Each January, we celebrate National CRNA Week to acknowledge the contributions of certified registered nurse anesthesiologists to our health care system and to our society. These courageous, caring advanced practice nurses administer more than 58 million anesthetics each year, safeguarding the well-being of patients during some of their most vulnerable moments.
I have spent more than three decades as a practicing nurse and am a proud member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). My deep experience in the nursing field has allowed me to see firsthand how big an impact CRNAs make on the lives of people entrusted to our care. We are present to be a beacon of comfort and security amid a sea of uncertainty.
Marquette is home to one of just three nurse anesthetist programs in Wisconsin and the only one in Milwaukee. We fill a vital community need. I see things every day that make me proud as the program director. I greet our first-year students as they enter Marquette, setting aside their prior careers to make the journey as CRNAs. I check in with students as they complete clinical rotations and they share their unique experiences, their aptitude growing all the while. I beam with pride at their end-of-program ceremony each August, when I get to brag about our students with their loved ones in the crowd.
This CRNA Week, we reflect and give thanks to the nurse anesthesiologists. We salute them as leaders, innovators, mentors, educators, advanced practice clinicians and as colleagues. Simply, thank you for all that you do.
Dr. Jay Tumulak
Program Director, Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program
