A Conversation with Jan Duffy, CRNA, MEd, Reflecting on 51 Years of Nurse Anesthesia Practice in Virginia
VANA is proud to recognize Jan Duffy, CRNA, MEd, as the longest-serving VANA member in Virginia. She began her career in the early 1960s and spent more than four decades at Fairfax (now Inova Fairfax) Hospital. In this conversation with VANA, she reflected on her remarkable years of service, the changes she witnessed to her profession, and the advice she has for the next generation of CRNAs.
What first inspired you to become a CRNA?
So much of my drive to become a CRNA was just on-the-job training. A family friend was an anesthesiologist, and while I was in nursing school, he would pull me aside during my rotation to show me different things. That sparked my interest. Back then, many nurse anesthetists trained on the job, as there were no formal programs. After graduating from a three-year diploma nursing program in 1960, I entered an 18-month anesthesia program at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh and graduated in 1963.
What was the profession like when you started?
It was very different. When I first started administering anesthesia, we were using open-drop ether, one of the earliest anesthetics. We would place a mask with gauze over a person’s face and drop ether onto it, which was very primitive compared to today’s techniques. Over time, I saw anesthesia transform with intravenous agents, epidurals, spinals, and sophisticated monitoring equipment. The changes have been extraordinary, both for patients and for practitioners.
Tell us about your early career path.
After training, I worked at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for three years, then moved to Virginia in 1970 to Fairfax Hospital. Because of my pediatric background, I was immediately welcomed. Fairfax also had a school of nurse anesthesia, run by Jan Maninno (former AANA president, 1988) a real pioneer in the field. Within six months, she asked me to be her assistant director. Eventually, I became director and helped transition the program to an affiliation with George Washington University, where I earned my own baccalaureate degree alongside the students.
Later, I completed a master’s in adult education at Virginia Tech, since the profession was shifting toward requiring master’s preparation for educators. I remained on staff at Fairfax for the rest of my career, 44 years in total, focusing on neurosurgery, trauma, and transplants.
How has the profession evolved over your 51 years?
The biggest change has been technology. From monitoring equipment to shorter-acting anesthetic agents, everything has advanced to improve patient safety. The culture of care has also shifted. Procedures that once required week-long hospital stays, like gallbladder surgery, are now much shorter. That being said, we used to spend more time with patients pre- and postoperatively, which I miss. Today, you must put in a concerted effort to connect on that level with all of your patients.
Who were your mentors, and how did they shape your career?
Dr. Joe Marcy at Children’s Hospital hired me before I even finished training and was an early mentor. But most influential was Jan Mannino, the director at Fairfax. She was a trailblazer, a past AANA president, and a visionary for nurse anesthesia education. Without her, I may never have entered the educational side of the field.
Have you served as a mentor yourself?
I hope so. Over the years, I’ve had countless students, many of whom I still call my “ducklings.” At a recent gathering, several came up to thank me for believing in them and giving them a chance. Hearing how I influenced their lives and careers is incredibly meaningful and shows how moments of kindness and concern can shape a life and career.
What were some of the most challenging moments in your career?
Caring for extremely premature infants, sometimes barely a pound and a half, was always daunting. Everything had to be so precise. I also never forgot the two young patients I lost early in my career, both under difficult surgical circumstances. Over 51 years, I anesthetized thousands of patients, from tiny babies to centenarians. To lose only two and never face a lawsuit speaks to the care we provided. I tried to remember during my most difficult cases that if a case was sent to my door, it was because someone believed I could handle it or that I was the most qualified to respond.
And the most joyful moments throughout your career?
Every time a patient came through safely and free of pain, it was a joy. Knowing I could relieve someone’s suffering, even temporarily, was deeply rewarding.
What qualities do you think make a great CRNA?
Knowledge, compassion, empathy, and teamwork. It’s never just a job, it’s a patient’s life in your hands. Trust, both in yourself and in your surgical team, is essential. And know that the more you work on a team and with the professionals around you, the more you become a well-oiled machine. You can provide better patient care when you have a strong team.
What advice would you give to new CRNAs?
Keep learning, every single day! Value the trust patients place in you, because they are putting their lives in your hands and that is the single most important thing they can do. And please, become active in your state and national associations! There’s power in numbers, and advocacy is critical to protecting the integrity of our profession.
After such a long career, what does being a CRNA mean to you?
It means I had a wonderful, fulfilling career. I never looked back wishing I had done something else. I gave the best care I could every single day, and I’m proud of that.
How are you spending your retirement?
I retired in 2014 after 44 years at Fairfax. Now, I lead an active life. I walk three to four miles a day, do strength training, travel with my children and five grandchildren, and spend time with friends. I’m determined to make the most of my time.
Jan Duffy, CRNA, MEd, served 51 years as a nurse anesthetist, including more than four decades at Inova Fairfax Hospital. She remains an enduring role model for generations of CRNAs in Virginia and beyond.
