Running head: ALPS

AVANA Leadership Project for SRNAs

Angelique Davis
Kansas University Medical Center

AVANA Leadership Project for SRNAs

I have been in the military for twelve years and understand the importance of effective
leadership. Through my years of service, starting as a Private in the Army to becoming a Captain in
the Air Force, I have learned the continuum of leadership begins with being an exceptional follower.
Being a follower has allowed me to observe great CRNAs and learn the skills necessary to become a
great anesthetist and a leader myself. Through these years as a student I have concluded that
although leadership is traditionally thought of as a single person whom others look to for guidance, in
nurse anesthesia true leadership is demonstrated best by a group of professionals working together
toward a common goal. Leadership is an integral part of nurse anesthesia that I strive to accomplish
on a daily basis. Staying abreast on current topics in anesthesia assists any provider to make an

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educated decision that may affect the future of the profession as well as the health and wellbeing of
patients.
As a student nurse anesthetist I have been involved in a leadership role as a charge student,
mentoring first year nurse anesthesia students into the operating room, contributing in yearly
interviews for prospective students , being an active participant in Lobby Day in the Kansas
Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and attending Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthetist meetings.
Lobby day afforded me the opportunity to become knowledgeable about current topics associated
with student nurse anesthetists and certified registered nurse anesthetists alike. I was able to meet
with Representative Barbara Bollier at Lobby Day and discuss nurse anesthesia education at The
University of Kansas and the importance that CRNAs play in rural Kansas. The University of
Kansas has prepared me to expand my horizons by belonging to the American Association of Nurse
Anesthetists and Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists, which has sparked my interest to become
more involved in advocacy for the profession.
While I was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I developed a keen sense of self.
Through this reflection and experience with the military I have formed unforgettable memories and
bonds with those I served with. I can relate this experience with my current role as a student nurse
anesthetist where I have been forming new relationships both professional and personal. It is through
becoming a part of something bigger than oneself that any one person can accomplish much more
than initially assumed. Every individual brings a different outlook on the profession of nurse
anesthesia and when combined to form a professional organization, such as the Association of
Veterans Affairs of Nurse Anesthesia, visions are set in motion to aid in the betterment of nurse
anesthesia. A great example that I have been following is the changing of the Veterans Affairs
Nursing Handbook to promote advanced practice registered nurses to practice to the fullest potential

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of their education. This change would allow standardization across the United States and

revolutionize the way we provide health care across the country.

I plan to graduate with my Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia in May of 2016.
My goal is to, again, become actively involved with the Air Force Reserves and resume my role with
the Critical Care Air Transport Team as a nurse anesthetist. I am flexible on location and moving
once I graduate, but would like to attain a job that allows me to practice uninhibited. With this
aspiration in mind, I think that the Veterans Affairs Health System is an enticing opportunity. I
appreciate the camaraderie of those that I have served with and those that have served this country
and would find great satisfaction in providing health care to these individuals.
I invite you to view my electronic professional portfolio providing examples of how I have
met the essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. Included in my electronic
portfolio is my resume, curriculum vitae, summary of the education provided at The University of
Kansas, and additional information concerning my goals. My electronic portfolio can accessed at
http://angeliquedavis.weebly.com/. I sincerely thank you for your time and consideration.