A New Drive for the Profession of Nurse Anesthesia

Politics was always a scary topic for me. Talking with people about politics – well, that was unthinkable. In many ways, I did not even consider how anesthesia and politics could come together. I attended the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists (AANA) Mid-Year Assembly and found a new drive for the profession of nurse anesthesia. Although many aspects of politics are highly polarized, healthcare is a truly bipartisan topic in which opposing parties can find common ground. During this assembly, I engaged our legislators on Capitol Hill in conversations about new policies that influence the care of our veterans, the education of future nurses and the scope of practice of certified registered nurse anesthetists/anesthesiologists (CRNAs). Healthcare is crucial and it’s the responsibility of the up-and-coming CRNAs to advocate for our patients.

I had the pleasure of being mentored by Jennifer Anderson CRNA, the federal political director of the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Jennifer introduced me to many of the leaders and thinkers in nurse anesthesia. She, along with many of the other CRNAs, guided us through the meetings and agendas of the AANA. Most importantly, this assembly instilled a sense of duty to preserve and expand our profession. This duty does not begin at graduation or licensure. It begins now - in the ICUs we visit, the patients we care for, the dreamers that we know. We start now by bringing up the profession from its roots.

By: Clarissa Lara, RRNA Texas Wesleyan