These are five qualities that should be instilled for a CRNA school applicant. These encompass one's ability to be a well-rounded healthcare worker and individual. These were not written in a certain order, because these are characteristics that build on one another.
They complement one another to exhibit someone who will be dedicated to their skillset and knowledge while be devoted to improving the Nurse Anesthesia profession.
- Experience
When thinking about experience, most people think in terms of years on a unit or within a specialty. With Nurse Anesthesia applicants there is typically the average of having 2.5 years of ICU experience, where some individuals have 10 years and others have 1 - 2 years. Although having a multitude of years on a unit shows loyalty and dedication, it doesn't mean that the applicant would be a better Nurse Anesthesia student.
When I realized this, it helped me understand that it is more about what you take away from your (X) amount of years' experience. Being able to discuss the equipment, conditions, medications, and procedures that are seen on your unit shows the depth of your knowledge more than a number on a piece of paper.
Always make sure to achieve the number of years of ICU experience desired by the program, but more importantly access how prepared you feel to demonstrate your expertise to others.
- Honesty
Being genuinely honest regardless of circumstance shows others, one's own ability to know the limits of their knowledge and skillset. Nurse Anesthesia is an everchanging profession with the need to be knowledgeable in various aspects. Regardless of discipline the best healthcare professionals are the ones who can voice their gaps, and able to ask others to bridge those points.
Whether it be in the operating room, simulation lab or classroom there will be a time that you say, "I don't know" and being able to do so will show others that you are willing to be teachable and humble in your own understanding of things.
There's a saying that goes "fake it till you make it" but in healthcare this is a dangerous mindset and can cost someone's life in exchange. Instead, being truthful about where your weaknesses lie and continuing to improve them will help you achieve your goals.
- Engagement
Engagement is a widespread term, because as Nurse Anesthesia students we will engage with multiple health professionals within and outside of the operating room. Communicating with technicians, machine operators (e.g., perfusionist), surgeons, physicians, nurses, and other ancillary staff. One's ability to engage in conversation with others is key for a leader, because during surgery if there is an issue being able to communicate in a clear, effective, and direct way is imperative.
In another aspect being engaged in one's community whether inside and outside of the hospital shows that they are willing to be a factor to improve an environment. Nurse Anesthesia Providers have positioned themselves in a vast number of areas whether hospital leadership, organizational members, and legislative roles to advocate for their profession. Those individuals are engaging in their profession to help expand our degree of practice to improve our impact to patients.
- Emotional Intelligence
This quality is a combination of self and environmental awareness which can demonstrate one's ability to navigate stressful situations. Within the operating room there are multiple attitudes that are dedicated to having a successful surgery, generally these procedures are completed with no complications.
Other times there are instances of complications that arise which can be a sharp decline in blood pressure, spontaneous movements, damage to a surgical site, or changes in respiratory status. Being able to quickly address one's emotions then to work through a differential diagnosis and to communicate an effective plan with the team members within the room is the essence of emotional intelligence.
Simply, it's the ability to navigate the path while chaos is instilling around oneself but being collected while doing so.
- GRIT
This is the ability to be devoted towards a goal despite the obstacles that are meant to distract and divert one's course. Those who have GRIT can not only see the peak of a mountain but are prepared to withstand the journey that comes with the achievement.
GRIT lies within someone and is shown through our actions. An ability to intentionally be present during our path without allowing things to waver us from our destination. This quality will guide one during didactic and clinical, because there will be an overwhelming amount of course week, knowledge building, skillset development and growth (all at a rapid pace). These experiences can and will challenge anyone but being able to be dedicated to your purpose will be the guide within those hardships.