Mahaska Health Partnership Welcomes CRNA Heather Cadwell to Medical Staff
Heather Cadwell, CRNA
MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership is pleased to welcome Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Heather Cadwell to its Medical Staff.
“The addition of Heather will be a huge asset to expanding Surgical Services at MHP,” MHP CEO Jay Christensen stressed. “She will work closely with our current CRNAs, Alan Pearson and Frank Gorski, to provide expanded availability of anesthesia services to our surgeons.”
Cadwell is a recent graduate of Clarkson College in Omaha, Neb. “I started my nursing career in obstetrics and loved it,” Cadwell shared. “However, when I was helping patients I saw the way a CRNA could change the experience from pain and worry to something so much more enjoyable. I decided I wanted to contribute to that side of the experience for my patients.”
Cadwell said she is looking forward to training with Gorski and Pearson. “I have experience in many different types of nursing and have completed almost seven years of advanced schooling. There is a lot a person can learn through experience and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to practice alongside Frank and Alan.”
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are licensed professional nurses who undergo extensive training to complete a Masters of Nursing. They become nationally certified by exam in order to care for patients’ anesthesia needs before, during and after surgery or the delivery of a baby.
Nurse anesthetists stay with their patients for the entire procedure, constantly monitoring every important body function and individually modifying the aesthetic to ensure maximum safety and comfort. CRNA’s administer approximately 65 percent of the 26 million anaesthetics given to patients in the United States each year.
“When people are in pain or about to undergo surgery they can feel very anxious,” Cadwell said. “I enjoy bringing some peace and calm to the situation.”
Cadwell and her husband are originally from Manillo, Ia., but recently moved to the area with their five children who range in school from kindergarten to 10th grade. “My husband was a huge support while I was commuting for school. It’s so nice to finally be realizing my dream of working as a CRNA and getting to see my family on a regular basis. The family-friendly atmosphere at MHP has been wonderful.”
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641.672.3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
