Nursing Spotlight: Anesthesiology

Pre-Health Virtual Shadowing is a great resource to use if you are interested in the field of medicine! This week I watched the virtual shadowing session 35- "Nursing Spotlight: Anesthesiology" to further my knowledge of this specialty. Over the hour and a half informational session, my interest in this field grew. I decided to spend more time this week focusing on anesthesiology and CRNA's (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) and learned a lot about the path to becoming a CRNA, the job description, responsibilities, and advantages to this career!

One CRNA shared her experience as a CRNA on the virtual shadowing session, and her love for her career was contagious. I couldn't help but document all of the things that she saw as advantages to her job that turned me onto this career path even more.

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DIRECT PATIENT CARE

Similar to the responsibilities of an RN, a CNRA get to work hands-on with the patient. Usually, an advanced degree will land you a job that is further removed from the bedside, but a CRNA gets the best of both worlds. The social-emotional component holds true as you get to keep the patients safe and comfortable through the procedure. You complete hands-on procedures, including intubation (putting breathing tubes in people's tracheas or windpipes), placing arterial lines to monitor vitals, epidurals to control labor pains, and replacing IVs to give fluids. These allow you to have a direct influence over your patient's surgical experience. 

(This is an informational video of intubation, a staple procedure in the field of anesthesiology) 

(2)

INSTANT GRATIFICATION

The things CRNAs can do in the operating room can prevent pain and nausea throughout a procedure. You are able to be with someone on one of their most vulnerable days and your training will help keep them sedated or unconscious, allowing the procedure to go routinely. Patients are gracious and are very thankful after the procedure is done More literally if blood pressure is low you give a medicine to raise it. As a CRNA, you can do an intervention and see an immediate result. 

(3)

EXCITING LINE OF WORK

CNRA's are constantly learning. They continue their education every year. Lots of critical thinking is involved, as well as lots of thinking on your feet. This type of work is encapsulated by the saying, "90% boredom, 10% sheer terror". This is referring to the majority of cases that go smoothly, but every now and then something crazy happens that they have to deal with. In these cases, seconds count, and their reaction time and solution have to be on point. 

(4)

GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Many CRNA's are able to balance their work and social life well. Schedules of CRNA's vary widely. For example, in a major academic medical center, a CRNA might work 3 long shifts a week (two 13 + one 14 = 40 hours). Another example is trauma-call CRNA's, who work two days a week (24 hours in-house + 16-hour shift = 40 hours). Lastly, short shifts are also an option for CRNA's (five 8 hour shifts). With the varying options of work schedules, CRNA's are able to find one that allows them to enjoy the things they want to outside of work.