My interest in anesthesia started when I had my very first surgery, a tonsillectomy, at five years old. The most intriguing part of that entire surgery was my encounter with the anesthesia provider. I vividly remember the anesthetist placing a mask over my face and asking me to breathe deeply, count to ten, and that I would start to get sleepy. After informing him that I was not sleepy, I complied anyway and began to count. The next thing I remember is waking up with a sore throat and trying to figure out how I slept through the entire surgery. Demanding an explanation, my parents explained anesthesia to me and unknowingly ignited an interest that would impact my entire future. Throughout my career, I have admired the overall role of a nurse anesthetist. Not only are they trusted with taking care of patients during their most vulnerable moments, but they also provide services that continue to alleviate pain even after surgery is complete. After spending nearly forty hours with a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in various settings, including: the operating room, labor and delivery, and an orthopedic institute, I was extremely impressed with the high level of autonomy and wide range of knowledge and skills. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to observe the nurse anesthetist …show more content…
This experience has allowed me to not only become confident in my work, but also thrive in a high-pressured environment while constantly applying and improving my critical thinking skills. I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of caring for patients with complex medical conditions while utilizing live saving monitoring devices and interventions such as, ventilators, arterial lines, Swan-Ganz catheters, intra-aortic balloon pumps, etc. However, I find the most rewarding part of my job to be providing compassion and emotional support to the patients and their family