XXXX College Nurse Anesthesia Program is my first choice among DNP programs for several reasons, including the location near my family and community support base. I appreciate the small class size of Nurse Anesthesia classes at XXXX College, the many clinical sites, and the advanced simulation lab. I also understand the spirit driving the free food pantry and career closet. Finally, I like that the first year is entirely online, with the didactic portion of the class shared with the XXXX Nurse Anesthesia program so that I will also get the chance to interact with and learn from other SRNAs.
A bilingual Latina from most humble beginnings, many excellent teachers have inspired me, and I have been blessed to have them. They encouraged me to apply myself to my studies, achieve a fulfilling career, and contribute to my community. It was difficult, coming from a poor urban area where very few attended, much less graduated from college. My family always told me I wouldn’t make it to college because no one else in our family had done so. With the demands of a full-time job, full-time course load, no support system, being a teenage mother, and financial responsibilities at home and in school – my grades suffered at first until my time management skills improved, and I learned how to balance my responsibilities.
Despite the disadvantages that I had to overcome, I graduated with honors from nursing school, and I now have more than eight years of experience as a nurse, the last three in critical care. I have obtained specialty certifications in Critical Care and Cardiac Medicine and taken a graduate-level course in preparation for applying to return to Nursing School and completing a DNP program. I shadowed a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for eight hours to get a more in-depth look at the role of a nurse anesthetist. I witnessed the professionalism of the nurse anesthetist and how they were highly respected. I was also intrigued by the many skills and the ability to provide safe, holistic, autonomous care. My shadowing experience solidified my decision to pursue a career in Nurse Anesthesia. I have also attended nurse anesthesia professional conferences, including The Diversity CRNA Information Session and Lab Simulation in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Diversity CRNA virtual boot camp.
I am experienced in intubating, anesthesia equipment checking and operation, and the insertion of central lines. I crave a total immersion experience in this area of nursing, including enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and opioid-free and sparing approaches to anesthesia with the hopes of improving outcomes in high-risk populations. I look forward to going abroad on medical missions to support surgeons, particularly in the wake of a disaster in a Spanish-speaking part of the world.
Thank you for considering my application to Nurse Anesthesia at XXXX.