1

Social Networking Transcript

The first individual that I interviewed is someone who has reached many of the goals that
I wish to achieve. Her name is Anita Law and she is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at
the Montgomery General Hospital in Montgomery, West Virginia. She is a wife, a mother, and a
huge inspiration to me.

1.) Why did you choose this profession? Do you ever wish you had gone another route?
I chose the nursing profession because I wanted to be a nurse since I was a child. I have
always wanted to help others. Registered nurses have many roles, such as caregiver,
educator, and patient advocate. Registered nurses work in many settings, such as
hospitals, clinics, home health, and physicians offices. After working as a registered
nurse, I decided that it was time to further my career. A Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist (CRNA) told me about his profession, and the role of a CRNA. After a great
deal of consideration, I decided that that would be a great avenue to pursue. I would
administer anesthesia to one patient at a time, during a surgical procedure. I would
administer medications that would render a patient unconscious, they would have
amnesia, and not experience pain. CRNAs also have different settings in which they
could work, such as hospitals, outpatient areas, and pain clinics. No, I did not want
another route. I am happy with my choice.
2.) What motivates you every day to get up and go to work?
My motivation to get up every day is the reward of delivering safe anesthesia to my
patients. Often, especially after a short procedure, a patient will often ask, Is it over? or
say That wasnt bad at all. This is a great feeling.
3.) What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite thing about my job is the fact that I am a part of a team of healthcare workers
that have a major role in the care of a patient undergoing surgery. I am the advocate and

2
the eyes of a patient that is receiving anesthesia. I administer several medications safely
to a patient, while monitoring their vital signs, and maintaining their life.
4.) What is your least favorite thing about your job?
The least favorite thing about my job is the fact that we have to take call. When youre
on call, you may have to work long hours, or work on weekends and holidays. At my last
position, when the scheduled OR cases were completed, I could go home but had to
remain on beeper until the next morning. I did not love the idea of getting called back to
work.
5.) What skills would you say that one needs in order to succeed in this field?
In order to succeed in this field, you must have good communication skills, writing and
computer skills, and a knowledge of math and science, starting IVs, and technical skills
such as placing central lines, regional skills such as spinals and epidurals, other nerve
blocks, and administering general anesthesia.
6.) Recently, I attended a seminar and the woman speaking was a nurse. She said that
the only job harder than being a nurse was being the president. Would you agree?
Why or why not?
I am not sure about the statement that the only job harder than being a nurse is the
President. Nursing is not an easy job. It is stressful and very demanding. These aspects
are similar to a Presidents position. We do consider many aspects of our patients when
we care for them, beginning with their vital signs and if their pulse, blood pressure,
temperature and respirations are normal. We also monitor their oxygenation, color and
lab values. I do agree that the President has a great deal of issues and problems, that one
would like to solve on a daily basis.
7.) How do you manage to maintain a social life, a work life, and still have time for your
family?
It does take some planning to maintain your personal life while working as a CRNA.
Nursing is a very demanding profession and you must balance your job, family and social

3
life with careful planning. My two sons are now college age, but I remembered after
God, my family was a priority. My husband and I both worked, but on our days off, I
tried to spend time with family especially my sons, and tried to attend different events
that they were involved in such as school programs, sports, and church on Sunday. I
often neglected my house because I would rather spend time with my family trying to
enjoy them.
8.) Is there anything you wish youd known before entering this field?
I wish that I had known that there were several licensures and recertifications that I had to
maintain. I have to renew my RN license yearly, CRNA recertifications every 2 years,
and maintain BLS, ACLS, and PALS. This is very much needed but I did not realize that
early on in my career.
9.) What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
One of the biggest challenges that I have faced is that you are still faced with the
possibility of a patient dying - especially an elderly patient who has many co-morbidities,
and must have emergency surgery. The patient may survive the surgery or they may not.
Often they survive surgery and anesthesia but do not live to return home.
10.) Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to become a nurse?
I love nursing and feel that anyone who desires to be a nurse can overcome any obstacles.
You must be strong, compassionate, have a great interest in math and science, and have the
desire to care and help others. You must realize that you have great days where everything
falls into place, but there will also be challenges when caring for someone. Some physicians
are not always pleasant to deal with. If you have a caring attitude and readiness to learn, you
can do it.

The second person that I interviewed is someone who motivates and inspires me. She is
hands down the most phenomenal woman that I have ever met, though I may be a little biased

4
because I am her daughter. My mother, Michelle Hoover, is incredibly hard-working, and she is
currently a quality assurance representative for TZ Insurance in Beckley, West Virginia.

1.) What has made you the person you are today?
Honestly, you make me who I am. Having you made me want to do better.
2.) If you had the option to go back and change just one thing about your life, would you?
If so, what would it be?
That is a hard question, but I think I would have gone to college. When I was growing up, no one
really talked to us about college so it would have been nice to have that. I would have gone into
the medical field, instead of where I am now.
3.) What kind of work does your current job consist of?
I monitor phone calls for MetLife Insurance and Aetna Insurance.
4.) Do you enjoy it?
Yes, and believe it or not, I have learned a lot from it. The main thing being that everyone needs
life insurance!
5.) Would you recommend this profession to others?
No, because I dont want them taking my job. Just kidding, of course I would. Its a great field.
6.) Is there anything you wish you had known before applying for this position?
I wish that I had known more about life insurance; that knowledge would help me with my job a
lot.
7.) What is your favorite thing about your job? Least favorite?

5
My favorite thing has to be the community. My bosses and coworkers are a great team to work
with, even though they play jokes on us all the time. Its a nice environment to work in. My least
favorite thing is hands down the parking. It sucks.
8.) What challenges do you face?
The only challenges I face are those of every day life. My job is pretty easy-going.
9.) What are the opportunities for advancement?
Workers can move up further in the company and become managers, supervisors, etc.
10.) Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to enter this field?
Background experience in life insurance would be helpful.