In celebration of Nurse Anesthetists Week, Somnia Anesthesia has once again launched its CRNA of the Year contest. CRNAs can be nominated at somnia.s7.devpreviewr.com/careers-category/crnas-jobs/ by a fellow CRNA, physician, or other healthcare professional. The winner, who will be selected by a panel of senior-level healthcare clinicians and administrators, will be announced on February 26 during a webinar co-hosted by Somnia and GasWork.com, “Identifying and Developing Clinical Anesthesia Leadership.” The winner will receive an iPad mini and have the opportunity to speak during the presentation.
We recently spoke with last year’s winner Holly Robins, CRNA, MS, MBA, manager of nurse anesthesia at Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT. Ms. Robins answered a few questions regarding last year’s contest and the words of wisdom she would give new CRNA grads:
Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz gave you a very strong and glowing nomination. Did you know he was going to nominate you or was it a surprise? Did you know he held you in such high esteem?
I was very surprised and honored to be nominated. Dr. Schwartz and I have worked closely together for many years. He did not tell me he was nominating me, so I really didn’t know.
As part of being named CRNA of the Year last year, you were also awarded an iPad 2. What’s the best app you’ve downloaded?
I love the new iPad and use it for scheduling more than anything else. A large part of my day is in dealing with schedules, so it is great to have such a portable device.
What advice would you give to nurse anesthetists fresh out of residency programs or just starting their careers?
I would say to all the new graduates that the best advice I can give them is to try to experience as many different areas of expertise as they can when they first graduate. The learning continues well after graduation. I would also encourage them to become active in our professional organizations at both a state and national level. So much of what we do and give to our patients is organized through these groups. What we do really matters!