MinorityNurse.com

 

My Journey Towards Becoming a CRNA

My name is Barbra and my future goal is to become a CRNA. Last March, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet Wallena Gould, the founder of the Diversity Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program (DNAMP), at the luncheon/information session held in New Jersey. This meeting was well put together and informative. One of the guest speakers was Goldie Brangman CRNA who was the first African American President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) back in 1973. It was very inspiring to hear her speak of the profession and the struggles she had gone through while on the Finance Committee of the AANA. It was during this luncheon I was informed by the program director from VCU that most schools prefer candidates with ICU experience from Level I Trauma facilities.

In August 2008, I attended an Airway Workshop held by Wallena at South Jersey Hospital. I learned about the FDA checklist, parts of the anesthesia machine, spinal set up and simulation, positioning of the OR table, what is used and why for airway management, muscle relaxant drugs and inhalants. Some of those in attendance had been accepted into a program and they were given the opportunity to meet with a CRNA one-on-one to get more detailed information on what to do to prepare prior to starting school. I would like to thank Wallena, Toni, Alfredo, Angie and Brian for taking time out of their schedules and lives to share their knowledge. Sorry if I left out anyone else who assisted; I thank you as well. I would highly recommend attending the Airway Workshop if you are a student or in the processing of applying to schools.
On March 21, 2009, I attended the DNAMP information session at Rutgers University. Again, this meeting was well put together and informative. Several of the guest speakers included a couple of the board members of the DNAMP, John Bing CRNA and General Counsel Angela Hart Edwards, Esq. Mr. Bing enlightened me with possible entrepreneurial opportunities available to the profession. He has several anesthesia contracts with plastic surgery centers. He is also involved in missionary work in Nicaragua where he works with plastic surgeons who provide corrective surgery for children born with a cleft lip. University of Miami Nurse Anesthesia Program Director, Rossana Bizzio CRNA, MS and University of Miami Nurse Anesthesia Associate Director, Valerie Bell CRNA, MSN spoke about their program and what they were looking for in prospective candidates. Frank Purcell, BS, AANA Senior Federal Government Affairs Director spoke about the current issues related to the profession that is in the pipeline with the AANA and how important it is for CRNAs and SRNAs to become involved and the importance of the AANA mid-year meetings.

I would like to thank Lena, her family, the board members, the guest speakers and any others that may have assisted with the DNAMP luncheon/information session. I would like to say excellent job to the emcee, Wendy Smart-Lazare SRNA, Columbia University. Congrats to you and may the light become brighter with each day. Lena is selflessly dedicated to helping other minorities, who desire to be a CRNA, become her professional colleague. I know with her guidance, direction and my perseverance, my dream of becoming a CRNA is possible.

Barbra