Nursing is a profession centered around helping others, a quality shared by certified registered nurse anesthetists Melissa Smith, Jaime Kobs and Jessica Buell.
Smith, Kobs and Buell serve on the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology’s Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist Education Committee.
The CRNAs in the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology coordinate with Bryan College of Health Sciences in Lincoln and Clarkson College in Omaha to provide training in clinical settings, mentorship and guidance to students in advanced degree programs. The SRNA education committee members coordinate with the college to fill clinical rotation spots each semester.
In addition to creating the schedule, Buell works with SRNAs to ensure they are learning skills in a variety of clinical settings. “It’s a rigorous program and it’s very stressful on students to go through a graduate degree program, especially at Nebraska Medicine with the complexity of patients and cases,” she said. “I try to ease that the best I can with their schedules.”
Smith said part of mentorship involves ensuring the SRNA’s mental and physical health needs are being met and recognizes the importance of prioritizing mentorship. “It’s easy to slip — it’s a stressful and intense time,” she said. “I feel like we’re really good point people for them if they’re struggling.”
“Our students work so hard, and we want to hold them to a high academic standard while promoting positivity and wellness in their daily lives,” Kobs said. Building these strong connections and support systems within the community will result in a positive learning experience and potentially increase retention, she added.
“A positive experience with us is hopefully shaping them into being future colleagues,” said Smith. “They know the system and are already comfortable with our team because they’ve been training with us.”
Kobs adds that fostering a positive culture is imperative for recruitment. “The SRNAs are the future of our profession,” she said. “We take their feedback seriously and use it to help affect change.”
Buell said she finds it personally gratifying that students come to her to talk things through. “I try to be the best advocate and mentor for our SNRAs,” she said. “It’s rewarding to know I am approachable, and they feel comfortable to sit and have conversations about life and their careers during their time at Nebraska Medicine.”
The SRNA education committee members bring unique skills to the table, but it is their commitment to advancing the education and training of SRNAs along with a desire to help and serve others that unifies them.
“Watching the students grow from day one to being able to manage a case by themselves, and watching them gain the confidence to be successful, is so rewarding,” Kobs said.