Not that long ago, CRNAs Alexzandra and Troy Anderson used to sit down at their kitchen table in their rural Iowa home to map out their call shifts on the family calendar. The couple had two young children at the time, and they made up half of the anesthesia team in their regional hospital. In any given month, only a few squares would be fortunate enough to be left blank.
“Troy and I would look at each other and wonder how we were going to do it,” she said. “But you just do it. You get it done.”
Nowadays, the Anderson family feels a bit more relaxed. For one, their children are older—William is 12, and Abigail is 10. But perhaps the most helpful change was shifting from private practice in rural Iowa to the level one trauma center that is UNMC. After some coaxing from CRNA Nick Hall, Mr. Anderson joined the department in June of 2018, and Mrs. Anderson followed in July.
“Alexzandra has a heart that was meant to care for people, and the passion and work ethic to make her successful anywhere she goes,” said Tim Glidden, director of nurse anesthesia. “We are very fortunate to have her here.”
Mrs. Anderson received her master’s degree in nurse anesthesia from the prestigious Rush University in Chicago. It was there that she met Troy, who was also studying to become a CRNA. The couple worked in a few community hospitals in the region before pursuing careers as independent providers in eastern Iowa. Mrs. Anderson established Anderson Anesthesia Services, LLC, providing her the opportunity to work in several regional hospitals during the 11 years that she was a private contractor—including the one where Mr. Anderson was employed. This provided a unique opportunity for the couple to be partners both at work and home.
“We trained the exact same way, and I know how he thinks,” she said. “I can walk into the room, he’ll ask for help and I’ll know exactly what he needs. I have profound respect for him as a colleague.”
Alongside a better work/life balance, teamwork was a priority for Mrs. Anderson in choosing UNMC. The department’s reputation for keeping a collegial culture that fosters mutual respect and communication was a major selling point.
“I have worked in several different hospitals, I was exposed to many administrations,” Mrs. Anderson said. “Everyone that I met spoke so highly about leadership here.”
Additionally, she’s happy to return to a fast-paced environment that demands use of all clinical skills learned in training. The people who want great care and expertise go to UNMC, she said.
“The brain is a muscle, and you have to exercise the muscle,” Mrs. Anderson said. “I’ve been able to do things at UNMC that I haven’t done before. It’s exciting to challenge yourself in that way.”
Mrs. Anderson, a first-generation American, credits her can-do spirit to her parents, Agustin and Emma. They immigrated from Ecuador to Chicago in the 1950s.
“In my family, it was never a question of can we, we just did,” Mrs. Anderson said. “I believe that there is a reason I am here, and that my purpose is to take care of people. I’ve been a patient, and mom and dad have been patients, so I want to take care of people in the way that I want them to be taken care of.”
CRNA Week Spotlight: Alexzandra Anderson
