to be approached appropriately.  Take your time to get to know your audience.  You know you can tell when someone is recycling, they can too!  Moreover, follow directions to the "T".  If they call for 12pt TNR font, and 1" margins, do it without question!

3. Blah Writing: The scholarship committees don't want to read dry, sterile drivel and incidentally, you don't want to sound this way, especially since you are talking about your favorite topic: You!

Be creative!  Use an original opening and ending that comes from the heart - your heart! not someone else's!

4. Using slang, and abbreviations: Your scholarship essay may require you to write only 300 words.  This does not mean that you use abbreviations that should be reserved for the cellular device!  Avoid slang at all costs, however, some colloquialisms are OK, but only in extreme moderation, maybe once per 300 words.  Be professional not texty!  For example, "through" is not spelled "thru", and "espc" is not an acceptable replacement for "especially"!  IMHO...

5. Spell check and grammar check are not enough: 

Will you please read your essay carefully before printing it or sending it out?  Spell and grammar check are good for picking up glaringly obvious errors, but leave plenty behind.  They are not perfect and may never be completely perfect. It doesn't pick up on the fact that you said, "amazing" three times in your essay, so proof it yourself before letting Dr. Grammar Check at the patient.  Have a friend read it over, or if your best friend is a rock, then try your school's writing center.

Top Ways to Make Your Scholarship Essay Get Results!

By MyStatementofPurpose

April 21, 2013

A personalized - not cookie cutter! - passionate scholarship essay can mean everything when it comes to obtaining your scholarship dollars.

It's not easy to separate your scholarship application from the background noise of thousands of other applicants. Even if you fit the main criteria for a scholarship, you're still going to have similar grades, goals, activities, and aspirations as dozens of other applicants.

That's where a great application essay comes in. The essay is your best chance to state your case for why you above all others should receive a scholarship; it helps the scholarship provider learn about the person behind the application, and gives them a much more detailed look at your unique story, what you took away from school and what it truly means to be you!

When done right, those few paragraphs can help your application stand out—and could mean the difference between getting a "thanks for applying" E-mail and the award you're looking for.

Of course, putting so much emphasis on a scholarship essay may make it seem like a daunting task, especially if you don't consider yourself a great writer. By following these four tips, just about anyone can create an amazing scholarship essay.

1. Research your audience: Each scholarship provider is different and looking for a specific set of students who meet their specific criteria. Look closely at the application questions, the organization giving the scholarship, and any past recipients, if they are listed.

Do they emphasize school performance? Looking for someone who's dealt with adversity? Interested in character or community service more than grades? Whatever the answers, your research will put you a step ahead of applicants who are copying and pasting "cookie-cutter" essays.

2. Plan, plan, plan!: Don't settle for a cookie-cutter essay!  Start your research and planning as far in advance as possible.  This will give you time to develop an outline.  List two or three main points you want to make in response to any essay questions, add some supporting information under each and consider a sentence or two of introduction and conclusion. 

3. Make it personal and passionate: The scholarship committee does not want to read dry, sterile drivel!  If you can't be passionate about your future, then who can?!  You want to convince the committee that you're the student they've been looking for. Answer the questions you've set out in your outline, but make sure every point you make is illustrated with a specific detail that shows you care about the subject.

Don't just mention that you work with disadvantaged kids; tell them how your love of soccer got you into coaching those kids. Don't just tell them about your acting awards; show how the stage helped you conquer your shyness.

4. Find an editor: Last but not least, make sure you have time to run your essay by a good editor. Even a well-researched and passionately written essay can be derailed by spelling mistakes or awkward sentences, and if you've spent a lot of time looking at your words, it's easy to miss the obvious.

A few minutes of proofreading by a trusted editor can make a huge difference. I also recommend reading your essay aloud to yourself, so you can hear how it flows.

Stop saying that! The top 10 things not to say on your resume! No, really!

We - resume writers - used to use the term "boilerplate" when it came to these adjectives and phrases people would pepper their resumes with. Trust me, hold the pepper. Boilerplate means "formulaic or hackneyed language". You could also say they're cliche, blasé, and or buzzwords. Don't tell me it's just your schtick. Stick your schtick, already. Your resume is not the place for these terms! It is best to 

let your achievements do the talking!

Example: don't say that you're a team player if you point out that in your list of achievements you were a team member in a really important project - it's obvious you were a team player or you wouldn't be mentioning it! There's more...read on!

1. Hard working - Make a great resume, and anyone reading your resume will know that you are hard worker. Get good references, and they'll know you're a hard worker. Complete projects on time, mention the projects, tell 'em how you finished ahead of schedule, and - say it with me - they'll know you're a hard worker! 

 2. Self-starting - If you have been in a position in which you are basically a whole department or have supervised at least one other employee - even a part'-timer - you're a self starter. OR! If you handle projects regularly, and with little or no aid, you're a self starter...mention the projects and chuck the boilerplate terms! 

3. Team player - Don't say that you're a team player if you point out that in your list of achievements you were a team member in a really important project - it's obvious you were a team player or you wouldn't be mentioning it! 

