Thomas

What a typical work shift is like for me

Because I have three distinct roles, each day presents new and different challenges.

During academic days, there is no “shift”...the day continues until the students no longer need me. As an administrator, “shift work” is replaced by never-ending availability via email, text and phone. I would not have it any other way. My staff is very important to me and when they need me, I need to be there for them.

The only “shift work” I maintain is during my clinical days. Prior to my administrative role, I would typically work 12–16 hour days, delivering anesthesia care to my patients. Now with my expanded roles outside of the operating room, I cap my clinical day to 8–10 hours.

The clinical pace is dependent on the environment, but overall, the preoperative world is a very dynamic and fast-paced environment, which CRNAs thrive in!

It is a challenge for an anesthesia provider to make sure that we can safely take that tube out. And the risk is that we won't be able to, and they’re going to have that tube in for an extended period of time. And no one wants that.

So, I altered my anesthetic plan to focus on that. We got through the procedure with the surgeon’s help and with a very clear, defined timeline, without having to breathe for her. I was able to maintain her own spontaneous respirations. We dropped her off in the recovery room still breathing on her own. So that was a huge postoperative complication that was successfully sidestepped.