Rhonda Provost, CRNA

Bio

I am a former New Englander who was raised in Quincy, Massachusetts, a city about ten miles south of historic Boston. I attended both the School of Nursing and Nurse Anesthesia School at Quincy City Hospital. I received my certificate in Nurse Anesthesia in 1971. After seven years of specializing in the administration of pediatric anesthesia at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston, I obtained my BS in Nurse Anesthesia at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.. In 1978 I returned to Boston to serve as the acting director for the Nurse Anesthesia program at New England Medical Center Hospital in Boston. In 1979 I relocated to Northern California where I joined the Kaiser Permanente organization in Redwood City and eventually assumed the role of Chief CRNA. I served as the startup manager of the department of Anesthesiology at the Santa Rosa Medical Center in 1989, and I remain a member of the department as a staff CRNA. I feel grateful to have been part of this wonderful organization for 27 years. Kaiser Permanente has fostered my development as a CRNA not only professionally, but personally as well. In 1997 I graduated with my MSN from Samuel Merritt College in Oakland.

I am an amateur athlete who has co-authored several books on fitness-related topics. My specialty is endurance sports including marathons, ultramarathons, and triathlons. I serve as a member of the camp staff for the Dick Beardsley Marathon Training Camp. I volunteer as Medical Coordinator for the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon as well as Medical Chief at the Red Star Ridge aid station (16.5 miles) on the Western States 100-mile endurance run course. I also volunteer at the annual Youth Park picnic in Forestville, CA.

I currently reside in Forestville, CA with my husband, Richard, who is a writer/editor and publishes a bimonthly magazine, Marathon & Beyond. We recently adopted a new feline member, Katrina, into our family. She's a survivor of the hurricane by the same name. My lifestyle is an active one with travel, running, community, family and friends occupying much of my time.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

As a student nurse, I had exposure to CRNAs where I trained. The older sister of one of my fellow student nurses was a student nurse anesthetist who persuaded me to consider nurse anesthesia as a profession. I knew I wanted more professional stimulation and challenge as a nurse, so I decided to give it a go. Being a CRNA has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life for it affords me the opportunity to advocate for, and serve patients who are anxious, in pain, or suffering physically or emotionally.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

The topic of Awareness Under Anesthesia is of particular interest to me. Much has been learned about this fascinating topic that helps us reduce its incidence in those receive our services. Other specific areas of interest for me are teamwork, communication, and the human factors aspect of Patient Safety including conflict resolution. During my graduate work I became impassioned about and immersed in the topic of the Anesthesia Care Team. I conducted research on Developing Effective Partnerships in Anesthesiology as part of my Synthesis Project. The result of my work was presented at the AANA Annual Meeting in Boston in 1999. In 2002 I was a presenter at the 16th Annual Kaiser Permanente Anesthesiology Symposium: "Anesthesiology: It's a Team Sport!" in San Francisco. At the facility level, I have conducted three day-long Partnership Education Forums for members of all departments in the Medical Center, as well as a Difficult Airway In-service. I am an active member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and a certified facilitator in Dialogic, a program that teaches practices for effective conversations.

Current projects or research:

My interest in teamwork has expanded to include interdisciplinary teamwork. Kaiser Santa Rosa has applied for Magnet designation status. The Magnet award is the highest level of recognition that the American Nurses Credentialling Center accords to organized nursing services. As part of that program I am a member of the Interdisciplinary Relationships committee. I also serve as an ad hoc member of the Risk Reduction Committee at the Medical Center.

Great health resources that I refer to:

One of my favorite health resources is the Wellness Letter out of the University of California, Berkeley. As a charter subscriber, it continues to keep me current in nutrition, fitness, and self-care.

An interesting story from my training:

With regards to my anesthesia training, it might be of interest and amusement to know that I learned to administer anesthesia with open-drop ether. I also actually administered cyclopropane! Does that make me old!?

Photos from My Training Years or of Practicing Medicine in My Field:

It was a very good time...

Interests

Currently reading:
Angels and Demons

My favorite book or author:
Richard Benyo

Great movie:
Braveheart

Hobby Photos & Links:

Beantown April 2005

Marathon and Beyond

Family & Friends

People in my life:

When describing my husband I always tell people, "I got one of the last of the good guys". I could write pages of glowing text about him, but high on his list of attributes is his ability to make me (and many others) laugh. What a gift!

My children and people I care about:

My mother, my friend, who blessed me with the gift of life itself, turns 90 this year. Since she was diagnosed as being memory impaired, we just remain happy in the moment.

An interesting story about my family or friends:

As one of seven children (six girls, one boy), I grew up singing with my siblings as we did chores at home, in performances at school, and in choir at our church. As adults "we girls" sang at the wedding of our beloved only brother and his wife.

Photos of my Family & Friends:

Marathon & Beyond Expo

Thanks for the memories

We Are Fam-i-ly

One year to the month after putting our cat of 20 years down, we adopted hurricane survivor, Katrina, from a local animal shelter. I should say she adopted us since everybody knows you don't pick cats, they pick you.

Pet Photos:

An immigrant from New Orleans

Travel

An adventure I've had:

In August 1995 I became the first woman to attempt and complete the 300-mile Death Valley to Mt. Whitney out-and-back run. Through the inspiration, encouragement, and support of my world-class team, it truly became a divinely inspired run.

Favorite place in the world:

My favorite place in the world is that peaceful place within me because that's where I find God (whatever you conceive Him to be). I experience that peace and serenity in old-growth Redwood Forests. For me, they are church.

This is their temple, vaulted high,
And here we pause with reverent eye.
With silent tongue and awe-struck soul,
For here we sense life's proper goal.

To be like these, straight, true and fine,
To make our world, like theirs, a shrine.
Sink down, Oh traveler, on your knees,
God stands before you in these trees.

One of my recent trips:

Although cruises are not among our favorite pastimes, my husband and I so enjoyed our cruise to Alaska via the Inside Passage that we would do it again. A funny thing that happened one day was that the two leaders of our party misunderstood the ship's time of departure from Juneau. They missed the boat (literally) and had to fly in to catch us at our next port of call. Bummer.

Travel Photos:

...then back into the Valley of Death

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

The travellers

Giant of Giants

Church

Trip Photos:

Icebergs, icebergs everywhere