Shadow Experience - Essay Sample

Introduction

As a healthcare professional, there is a level of resilience that embodies every individual who chooses to enter the field of anesthesiology. Before I decided to advance into the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) profession, I understood that this journey would require a high level of undeniable commitment throughout the course. While working as a registered nurse at Brandon Regional Hospital, I began the life-changing mission of shadowing the most talented anesthesia providers within their respective fields'.

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My first shadow experience began with Dr Trelvis Ragin, a licensed anesthesiologist. Afterwards, I shadowed CRNAs Carol Hockings and Aquanya Hicks. However, the most important lesson that I learned throughout every shadowing experience is that all three professionals embodied the same core competencies and strengths. The key attributes that they all displayed were confidence, intellect, leadership, and the undeniable benefit of relying on their professional career experience. They were all faced with the requirements of continually mastering evolving healthcare technology and complex pharmacology. Most importantly, they each employed the advanced communication skills that were required to lead, collaborate, and to be the patient's most tenacious advocate, eliminating all components of potential risk (Angelo, 2019). Dr Ragin, Carol Hockings CRNA, and Aquanya Hicks CRNA were all women who brought their unique qualities and talents to each patient's surgery. The outcomes of their efforts were appreciated, and I was able to learn a lesson from them.

Shadowing Dr Ragin involved watching her demonstrate a superior leadership level by overseeing CRNAs inside and outside the operating room. Dr Ragin supervised during anesthesia induction. She thoroughly reviewed the patient's medical records and performed pre-anesthetic assessments. Since Dr Ragin is a licensed anesthesiologist, her primary role in the operating room was to closely monitor the anesthesia team while ensuring that the patients' overall safety was a top priority. She maintained a high level of calm leadership during all pre-operative assessments. The most important lesson that I learned during this phase was that Dr Ragin was pivotal in ensuring that all aspects of the patient's safety remained a top priority throughout all aspects of surgery. This was achieved by proactively conducting thorough medical evaluations to ensure that all vital functions were monitored appropriately during surgery. Dr Ragin was responsible for patient care throughout the entire surgical experience to include before, during, and after surgery assessments. The patient care level holds a vital role within the healthcare team. It provides more of a leadership component on various medical directives, both inside and outside the operating room (University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2020). Throughout the entire process, I carefully watched Dr Ragin manage all these duties with a level of strength, and strict enforcement as she thoroughly explained all instructions to multiple levels of a diverse healthcare team. She handled all of these activities while exhibiting an unbiased structure of professional guidance, which is presents excellent leadership skills required for this profession.

During my tenure at Brandon Regional Hospital, I also had the opportunity to shadow another anesthesia provider, Carol Hockings, who worked as a CRNA within the operating room during gynecological surgeries. The surgical procedures that I shadowed included a cervical cone biopsy and a dilation and curettage (D&C). Hockings demonstrated excellent leadership skills while initiating patients into anesthesia induction as a lead member of the surgery team. I observed Hockings administer anesthesia, provide airway management, and continuously assess and monitor her patients for changes that required interventions, such as adjusting the amount of anesthetic to deliver to patients before and during surgeries. I spent several hours across two shifts shadowing Hockings, and the magnitude of this experience set the trajectory towards furthering my education and solidified my decision to become a CRNA. Hockings' operations were an inspiration to me, and I realized how much I could achieve in helping people save lives through this profession.

My last shadow experience was with CRNA Aquanya Hicks at Saint Joseph Hospital South, located in Riverview, Florida. I recognized that this was the final phase of my shadowing experience and committed to dedicating a wealth of hours observing Hicks. During this duration, I watched the induction of general anesthesia, placement of arterial lines, colon resection with transversus abdominis plane block, right hip arthroplasty procedure, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In addition to other endoscopic procedures. I diligently watched each surgery as Hicks demonstrated competent and compassionate care - while interacting with the lead surgeons on staff. Hicks further exemplified her knowledge by working in tandem with the supervising anesthesiologist, Dr Alexander Paloma.

Collaboration within the operating room has been linked positively with higher patient satisfaction and improved patient outcomes, which is beneficial for all members of the healthcare team involved in direct patient care (Jones & Fitzpatrick, 2009). As healthcare needs continue to evolve on a national platform, so does the need to educate and train qualified professionals who are dedicated to patient safety and quality care. My mission is to take these shadowing experiences and carry on the work of continuing to help save lives. My experience throughout all the shadowing programs significantly motivated me to pursue the CRNA profession to achieve my objectives in my career.

References

Jones, F., & Fitzpatrick (2009). CRNA-Physician Collaboration in Anesthesia. Retrieved from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2ff6/fb6c34eb9596fa851d3ea3790ba4eaa8a5e7.pdf

St. Angelo, S. (2019, November 6). CRNA: Living the Dream. Retrieved From: https://magazine.nursing.jhu.edu/2019/11/crna/

University of Maryland School of Medicine. (2020, May 18). Role of the Anesthesiologist. Retrieved From: https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/Anesthesiology/Patient- Information/Role-of-the-Anesthesiologist/