National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Week is January 19-25. To celebrate, the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology is shining the spotlight on a few of the CRNAs in the department.
Name: Amy Mitchell
Education background:
- Bachelor of Arts, Spanish, University of Iowa, 2006
- Bachelor of Science, nursing, Samuel Merritt University, 2009
- Masters, nurse anesthesia, Clarkson College, 2017
What inspired you to begin a career in nursing?
I started working at Methodist Hospital as a patient escort when I was 16 to get my foot in the door for when I inevitably became a neonatologist. I loved being able to talk to the patients as I transported them around the hospital and hear their life stories. It was from this experience that I pivoted to become a nursing assistant so I could spend more time with the patients. From there, I truly saw the impact nurses had on patients while in the hospital and knew that was what I wanted to do.
What motivated you to pursue a career as a CRNA?
In high school, I took a health careers class that taught us basic medical knowledge and allowed us to job-shadow every career possible at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. It was there that I met CRNA Greg Krauth. He showed me the ropes of what a typical morning for a CRNA looked like. It was this one morning of job shadowing that stuck with me every weekend that I went to work as a nurse assistant and all the way through nursing school. After graduating with my BSN, I knew I wanted to work for a few years and then pursue CRNA school for my end game. It was the best decision I’ve ever made for my career.
What is your greatest joy? Or what makes you proud?
My greatest joy is when a patient who has always woken up from surgery vomiting or in severe pain wakes up after an anesthetic that I delivered and doesn’t vomit or is comfortable. It makes me feel like I made a difference in their life, and I love it.
I’m most proud when training new SRNAs, and they get to complete their first case with no interventions from me. It’s seeing them fly and gain that confidence in their skill sets that makes me feel like a proud teacher.
What is your greatest challenge?
My greatest challenge is balancing my home life and work life.
Any words of encouragement for anyone thinking about a career as a CRNA?
Just do it! Take that first step. You will not be disappointed.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
You can find me entertaining friends and family at home or chasing my three boys around and playing chauffeur for all their activities with my husband, Travis.
List three things people may not know about you:
- I lived in Costa Rica during college.
- I’m a twin.
- I’ve been married to my best friend and husband for 16 years.