My passion for the medical field began at a young age and only grew when I entered college and completed my first upper-level biology course. Success in science, along with refined critical thinking skills, motivated me to apply to the professional school of Nursing. While in nursing school, I gained an increasing appreciation for the human body, a heightened awareness of pharmacology, and a deep desire for the field of anesthesia. The love for my two children, and the ability to raise them throughout my professional phase encouraged me to begin my nursing career in the neonatal intensive care unit. After my first two years of practicing and gaining knowledge in a critical care setting, I began searching for CRNA programs in Austin, Texas. Having found that Austin had no schools that fulfilled my interests in anesthesia, I decided to put my passion on hold, and I continued gaining knowledge and skills through nursing. Now that my children are grown, and thanks to a solid support system with my husband of 25 years, I am now at a point in my life where I am excited for the opportunity to continue my education in the field of nurse anesthesia.

I have practiced several years as a team lead in order to obtain the skills that are required to become a successful anesthetist. My aspiration for excelling in the field of healthcare has led me to take challenging steps that many nurses would find intimidating. As a part of the leadership team, I found it enjoyable to learn and develop additional skills such as placing peripherally inserted central catheters, umbilical arterial/venous lines, and intubating infants. Additionally, I have found comfort working directly with both the OR team and Physicians to develop a healthcare plan that betters the life of the infant and their family. I can honestly say that in my years practicing as a nurse, becoming a charge nurse and director has been a life altering experience. These leadership roles have provided me with the confidence and the ability to collaborate effectively with a healthcare team. Critical thinking is something that has always come naturally for me, and I have an innate desire towards enhancing my knowledge, bettering my skills, and becoming a significant asset to a healthcare team.  These are the reasons I believe that CRNA school is the logical next step for me.

My 14 years of direct patient care, and observations of the application of anesthesia in both the neonatal ICU and adult ICU, have contributed to my complete confidence in the success of becoming a well-rounded CRNA. Upon graduation, I look forward to expressing my deep knowledge in the role of medications, continue to learn and develop in the operating room, become a part of a solid healthcare team, and enrich the role of CRNAs as a whole.

The reason I have chosen Mount Marty College is because I believe in excelling in critical care and striving to advance the profession of anesthesia. These goals of mine are identical to the mission of this program. Mount Marty College creates professionals who are committed to giving superb healthcare and practicing anesthesia with confidence. This program strives for perfection, which is apparent by the personalized clinical rotations, low attrition rate, and a high employment rate upon graduation.  It would be my honor to be a part of Mount Marty’s incoming class of 2016.