Nursing Profiles

Wallena G.

Vineland, NJ
CRNA, MSN

I was an auditor in New York City before I chose nursing as a career. I did so because it allowed me to take care of patients on a daily basis and to be part of a personable and caring profession. My position was as a perioperative nurse, where I scrubbed and circulated as my responsibility. It was in the operating room that I was introduced to the nurse anesthesia staff. I became interested in that profession as an advanced practice nurse and left the OR and ended up in the trauma unit.

I then applied for a nurse anesthesia program in Philadelphia. I was prepared for the rigors of school, even while balancing family responsibilities. Presently, I am the Chief Nurse Anesthetist and primarily administer anesthesia for bariatric patients. I love the autonomy and the awesome responsibility of being an integral part of the surgical patient care.

Also, I am the coordinator of the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program. Mentoring minority nurse anesthesia students and ICU nurses from across the country is my way of giving back, as an agent of change.