Glidden reflects on 25 years of service to UNMC

From days-old newborn babies to centenarians, Tim Glidden has provided care for many patients in his 25 years of service to UNMC. Though Glidden has been a CRNA for cumulative total of 34 years, his two and a half decades of service to the university began in November 1996, a time of great need in anesthesia. 

"There were no full-time CRNAs," Glidden said. "It was a transition time in medicine across the country in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and we needed people in anesthesia." 

After talks with leadership in the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology, Glidden joined the department as one of five full-time nurse anesthetists in a new nurse anesthesia program. The program doubled its staff the following year in 1997. The program continued a trend of growth as students from area programs integrated into the department’s CRNA program. When it came time to designate a CRNA to direct program efforts, though, Glidden was everyone’s first—and obvious—choice. 

"Out of the five of us original CRNAs, they all kind of pointed to me. Then, I was making the call schedule and keeping students on task. It started as a little job and grew into a very big job," Glidden said. 

In addition to his duties as Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program, Glidden was involved in other organizations as a leader. Glidden was active with the Nebraska Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NANA) board for twelve years and served as president from 2005 to 2007. Today, he is the president of Nebraska’s APRN board, where he and others advocate for nurses as intermediaries between advanced practice providers and the Nebraska Legislature. Glidden used these leadership roles as opportunities to help others grow.  

"In 2000, the board started finding ways to help fund students for national meetings. A number of our former students got active on the board, becoming officers or presidents, and that’s thanks to the work we did back then," Glidden said. "I think getting students actively involved in professional growth with these organizations was rewarding. I got to see them actively doing the things they learned how to do. I love seeing our CRNAs grow in their profession and become future leaders," he said. 

In October 2018, Glidden received the first-ever APRN/PA Excellence Award, which annually recognizes one advanced practice registered nurse and one physician assistant for their outstanding work. In an article from Nebraska Medicine NOW, a nominator praised Glidden for his "high-quality work" and for being a role model for others in the profession. 

"My biggest motivation is patient care. I love being in the operating room providing anesthesia and taking care of patients," Glidden said. "There hasn’t been a day when I get up dreading to go to work. I love doing what I do. I love seeing patients satisfied at the end of an operation and that they’re comfortable," he said. 

Today, the nurse anesthesia program has 75 CRNAs, a number he expects will grow as institutional needs expand. Glidden played a key role in meeting every single student in the program.  

"All 75 of our CRNAs—I’ve interviewed and hired all of them," he said. "We’ve had the ability in the last few years to grow our recruiting efforts. When I first started here, you knew people who needed a job and hired them. Now we’re out actively recruiting at national meetings and state meetings. Things have changed a lot in 25 years." 

"When I look back on my career, I think of how fast it’s gone," Glidden said. "But if I had to do it all over again, I’d do the same thing. My career has been really rewarding, and I wouldn’t do anything different." 

Glidden offered this advice to early-career CRNAs: "Don’t get discouraged by anything. We work in a profession that’s constantly changing, so it’s important to get involved. Don’t be on the sidelines. Don’t be afraid to learn. And work hard."