CRNA Month: Q&A with Natalie Chilton, CRNA            

Q: WHAT/WHO INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE NURSING AS A CAREER? 

A: The flexibility of the nursing profession and wide

Q: WHAT/WHO INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE AN ADVANCED DEGREE IN NURSING?

 A: Working as a circulator in the OR in San Antonio, I worked with several CRNA’s. They encouraged me to work in ICU and to apply to CRNA school. 

Q: HOW DID YOU DECIDE UPON YOUR SPECIALTY FIELD? 

A:        I enjoyed working in the OR and CRNA was the best option for an advanced nurse to stay in the OR.

Q: GIVEN YOUR SETTING AND ROLE, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PRIMARY ACTIVITIES ON A TYPICAL DAY?

        A: Pre-op patients to have them optimized to receive anesthesia. Check on in-patients that received anesthesia the previous day, provide anesthesia for a wide variety of cases, regional anesthesia for post-op pain control as well as OB. 

Q: WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES THUS FAR IN YOUR ADVANCED NURSING CAREER?

      A:  Working “on-call” and having to leave the family at early/late hours. 

Q: Where are you from originally and how did you end up on the Western Slope? 

    A:     Most recently from Texas, moved to Western Slope because we love Colorado but did not want to live on the front range. 

Q: What is your care philosophy when it comes to your patients?

A:         I try to treat patients the way that I would want to be treated. 

Q: Why rural healthcare and what do you love most about it?

A:        I like the community feel of rural healthcare. 

Q: What do you love about working at Delta Health and with the team here?

A:         The whole Surgery department has been a great team to work with. 

Q: Tell us more about your home life: any hobbies, things you enjoy doing on the weekend? Family, children, pets?

 A:        I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, skiing, biking, running, horseback riding, SUP. I like traveling with my husband and daughter. We have two golden retrievers and a cat.