I am an active US Air Force Reservist and, for the last four years, I have worked as a qualified flight nurse in an Air Force Aero-medical Evacuation Squadron. In my civil nursing career I have undertaken a very wide variety of roles since qualifying in 1996. I now seek to apply and extend my significant nursing experience, knowledge and skills by training in this demanding specialist field and to become a highly skilled and effective Nurse Anesthetist.
I have been deployed in two combat zones as a Reserve servicewoman, Iraq and Afghanistan and have provided casualties with pain relief in-flight, often independently in the absence of a flight surgeon. Upon my return to the US after my last war zone deployment, I chose to work in PACU to extend my knowledge of anesthesia and pain management before the ICU phase. I feel that my background provides me with an excellent foundation for success in the program. I love working in the military and it is my intention to continue my reserve service to assist my fellow servicemen and women, once qualified.
I have carefully considered the future nursing roles available to someone with my long experience, interests and personal characteristics. I have firmly concluded that the CRNA role is the optimum ‘way forward’. I am attracted to this specialty because it will also provide the significant academic and professional challenges that I seek. The CRNA role is a prestigious one that provides the autonomy that I am used to exercising. The specialty’s critical and technical aspects also appeal to me.
I believe that the role will enable me to apply all my significant critical care knowledge and experience. However, its main appeal lies in the opportunity to become a highly skilled ‘pain manager’ and to exercise my caring skills in dealing with the natural and common anxiety of patients about the anesthesia process. I am aware that the specialty is constantly evolving and am excited at the prospect of being involved in researching and applying innovative pain management techniques.
I have thoroughly familiarized myself with the CRNA’s role and I understand that the program will be demanding and will call for a very significant investment of time and commitment on my part. I also appreciate that the program requires above average academic ability, nursing skill and knowledge together with an ability to understand and apply highly technical information. I make this application after careful consideration of these facts with confidence that I possess the necessary ability and personal characteristics to excel in the program and professionally thereafter.
I was born in St. Lucia and am of Caribbean descent. I have very happily studied, worked and socialized with people of many social and cultural backgrounds and look forward to extending this experience in the program and in my career thereafter. My military experience has also given me a greater understanding of myself, enhanced my understanding of effective teamwork, called for the application of initiative in critical situations and has called up characteristics that I might not otherwise have known that I possessed.
I have very carefully researched the CRNA programs available and have been very impressed by the universally positive feedback from employers about the quality of XXX CRNA graduates. This clearly indicates that its promise to provide highly comprehensive training both in theoretical and practical aspects, that I seek, is being fulfilled. Several anesthetists have recommended your program and I have been highly impressed with the quality of newly qualified RN’s with whom I have worked who have graduated from XXXX. I believe that my background will enable me to bring some unusual and useful insights to my class in the program.
I know that the program will attract many well qualified applicants. However, I consider myself to be an excellent candidate. I am a highly experienced nurse who has filled roles directly applicable to the program with the commitment and passion for the specialty that will enable me to excel within the program and, not least, a genuine desire to assist patients undergoing surgery to make the process as painless and stress free as is possible. I undertake to apply myself fully to the program and to work to excel within it.
