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Response to Critical Care Experience/Lena Gould, CRNA, MSN

Hello Shawlawn

I am a bit perplexed on your decision to work in correctional nursing from working on a neurosurgery acute care unit.
You would have better positioned yourself by staying on the neurosurgery unit and easily transferred to a Critical Care
Unit. In order to pursue the Nurse Anesthesia field, one must be determined of course, but most
importantly, patient. You may have to apply for another intermediate care unit or critical care unit but be prepared to
answer your reason to return in a hospital setting. Certainly you will not offer your aspirationsin becoming a Nurse
Anesthetist to the recruiter or manager of the unit.

Most of the 106 Nurse Anesthesia Programs require experience in a Critical Care Unit (Trauma ICU, Neuro ICU, Medical ICU, Surgical ICU
or Cardiac ICU). I would not necessarily seek an Emergency Room position. You have to understand that the applicant pool is very competitive
and you want to have a strong application worthy of consideration. Please consider taking the CCRN Exam as well after one year of ICU
experience. Do you have ACLS? How were your grades in Nursing School? Are you taking any graduate nursing courses ( Research I & II,
Advanced Pharmacology and or Pathophysiology)? Have you shadowed any Nurse Anesthetist? Start getting back on track and aggressively
secure a position back in a hospital, preferably a Level I Trauma Center.

Please consider coming to the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program Information Session Luncheon on October 10th in Miami.
You will have an opportunity to meet two Nurse Anesthesia Program Directors on the panel with myself and other Nurse Anesthesia Students
from various programs. You will be guided by professionals who seek diverse applicants in the Nurse Anesthesia Programs. Please visit my
website, www.diversitycrna.org to download the registration form. I am the President of the Diversity Program and you can email me at
crna4u@comcast.net to discuss more in length about serious preparation.

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