#5 – The CRNA Chase with Kiki Mattress, MSNA, CRNA

Kiki Mattress, MSNA, CRNA runs the blog The CRNA Chase which seeks to “empower, inspire, and educate” people who are interested in becoming CRNAs. In this episode, I talk with Kiki about her journey to become a CRNA and her passion for helping others understand and be successful on that same path. “Don’t just talk about it, be about it!” Kiki Mattress, MSNA, CRNA on what it takes to become a CRNA. Kiki’s professional career started after an Associate’s Degree in Engineering from Tri-County Technical College.  After working in engineering and deciding it wasn’t the path she wanted to continue on, Kiki returned to Tri-County for a diploma as a surgical technologist.  While she was working in the OR as a surgical tech she first met a CRNA who became a mentor to her and encouraged her to return to nursing and then anesthesia school.  Kiki took up that path with another Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Tri-County followed by her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina Upstate and then her Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from the University of New England.  Upon graduating from UNE, Kiki moved back to South Carolina where she works as an independently contracting CRNA.  You don’t want to miss this episode and if you’re already a SRNA or CRNA, forward this show on to the people you know who are thinking about becoming CRNAs! Resources: The CRNA Chase Blog Follow The CRNA Chase on Twitter Connect with Kiki Mattress on LinkedIn Itzkoff, D. (2020, September 16). Chris Rock Tried to Warn Us. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com