NYC Gazette

Twenty students from the South Bronx Academy for Applied Media were given an opportunity to learn about the certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) profession on April 4. The event, crafted to introduce middle schoolers to the intricacies of the medical field, was organized and presented by CRNA residents.

Kadesha Bryan, a CRNA doctoral student, took charge of organizing the visit, drawing inspiration from a similar event her classmate Andrew Fernandez organized last year at his former high school in Queens. "We thought this year would be a unique opportunity for us to reach out to an underserved school within the community," Bryan said.

The initiative was met with enthusiasm by the educators at the Bronx school. As Bryan noted, teachers and administrators were eager to have their students "immersed in finding out what is an RN and what is a CRNA."

The day's activities commenced with an introduction to the daily roles of a registered nurse and a CRNA. The residents explained that CRNAs not only administer anesthesia but also play crucial roles in managing patients' anxiety and pain, ensuring a pain-free surgical experience.

The engagement deepened with practical demonstrations of nursing skills by the CRNA doctoral students. This included administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), listening to heart and lung sounds with a stethoscope, and taking a pulse using mannequins. The attendees also had the chance to practice administering intravenous medication and intubation on simulated patients.

The event concluded with a lunch and the distribution of special certificates to each student participant and their accompanying teachers. Sixth-grader Ainara Rodriguez expressed her enjoyment, particularly in learning CPR and practicing intubation. Her classmate, Bella Beltran, discovered a new interest, noting, "I hadn’t known that nurses could become anesthetists."