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Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Featuring Zulmarie Adorno-Maldonado, MSN, CRNA

PANA
Oct 12, 2022

Zulmarie Adorno-Maldonado, MSN, CRNA, is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico Nurse Anesthesia Program. Zulmarie is the clinical coordinator at UPMC York Memorial Hospital. She takes pride in her work, in her team, and in helping students make the most of their clinical rotation while at UMPC York Memorial Hospital. Her passion for providing safe anesthesia shows with every patient interaction, and she especially lights up when caring for Spanish-speaking patients. When asked what it means to be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) of Hispanic heritage, Zulmarie responded:

“For me, being a CRNA is about serving the community and helping them to have a successful surgery and a quick recovery. I feel honored to be a Latinx CRNA, representing my culture through the care of my patients and being a familiar face for them and a communication tool in their preoperative journey. I'm committed to my profession and the safety my patients.”

🩺💙 For additional #HispanicCRNA stories in our #HispanicHeritageMonth blog series, click here.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Featuring SRNA Samantha Lina Valle, BSN, RN

PANA
Oct 6, 2022

Samantha Lina Valle, BSN, RN, is a Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist (SRNA) at the University of Scranton School of Nurse Anesthesia. The life of a SRNA is a busy one. Between classroom work and clinical hours, the motto holds true: “Your days are long, and the weeks are short.”

⏰ Despite hectic schedules, SRNAs in Pennsylvania are eager to push the profession forward. When given the opportunity to share an inspiring message during National Hispanic Heritage Month, this is what Samantha had to say:

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the many contributions and extensive history of the American Latino community. It exemplifies our influence, our achievements, and the role we play on American growth and success."

"To be an SRNA of Hispanic origin means I can now be a representation of what it means to overcome social and academic boundaries. Throughout my early educational years, there were times I encountered academic difficulties. Whether it was due to limited comprehension or processing, not once did I give up. Now, as I continue my journey in gaining the knowledge of anesthesia, I would like to inspire others to build the courage to pursue their dreams! I would like to remind others that failure is only failure if you do not get up and try again.”

🩺💙 For additional #HispanicCRNA stories in our #HispanicHeritageMonth blog series, click here.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Featuring Rigo Lemus

PANA
Oct 4, 2022

The orgullo, or pride, felt by many Hispanics who are living the American dream is a sentiment expressed by Rigo Lemus, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). He shares his experience of being both a health-care hero and an American hero. Thank you for serving our country, Rigo, and happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!

“As a recent graduate of the Allegheny School of Anesthesia at Duquesne University, I’m extremely proud to be a Latino CRNA. Being a second-generation immigrant, you are born with the weight of your parents’ dreams and struggles.

My Honduran parents came to this country with little to no English. I was often asked: ‘How could I not be successful if I was born here and know the language?’ This was usually followed with a motivational idiom like, “ponte las pilas,” which I think translates loosely to “put the batteries in.” So, with the “batteries in,” I went to work.

I proudly served in the U.S. Air Force during the Iraq War. Within a week of being honorably discharged, I started nursing school and worked for 10 years as a nurse. I started on a tele-floor and kept moving up until I worked a few years in a CTICU, always believing that one day I would reach my goal of being a CRNA. Now, as I embark on a new career, I am grateful for my Latin roots. All the years of hard work seem to have paid off just like my parents always preached to me: That an immigrant’s son can accomplish anything he puts his mind to with a little hard work and orgullo.”