by Mary Hopkins
I work full-time as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at a rural community hospital. I have just completed my thirty-fifth year of service in this field. Over thirty of those years have been at this same hospital. I would describe myself as upbeat, committed and energetic.
I am a middle-aged white female. In the early years of my career, I felt that I had to work harder to gain recognition and respect as a female. Anesthesiology has historically been a predominantly male profession. I countered this discrimination by making sure that I worked my hardest every day. I arrived earlier than my colleagues in the morning and was the last one to leave at night. In time, I earned respect.
As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, I administer anesthesia during surgical procedures. I also conduct pre-operative interviews with patients to determine which anesthetic will work best for them. Before the surgery, I administer the anesthetic. Many patients require a combination of drugs, so the dosage is calculated on an individual basis. I remain by the patient’s side for the entire procedure. I am constantly monitoring their respiratory rate and heart rate to ensure that they remain stable.
Many people believe that only an anesthesiologist can administer anesthesia. However, nurse anesthetists also have the training and experience to administer anesthetic drugs. Nurse anesthetists play an important role in the healthcare system. We are especially valuable to smaller hospitals that may not be able to pay high anesthesiologist salaries.
My job is enjoyable, and I would rate my job satisfaction with an eight on a scale of one to ten. At times, my job hours are long. I often get called out in the middle of the night. Since my hospital is small, I also deal with administrative tasks along with my anesthesia duties. My job would be more satisfying if I could spend all my time and effort on patient care.
My patients touch my heart on a daily basis. Surgical procedures are intimidating for most people, so my patients are often nervous and uncertain when we first meet. I have the opportunity to reassure them that I will be by their side the entire time. I am blessed to spend every day doing what I was born to do.
Practicing in a rural hospital offers many unique situations. I personally know many of the patients that I am treating. This can be positive since they are comfortable with me, but it can also be negative since I feel like I am always answering medical questions. I can never make a trip to the grocery store without being stopped with some inquiry about an upcoming surgery.
I became aware of the nurse anesthetist field while I was in nursing school. One of my nursing instructors told me that there were numerous job openings in that field, and I was intrigued. There are still always plenty of job openings in my field, so I would make the same decision regarding my career path.
Once I began practicing anesthesia, I had to learn the hard way that there are no constant rules for administering anesthetics. Drugs affect each patient in different ways. I had to quickly learn to adapt my drugs and dosages to make sure that each patient was comfortable, but not over-medicated.
The most important thing that I have learned from my job is the importance of a human touch in healthcare. Patients respond more positively when they feel that their medical providers truly care about them.
Some of my strangest anesthesia cases have involved administering anesthesia to patients from a nearby maximum security prison. You have to get creative when treating patients in handcuffs and shackles!
I feel proud about my job when I am able to reassure a patient before surgery. I always try to go the extra mile to make patients comfortable, whether it means singing a toddler to sleep or holding an elderly patient’s hand.
Sadly, some doctors that I work with can be arrogant and disrespectful. They feel that their position makes them superior. I have occasionally had to storm out of the operating room when my knowledge and expertise was not respected.
My job is stressful because the wrong dosage of anesthesia can be fatal. I feel that I have a healthy work-life balance because I have learned to leave my stress at work and relax when I am at home.
I receive a comfortable salary for my work. The average salary for a nurse anesthetist in the United States is $150,000. Since I have numerous years of experience in the field, my actual compensation is higher.
One of the perks of my job is that I receive a generous benefits package that includes plenty of vacation and sick time. Last year, I took four weeks of vacation. I am also allowed one week per year for educational pursuits.
To become a nurse anesthetist, you must first be a registered nurse. After you are a licensed nurse, you can apply for anesthesia school. Anesthesia school takes two to three years to complete.
I would recommend a career in anesthesia for someone who is willing to work hard and provide excellent patient care. There is no substitute for a caring heart in treating patients.
In five years, I hope to still be practicing the job that I love. I also hope to have completed additional continuing education courses to remain updated about the advances in anesthesia.
In this career interview, Mary Hopkins, a full-time Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist shares what her 35 year career has been like in the field of anesthesiology. If you have considered a career as a nurse anesthetist, read on to learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of this career. This is a true career interview as told to JustJobs.com. This is one of many interviews with individuals in the nursing and health care field including interviews with a respiratory nurse and with a phlebotomist.