Meet Mathew, a dedicated Army Corps CRNA whose journey to nurse anesthesia was anything but straightforward. With a solid footing on a medical surgical floor, Mathew journeyed his way through nursing in home health and a mixed Intensive care unit setting before becoming inspired to pursue anesthesia in nursing.

The path wasn’t easy—facing initial rejection from the very program he would eventually graduate from, Mathew had to dig deep to maintain his persistence and unwavering focus on his goal.

Throughout multiple applications and the rigorous demands of CRNA school, Mathew found invaluable support through the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program, which provided guidance and encouragement during both his academic journey and early career. This mentorship proved instrumental in helping him navigate challenges and stay motivated when the going got tough.

Today, as a practicing CRNA in the Army Corps, Mathew has achieved his dream of providing compassionate, high-level care to patients in critical moments. He’s candid about appreciating not just the clinical fulfillment of his role, but also the financial stability and opportunities that come with the advanced practice specialty he worked so hard to attain.

Mathew’s story showcases the power of persistence, the importance of mentorship in healthcare, and how dedication to both patient care and personal goals can create a rewarding career in military nursing anesthesia.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Meet Mathew, a dedicated Army Corps CRNA whose journey to nurse anesthesia was anything but straightforward. With a solid footing on a medical surgical floor, Mathew journeyed his way through nursing in home health and a mixed Intensive care unit setting before becoming inspired to pursue anesthesia in nursing.

The path wasn’t easy—facing initial rejection from the very program he would eventually graduate from, Mathew had to dig deep to maintain his persistence and unwavering focus on his goal.

Throughout multiple applications and the rigorous demands of CRNA school, Mathew found invaluable support through the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program, which provided guidance and encouragement during both his academic journey and early career. This mentorship proved instrumental in helping him navigate challenges and stay motivated when the going got tough.

Today, as a practicing CRNA in the Army Corps, Mathew has achieved his dream of providing compassionate, high-level care to patients in critical moments. He’s candid about appreciating not just the clinical fulfillment of his role, but also the financial stability and opportunities that come with the advanced practice specialty he worked so hard to attain.

Mathew’s story showcases the power of persistence, the importance of mentorship in healthcare, and how dedication to both patient care and personal goals can create a rewarding career in military nursing anesthesia.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

What happens when your childhood disease becomes your life’s calling? This week’s guest, Nurse Danie discovered her purpose in the pediatric ICU, where her own battle with sickle cell anemia transformed into a superpower for healing young patients.

As a child navigating countless hospital stays, she never imagined she’d one day be the nurse offering comfort to families in their darkest moments. But sometimes our greatest wounds become our greatest gifts. After years in the PICU, witnessing miracles and heartbreak in equal measure, motherhood shifted everything. A divine nudge led her to step back from bedside care into nurse coordination—where she now bridges the gap between families and the medical system that once intimidated her.

This is a story about turning trauma into triumph, finding God’s voice in career transitions, and how lived experience can make you the exact person someone else needs to meet. Whether you’re in healthcare, considering a career change, or wondering how your struggles might serve others, this conversation will remind you that nothing in your story is wasted.

Tune in to hear how sickle cell shaped a calling, why she left the PICU she loved, and the moment obedience trumped comfort in her career journey.