Meet a New SRNA: Jena Conway
This fall, VANA had the opportunity to speak with Jena Conway, an SRNA from Mary Baldwin University. If you’re a student interested in speaking to The Monitor about your experience, please reach out to the communications committee.
Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?
I’ve been a nurse for five years now. After graduation, I began my work in a critical access hospital in a small ICU and then moved to Virginia and began working at the University of Virginia in their medical ICU for two years before I began travel nursing. At that point, I was accepted into Mary Baldwin’s program, which I started during the fall of 2022.
I’m a member of the first cohort of students from Mary Baldwin’s CRNA program, which is really exciting! I’ve always loved the idea of being part of something new and this has been a really good experience. I’m in my second year now, but the first year was a hybrid approach. It was didactic work and the second year is clinical. The faculty is supportive and the curriculum is great. There are also plenty of incredible clinical sites that I’m excited about.
What made you decide to make the jump to CRNA work?
Before making my choice to continue my education, I loved my time as an ICU nurse and didn’t know a lot about what CRNAs did, but I had a really incredible interaction with a CRNA who opened my eyes to the possibility. I had the opportunity to see how CRNAs are able to gracefully assume care to all kinds of patients and safely provide anesthesia, and how many of my existing skills would transfer and grow with additional training.
I love that in this new role I’ll have the opportunity to put someone’s mind at ease ahead of a surgery or procedure and bring peace of mind and calm in an otherwise overwhelming situation.
Can you share more about your experience as a member of the first Mary Baldwin cohort of students?
I’m sure some students might have some skepticism being part of the first cohort of a program without any statistics, but the faculty here is really what has put my mind at ease. They are extremely supportive, flexible, adaptive, and open to any feedback we’ve given them throughout the past year.
As students, we’re learning but so are they. I’m confident this program will be successful because they’re just as willing to grow and adapt as every single one of us – we’re all committed to being successful together and want to do what’s best.
Also, our program has students from all over the United States. With a hybrid first year, participants were able to stay home for an entire year and learn where they were, which opened the door to more students from more diverse backgrounds.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m just beginning my clinical experience, so I’m not sure what specialty I’ll most be pulled toward or what setting I’ll end up in, but I know I want to stay in the Virginia area and provide anesthesia services within Virginia. I’m trying to stay open minded this year!
Mary Baldwin also offers the opportunity to participate in a mission trip during a student’s third year, which is something I’m definitely interested in pursuing.
How can Mary Baldwin support SRNA student needs?
The biggest thing is a willingness to teach and guide from those within the CRNA profession. That helps us learn better than anything else. Promoting a safe and open learning environment to bring new students into the profession is so important while we continue to grow our field.
Can you share any mentors or leaders who helped to guide your path as an SRNA?
Absolutely! I want to recognize our program director at Mary Baldwin, Jen McPherson. She’s such a positive light for my cohort and the one following ours. She’s incredibly supportive and wants to help us be as successful as possible. She exhibits all of the qualities we each hope to have as CRNAs one day.
Why should students be involved in professional organizations like VANA?
Students should absolutely be involved in organizations like VANA. VANA is critical to the success of our profession to our ability to provide care within Virginia. Legislative changes are happening regularly in our state and as students, we need to understand how to advocate for our own profession and future. If we start early, we’ll be more apt to continue throughout our careers and will be able to move into those critical leadership roles over time.
As our membership continues to get older and we get busier, it’s so important that we each do what we can to support VANA’s mission whenever possible. We need to advocate for our right to practice – we continue to fight legislatively and without SRNAs stepping up to take on those battles alongside the rest of VANA membership, we won’t have the support we count on today.
