Hey Sean, read this over, especially the last few sentences of the 2nd paragraph (where it talks about the financial reward) and the last paragraph. I need to print it out on Saturday so I can turn my application in over the weekend.



As a future candidate to attend a nurse anesthesia program, it is vital to understand exactly what nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) do for their patients. From my basic understanding of the roles of a CRNA, he or she provides anesthesia care for patients before, during, and after surgery. The CRNA obtains the patient's medical and surgical history prior to surgery via reading the medical chart and talking directly with the patient, if possible. Then, the CRNA develops a plan for the anesthesia care. After providing the patient with an airway and administering the anesthesia, the CRNA's role is to monitor the hemodynamics, respiratory status, pain level, and anesthesia level of the patient. The way that I tend to think about this is that the CRNA monitors and maintains an adequate physiology of the patient while the surgeon handles the anatomy. They do this by continuously monitoring the patient's responses to the surgery, pain, and medications by observing the patient and his or her vital signs, hemodynamics, and neuromuscular checks. The medications that the anesthetist manages are titrated, sometimes constantly, to address these factors. As one CRNA said to me during a shadowing experience, "Most of the time, as long as I prevent a disaster from happening, what I do is mostly routine." Other important roles of the CRNA include advocating for the patient, working as a team member, and



I want to become a CRNA for several reasons. First, I accept the challenge and the responsibility of the role of student and future nurse anesthetist. I understand that the academics and clinical portions of anesthetists, for both students and certified professionals, can be rigorous and demanding. It requires excellent time management, organizational skills, studying skills, critical thinking, accountability at home and at the work/schoolplace, continuous education in the health care field, and teamwork and communication skills. I can honestly say that the financial rewards of completing a nurse anesthetist program does not interest me as much as the challenge, responsibility, and autonomity of the role of CRNA. Money does not make me happy. Also, I have never met a CRNA in any organization that has not enjoyed his or her career.



My own ability to succeed in the program can be evidenced by my academic and clinical records. I have maintained a competitive GPA and earned an outstanding score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The experience that I have gained while taking care of patients in the UPMC Presbyterian cardiothoracic ICU has contributed greatly to my knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases and their clinical presentations. I feel that my success as an ICU nurse has been partly due to my actions as a dependable teammate, my values of integrity and honesty, and my devotion to my patients and their families.