4. Highly qualified - Mention your qualifications, even inflate them a bit, we all do it - and they'll know you are qualified. Or, even better, how about applying for a job you're qualified for, with the right list of qualifications, and then, you guessed it, they'll know you are highly qualified! By the way, don't just mention your qualifications - qualify them by listing your greatest achievements! 

5. Dynamic - Show how you're dynamic - for example, you handled many different aspects of a tough project, coordinating performers, caterers, logistics, etc. See how dynamic you were?!

6. Problem solver - Show how you solved problems over the years in your work or your volunteerism. 

7. Reliable - Leave it up to your references to illustrate how reliable you are. What is more, if you finish projects on time or ahead or time - guess what? - you're reliable!

8. Familiar with... - Say instead 'how' familiar you are with a software package, or a process. List years used and in what capacity. For example, if you've been a computer user since you were 8, it doesn't really count until you use a computer for work. Thus, say something like, expert computer user, 8 yrs professional computer use. I'm familiar with tae kwan do after watching some vids on it, but I can't really do it.

9. Flexible - Ok, yoga-tard, show how you were flexible, or actually be flexible and let your references do the talking. Flexibility on your resume can be illustrated thus: Handled large scale project while also completing regular duties, and met all deadline. 

10. People person - If you've been in customer service since you graduated high school, you're probably a people person. If people skills are needed for the job you are applying for, highlight some good examples: handled customer complaints; increased staff morale with Holy Smoke It's Friday in-house program; stuff like that.  Seeing "people person" on a resume makes me gag, then laugh, then gag again...sorry, but it's true.

Overall, boilerplate lines have been overdone - so stop doing it - you'll make more space for the things that matter. You've only got so much space to shine, so let's focus on the best you have to offer and can the canned terms!

Now...wanna see some great Resume and CV samples?

5 Things to Include in the Personal Statement, Statement of Purpose or Letter of Intent

The Story of You: 5 Things to Include in Your Personal Statement, Letter of Intent or Statement of Purpose

Share

---

For most people, the idea of completing a lengthy college essay is somewhat intimidating, and when the assigned topic is you—your goals, experiences, and potential—the stress can become overwhelming. But don’t fret! Even if writing isn’t your strong suit, with a little planning your college admissions essay can be an articulate and convincing reflection of you.

Before You Begin

Give yourself plenty of time to research the program. Chances are if you’re gearing up to complete application materials, you already know why you want to attend a particular school or program. You can tighten your understanding of the program—and subsequently, your case for acceptance—by browsing published text, visiting institutional Web sites, and conferring regularly with program representatives.

The Nuts and Bolts of Writing

The personal essay should be a relaxed, confident expression of the factors that make you a good candidate for the program, but these components are meaningless if they’re not presented well. Make sure that your essay is seen by every fresh pair of eyes possible—this includes friends, family members, colleagues, and writing/editing professionals.

Here are the five most important things to cover in your essay:

1. The big picture. First and foremost, explain to the admissions committee why you’re pursuing their program. Tell them where you see yourself in five, ten, or twenty years, and address the role that they can play in making your dream a reality.
2. Specifics. Point out the aspects of your field that interest you most and explain why you believe that their school or program will be the best fit. If you considered other schools before applying to this one, tell the admissions board specifically why the others didn’t stack up.
3. Your “goods.” Though you’ve alluded to them throughout your essay already, take a moment to talk about some of your past accomplishments, both professional and personal, that have led you down this path.
4. Plan of attack. Your credentials don’t always speak for themselves. In this case especially, it’s important to tell the admissions council precisely how you will succeed in the program. Talk about some of the personal characteristics that you will utilize, and reiterate the fact that your future goals rely on earning this degree certification.
5. The hook. Possibly the most important thing to remember while writing your admissions essay: Keep it fresh. The review board could be reading several essays at a time, so you don’t want yours to get lost in the shuffle. Supplement your credentials with personal stories, anecdotes, and current-events parallels where it feels comfortable and appropriate to do so.

Difference between Management Information Systems and Computer Science ( MS in MIS vs MS in CS)

The major difference between CS and MIS is that Computer Science course work will not have Management/Accounting/finance/marketing courses in their curriculum.

Computer Science specializations include Software Engineering, Operating Systems, Networking, Artificial Intelligence etc. CS Majorly deals with Programming and creating computer systems for today's world.. 

MS in Computer Science University Rankings >>>

Management Information Systems applies existing software or technology to organizational goals, whereas Computer Science is the study of programming to build those software/technologies.

MS in Management Information Systems (MS in MIS) Universities >>>

MIS majorly prepare Business Analysts, System Analysts, and IT Managers whereas Computer Science degree prepares engineers / programmers.

Which one has more Opportunities?

Both have their own job sector. Both are equally good. Some of the CS major jobs are open for both CS and MIS grads too. Salaries in both fields are good.

Will MIS have OPT period of only 12 months?

MIS degree from some schools can get Opt period of 12 months and no OPT extension where are CS degree can get you OPT work permit for 29 months. There are few schools whose MIS degrees are eligible for 29 months work permit after MIS.

Best Resume, CV, and Cover Letter Samples That Get Results!