09/17/2021
Congratulations to one of our own!!!!
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist of the Year
Rhode Island Monthly(see Link)
https://www.rimonthly.com/excellence-in-nursing-awards-2021/4/
David Dawson,
CDR, NC, USN-R, MSNA, CRNA
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Narragansett Bay Anesthesia and Kent Hospital
How did you get into nursing?
It started with a series of unfortunate events. During my senior year high school homecoming football game, I injured my shoulder on the opening kick. While being checked out on the sideline, the next play made its way to where I was standing and took my legs out from under me, leaving me with a broken collarbone and a leg fracture. During my recovery at home, a Navy recruiter called and asked me a question that I will never forget: “What do you plan on doing with the rest of your life?” So, you guessed it, I joined the Navy! I began my enlistment as a Hospital Corpsman with the Marines and later became a Nurse Corps Officer after using my GI bill to complete my nursing degree. As for choosing this specialty, I was inspired by a Navy mentor who was a CRNA and educator. She expressed that she thought this career path would be a great fit after the experiences I had both in the Navy and as a pediatric trauma nurse and TICU nurse.
Tell us about the hand you had in protecting Kent Hospital anesthesia staff during the pandemic.
In the beginning of the COVID outbreak here in the U.S., there were still a lot of unknowns. Health care providers were reaching out to each other to find out best practices both locally and overseas. PPE shortages were a main concern, and it was apparent that we needed to focus on the conservation of masks, particularly N95s. During this fearful time, I felt compelled to find alternative means to keep myself and co-workers safe. I was inspired by the Italian health care workers who constructed PPE out of snorkel masks and decided to build one that could work for us not only locally, but for shipmates who were being deployed for COVID response. The masks were used by peers working out of state, and fortunately for us, our supply of N95s, CAPR and PAPRs were replenished. Despite not needing to be used at a high demand, it offered a sense of protection for those who were at risk every day. The full scuba masks were easy to clean, offered complete facial coverage and helped ease the stress of not having available PPE during an uncertain time.
What do you wish more people knew about your role?
We can administer anesthesia in every anesthesia setting. CRNAs have a long history as wartime anesthesia providers, dating back more than 150 years. In the military, nurses first provided anesthesia during the American Civil War, and during World War I, nurse anesthetists became the primary providers to care for wounded soldiers on the front lines. Throughout every branch of the military, CRNAs have full practice autonomy, and we provide anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on the front lines, aboard naval ships and within military hospitals nationally and abroad.
