Nurse Uses Creativity to Help Peers Reduce Job-Related Anxiety

Amy Avila, RN, CCRN, CSC, has always loved to draw, but the student registered nurse anesthetist didn’t think to link her passion to her profession until she saw a Facebook post in the spring of 2000. The Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ post suggested using coloring books to calm nerves during the peak of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Ms. Avila, a Doctor of Nursing Practice student at Rosalind Franklin University at the time, was inspired to share her work on the IANA’s Facebook page. Avila’s drawings have helped other CRNAs, SRNAS and other healthcare providers cope with workplace stress through art and relaxation, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA).

“When I started anesthesia school, my first class was gross anatomy,” says Ms. Avila. “I realized that I could combine my love of drawing with human anatomy and it would serve two purposes—relaxation and learning.”

Her sketches of human anatomy and medical equipment have been popular with her peers. One design even graces the front of a CRNA greeting card. Ms. Avila’s work is worth highlighting during Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Week from Jan. 22-28, during which the profession is celebrated each year.

Ms. Avila has been a nurse since 1992 and worked as a critical care nurse before deciding to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). “After being a critical care nurse for a number of years, I thought about what options I had as an advance practice nurse,” explains Ms. Avila. “I was adamant that I not lose the skills I’d honed over my years in the ICU and was excited to deepen my knowledge and experience with taking care of sick patients.”

Becoming a CRNA was perfect for that because it allows passionate professionals to deliver individualized care to patients of all ages and levels of health. “There are so many different settings and work environments available for nurse anesthetists,” she says.

The AANA says CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses who safely administer more than 45 million anesthetics in the United States each year. As the primary firsthand provider of anesthesia care in both civilian and military healthcare settings, CRNAs practice in every type of facility where anesthesia is required for patient care. Due to their expertise in critical care, advanced airway and ventilation management, and more, they served on the frontlines of the pandemic to provide life-saving care to COVID-19 patients.

While that work is heroic and personally rewarding, it taxes CRNAs’ mental health. Ms. Avila says she’s heartened by the cards and notes she’s received from colleagues who have used her sketches to relax.

To see more of Ms. Avila’s work, visit her Pinterest page. AANA is a professional organization that represents more than 59,000 CRNAs and SRNAs nationwide. Visit www.aana.com to learn more about their work.