It’s 1999, and two 6-foot-3-inch, left-handed pitchers suit up in nearly identical Tampa Bay Rays baseball uniforms. In fact, almost everything about them is nearly identical. They are Nathan and Jason Cromer, identical twin brothers.
They were the second-ever set of twins to be drafted by a major league baseball organization. Fresh out of high school, Nathan went in the 10th round of the amateur draft and Jason in the 11th. Nathan played seven seasons before tapping out after his fourth elbow surgery.
"My brother and I loved baseball all the way from tee ball on," said Nathan, a Nebraska Medicine CRNA. "It helped to have a twin because you always had a partner to practice with, and you’re always trying to one-up each other. It sets you up to compete at a higher level."
Now, baseball is a little further from Nathan’s life. He moved from Tampa to Omaha in February 2020 to work at the Nebraska Medical Center and be closer to his aging parents. Atop his list of things to enjoy was the College World Series and Omaha Royals games, until the COVID-19 cancelled them. Though it was stressful to move across the country and start at a new hospital on the cusp of a global pandemic, Nathan has settled into his new home.
"Nathan’s adaptability was truly phenomenal and his integration into our practice was seamless," said Tiffany Olson, associate director of nurse anesthesia. "Nathan's motivation to help the team and flexibility in scheduling have been greatly appreciated. His positive attitude elevates those around him. It's like he has been part of our team for years."
Nathan ended up in medicine after his baseball career ended when a family friend suggested nursing. He left his transitional job as a bouncer at a martini bar to return his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, where he studied nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences.
"Leaving baseball for medicine was like diving face first into the shallow end," said Nathan. "I mean, you can go back and ask anyone from my previous life as a pitcher, no one saw this coming. But I think pursuing medicine takes a lot of the same mentality as sports. You step up and be responsible for the outcome. You see something through completely and don’t give up."
He spent a few years working as an ICU nurse where he met a CRNA and discovered the profession. He then returned to Florida to study nurse anesthesia at Barry University. He worked as a CRNA at Tampa General Hospital for two years before joining Nebraska Medicine.
Nathan and Jason, who were born eight minutes apart, have had similar lives. Jason is currently studying to become a CRNA at Clarkson College. The brothers often compare experiences, Nathan encouraging Jason about how much he loves his job.
CRNA Week Spotlight: Nathan Cromer
