It was a vision change that led to a change in Chad Williams’ vision of the future.
As a teenager, Williams planned to become a fighter pilot. But in high school, he had to start wearing glasses.
“Plans changed,” Williams said. He began exploring careers in the medical and health fields, leading him to his current CRNA role at UNMC.
“I chose nursing because it seemed like a choice that ensured job security with so many different avenues to explore,” he said.
As a senior in high school, Williams said, he was interested in working in surgery when he first learned about certified registered nurse anesthetists. “When I found out about providing anesthesia as a nurse, it solidified my career choice and I set goals to achieve it.”
After he graduated from Clarkson College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing, Williams worked in the intensive care unit at Clarkson Hospital, the same year as the merger with University Hospital, which formed Nebraska Medicine. Williams attended anesthesia school at the Medical College of Georgia and returned to the Midwest after graduating in 2005.
“I practiced for a few years and then returned to Nebraska to be closer to friends and family,” he said. “Coming back to Nebraska Medicine was a natural choice, as it is a well-respected institution and many of my old work colleagues were still working here.”
Williams said he appreciates the many challenging opportunities and the autonomy as a CRNA and encourages anyone interested in a career as a nurse anesthetist to ask questions.
“We work in an environment that isn’t very publicly accessible, and many people, including other nurses, aren’t very familiar with what we do, the many different environments where we practice, nor the academic rigors we went through to earn our degree,” Williams said. “Any of us would be happy to meet and answer any questions.”
When not working, Williams can be found hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, attending concerts, playing records at home, playing the guitar, reading a book or dining out.