CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST
MARCIA BOURQUE-MORENO , ARNP , CRNA
Nurse anesthetist , South County Hospital
What drew you to the field ? Well to start off , I ’ m celebrating a career of fifty years ! I became a nurse in 1973 and there weren ’ t a lot of options for women in careers : nurse , secretary , teacher . I ’ ve worked in twenty-four facilities in my career , some freelance , sometimes two places in one week . I was an RN from 1973 to 1979 and I went to anesthesia school through ’ 81 . I took my boards and passed and became a CRNA . While working at Brigham and Women ’ s in Foxboro , Massachusetts , I was offered early retirement in 2018 . Freelance positions started when I had kids . At South County , I thought , let me try being a CRNA , and I was able to get in there with per diem . It ’ s what I was chosen to do , there ’ s no doubt in my mind . I don ’ t want to retire . I love what I do , and keeping engaged keeps your mind young . I ’ m at the end of my career but I don ’ t know when the end will be . I ’ ve never regretted being a nurse or CRNA . I get up in the morning and I never think , “ Oh God , I have to go to work today .” It ’ s enjoyable and keeps me sharp . When I go into South County , they don ’ t do heads , hearts or pediatrics . I just want to do little things . I ’ ve done it all .
Why did you choose anesthesiology ? I went to school with a CRNA and wanted to know more . I knew I couldn ’ t work the schedule of the ICU for the rest of my life ; there had to be something better . As an ICU nurse , there ’ s a lot with your hands : IVs , open heart medical help , it ’ s all very technical . You have moments of boredom and minutes of terror , whereas anesthesia is very safe .
Tell us an interesting story from the job . Every patient is interesting : I really get into my patients . When I meet my patient , if there ’ s any bit of time , I always chat and get to know them . How many kids or grandkids do they have ? Every patient is special . I take pride in bringing them in . I ’ m very good at assessment . Maybe I don ’ t have the new skills that nurses have , but I ’ m good at what I know and do . If you get joy out of any job in today ’ s world , it ’ s worth staying , don ’ t you think ?
“ I don ’ t want to retire . I love what I do , and keeping engaged keeps your mind young .”
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2023 69