The Anesthesia Record

Below is this month's Student News column article.  I kinda dig this one.  In other words, it's all downhill from here, folks!

Get Involved - and Live to Tell About It

“One thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are

those who have sought and found how to serve.”  - Albert Schweitzer

Saying the word “involvement” to a group of over-stressed students is akin to shouting “bomb!” in an airport.  These days, most of us don’t have the time to clean our dirty dishes on a consistent basis, let alone get involved.  At this point we’re simply trying to gain access into the CRNA community – bettering it, well, that’ll have to wait.  

Unfortunately for our already diminished sleep schedules, it can’t wait.  The future of our profession depends on the involvement of passionate practitioners as well as ardent student leaders.

Allow Yourself to Grow and Change

Most of us fall into two categories: those who get involved, and those who don’t.  Once you begin to identify with a certain group it is difficult to imagine yourself in any other light.  Fortunately, our high school days – a time in which we were continually defined by the decisions we made in our younger years – are a thing of the past.  As adults, we have the opportunity to develop new interests and carve new niches.  So what if you’ve never joined a committee or attended a convention?  Just like your first intubation, stepping outside of one’s comfort zone to pursue new interests requires effort and a whole lot of moxie, but it can be done and doing so will benefit both our profession and yourself.

Case in point: Before running for the position of Student Representative to the Education Committee, my campaigning experience was limited to constructing and displaying posters throughout my high school’s hallways in an effort to earn a spot on the student council.  (I was elected “alternate” council member… whatever that means.)  I mention this because I think that it’s important to illustrate that the individuals who choose to get involved haven’t always been active.  We all have to start somewhere.  Maybe now is the right time for you to become involved and lend your support to the profession which will continue to do the same for you throughout your career.  

Standard-Issue Involvement

When we hear of CRNAs who are involved in our profession, I’d venture to guess that most of us think of our state or national association presidents, board of directors, and committee members.  The contributions these individuals have made and continue to make towards strengthening our profession are staggering and they certainly deserve our respect and appreciation.  Of course, each of these individuals has donated untold amounts of time and effort in order to turn our organization’s goals into accomplishments.  Getting involved may therefore appear to be an “all-or-nothing” proposition, requiring significant sacrifices from individuals and their families.  It is easy to see how students and CRNAs alike may feel overwhelmed at the prospect of involvement and choose to abandon the idea altogether.  Before doing so, however, I’d like to encourage you to consider alternative opportunities for involvement, many of which require far less time and energy than you might expect. 

Do What You Are Already Doing

Although it may presently feel as though anesthesia school consumes the entirety of our thoughts and actions, the vast majority of us occasionally spend time with our loved ones or engage in hobbies to let off steam.  Why not promote our profession while performing the activities that we love?  If your goal is to spend more time with your children, consider volunteering for their school’s career day so that you can jointly support your kids as well as the nurse anesthesia community.  SRNAs with a passion for photography might be interested in submitting a photo taken in their hospital or skills lab for the student section of the AANA website or as the cover image of an issue of the AANA Journal.  Students who compete in athletic events such as distance running or triathlons also have the opportunity to promote our profession and educate others by wearing gear emblazoned with the logo of their nurse anesthesia program or the AANA.  Though just a sampling of ways in which we can better our profession without altering our current routine, these ideas illustrate that our personal accomplishments today can continue to benefit our professional lives going forward.

Challenge Yourself

That is not to say that you shouldn’t step outside of your comfort zone every so often by accepting new and unfamiliar responsibilities.  Just because you may not have experience in a certain area does not mean that you can’t and shouldn’t attempt to try your hand at it.  Just imagine: If no one accepted the personal risks posed by taking on new challenges, the world wouldn’t have presidential candidates, astronauts, or Lady Gaga.  Alright, so maybe that last example doesn’t necessarily provide the best support for my argument, but you get my point. 

Fortunately, getting involved in new activities doesn’t just benefit your profession – it often benefits you personally.  Joining committees, participating in activities, and attending conferences will provide you with the chance to meet new people, travel to varying locations, and gain a better understanding of the issues that directly impact you, your family, and your career.  In the short time that I’ve served as your Student Representative, I’ve been amazed at the number of remarkable individuals I’ve had the opportunity to meet and connect with.  Furthermore, my involvement has enabled me to explore new cities, ignited my passion on educational issues, improved my self-confidence, and served as a constant reminder of how blessed we all are to have stumbled upon such an incredible profession.  It has become clear to me that, as much as I strive to make meaningful contributions as your Student Representative, it will be difficult to end my term having given more than I have gained in this role.

Finding the Right Fit

Not every student has the desire or freedom to pursue a role within the AANA.  Thankfully, many other opportunities exist for anesthesia students interested in becoming involved in our schools and profession.  Many state associations, for example, welcome the input of students with a desire to express their opinions and make a difference locally.  Furthermore, students should consider volunteering for the position of class representative in order to construct a unifying student voice within their respective universities.  Those looking for short-term involvement opportunities could offer to provide tours of their school or hospital to applicants interviewing for a position in the following year’s incoming class.  Furthermore, I would encourage every student to attend the upcoming AANA Mid-Year Assembly, as it offers SRNAs the opportunity to positively impact our future by representing the nurse anesthesia profession on Capitol Hill over the course of a few short days every spring.

Conclusion

Our passion for our future profession is evident in our willingness to subject ourselves to the nerve-racking anesthesia school application process, rigorous exam schedule, and emotionally challenging clinical training necessary to earn the title of CRNA.  Unfortunately, our passion alone will not protect and promote the nurse anesthesia community as these goals can only be realized through our targeted efforts and continued support.  So whether you choose to leverage your existing talents or challenge yourself by pursuing new activities, choose something.  Get involved.  Doing so will likely benefit your experience as a student and will undoubtedly ensure that the CRNA community you are joining is one you can continue to be proud of.