MinorityNurse.com

 

Response to Changing Careers at 40/Lena Gould, CRNA, MSN

Hello Future Colleague I am well aware of what is it like to change careers that will impact
your professional life. I too, changed careers and never looked back! It was not easy being a
young single mother on welfare when I was attending Fairleigh Dickinson University in pursuits
of a Bachelor Degree in Accounting. Not to mention, the non existent support from family that
lived in close proximity. Thank God, it was the support of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)
Program that literally saved me. It is on that campus that gave me the foundation that I stand on
till this day. Yes, I secured an Accounting Internship for Ernst & Whinney the summer before my
senior year on Park Avenue in New York City. Upon graduation, I was offered a full time Auditor
position for the new company, Ernst& Young. However, I felt just like you in the corporate world
but suddenly realized within a year that I had to change careers.

Nursing was a serious career choice for me while a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University. But
in order to take part of clinical, a nursing student have to have reliable transportation, and I
simply did not have one nor could I afford it. Thereafter, I changed careers and enrolled in an
Associate Degree Nursing Program at Gloucester County College. I worked in the operating room,
telemetry, emergency room and trauma. I then enrolled in a Nurse Anesthesia Program at La Salle University. I took prerequisite courses (Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, Nursing
Research I and II) before actually enrolling in the Nurse Aneshthesia Program.

I understand that you will take the CNA certification. Once you pass this exam and as a nursing
student, apply for certified nursing assistant position on a Critical Care Unit in a Level I Trauma Hospital. After, a semester or two, then apply for a Nurse Externship position on one of the Critical Care Units (Trauma, Cardiac, Surgical, Medical or Neuro). Upon graduation, secure a full time Critical Care position at one of the Level I Trauma Hospital. I want you to be "Critical Care" focused. You need this experience in order to apply for a Nurse Anesthesia Program. You will work with critical patients, invasive lines, ventilators, Balloon Pumps and vasoactive drugs. Most importantly, from the CNA to ICU Nurse position...ask pertinet questions,such as, why test are ordered, why titrate vasoactive drips, what are the differences of a thoracotomy vs. thoracoscopy, how does Levophed work, what is the natural progession of a Swanz Ganz Catheter and the associated markings, how do you interpret Blood Gases and what do you in response to one out of range. There are so many questions. I know that you are motivated to engage in this process. Please keep me abreast of your progress.

Wallena Gould, CRNA, MSN
Founder, Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program
www.diversitycrna.org