This Nurse Is Reaching Back To Give Others The Same Chances That Helped Her Succeed- Ep.57
Amanda Kay is all about helping people to live the life they were meant to. To help them gain control of their finances early and not end up broke like she did start CRNA school. She believes our role as women & health care providers is to not only empower & educate our patients but to do the same for other people in the field. As we should want people to be better than we were. That's why she created my mentor program to help students and nurses excel.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Naseema McElroy: [00:00:00] All right, Nuurses on Fire. I am super honored to have, I have Amanda Kay Kelly join us, and she is going to talk about being a CRN, which is my dream job, but I'll never go back to school to pursue it.
And the importance of reaching back and helping other CRNAs get through the. Terrible journey, anesthesia school. So thank you so much for joining us. Amanda, you can just hop right in and introduce yourself and tell us about your journey to being a nurse and a CRNA.
Amanda Kay: [00:00:43] Yes. Hello? Hello. It is nice to be here. Thank you so, so much for having me and listening in though, like she said, my name is Amanda Kelly.
I go by Amanda K online. and I had wanted to be a nurse since I could breathe. It was all I've ever wanted to do. I wanted to help people. So my dad said, well, go ahead on and get that. Bachelor's get it done. So my dad kind of pushed me to do that. So I got my bachelor's, I'm a few hours outside of Chicago.
from there I started working, I did travel nursing. I'd bounced around at a few different specialties. And then, from there I kind of knew I wanted to get my master's. I kind of looked at NP. wasn't kind of the right thing for me. I started doing trauma nursing, critical care. met a friend who was going to CRNA school.
Then I was like, okay, let me check it out. You know? So, I did some research. I started shadowing CRNAs at work. I started taking extra courses and classes and and then, yeah, and then I ended up applying and by the grace of God got right into school. And then, you know, the rest is history. So I wish it was that easy, but
Naseema McElroy: [00:01:51] right. Yeah. I was just like, Oh, it sounds so linear, but yeah, we all know it's not, it's all, not just even the journey to becoming a nurse linear like most people think it is right. Yeah, but to be a CRNA, I think it's super interesting, just trying to even get into a program.
So like, for me, even though I've been a nurse for 10, A11, I don't know how many years now, I couldn't just apply for CRNA school. Cause I've always been a perinatal nurse and you need a certain nursing background to get into CRNI schools because you know, We need to go critical care. Right.a
So talk about like that journey of transitioning from being a nurse to, applying to CRNA school and then actually being in CRNA school.
Amanda Kay: [00:02:38] Yeah, absolutely.
So I, my first, my dream goal with being a nurse was actually to start out in trauma and I wasn't able to. A job immediately in the ER or ICU, which that happens.
So it's fine. You can still get there. and so I got a job at ortho trauma and I did that for awhile. And then I wanted a travel nurse, but I couldn't travel nurse in critical care cause I still didn't have any experience in it. So I actually just spent about two and a half years just doing kind of a little bit of telemetry, a little bit of this, a little bit of that, not doing any critical care.
then finally a job opportunity opened up in trauma and I took that and then I was able to do trauma for about five years. So the first thing I say, if you can't get into ICU or something right away, that's fine. Can you get into a step down unit? Can you get into some telemetry? Like, you know, where can you go?
That you can still be built building up those foundational building blocks? And then from there, I started looking at the qualifications to becoming a CRNA. I just started to shadow CRNAs. I just went up to, you know, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists at work. And I said, Hey, can I shadow you?
And they said, you know, great. So I hung out with them on my off days. and then from there, I, up to my sciences, cause you also need to have be strong in your sciences. I mean, they usually want like a 3.5 GPA, so you can take extra courses for that. so. I took organic chemistry and biochemistry.
I took those during the day. I worked as a nurse at, at nights doing trauma. So I mean, I was exhausted. I also got my CCRN and my CEN, cause they like to see those certifications. So once you get kind of going in a unit do that, And then from there I started applying. it's very rigorous. It's very hard.
I talked to a lot of people about, you know, interviewing and make yourself stand out and telling your story, but it's just all about, it's all about your experience. And that's like the main thing I tell people, get that critical care experience. I took many pay cuts. I took many crappy shifts.
You know, but it ultimately got me to where I want it to be. So don't, you know, don't be afraid to do the hard things to get to where you want to be. Cause it'll all be worth it. Yeah.
There's a lot of hard things and that's just to get into a program and yeah. So luckily you got into the program on your first try.
Congratulations on that. Cause that's major. So while you're in your program, how important were those skills that you developed in preparation?
Extremely important. And I will say that, you know, my classmates had kind of a, you know, we all had a variety of experience we were coming from and I have to say one of my classmates was like a cardiothoracic ICU nurse.
I had done trauma. I have to say the more experience you have, I feel like. You know, the stronger of a student you are. I mean, you don't have to be in the ICU for five, six, seven years. Anything like that? At least a couple. I always say at least get a couple of years of experience. So we be a good nurse and we all know like once you, once you've been a nurse for a few years, you get that.
I called that nurse. Spidey sense. You get that intuition, you get, I mean, and I was like, don't be a CRNA or don't apply for school until you've got that solid foundation that spidey sets going, because it's just going to make your life easier. Cause when you get into school, you know, you're learning, you're going into an operation room, which I had never been in before.
You're learning how to function within that. Plus you're learning all the anesthesia drugs. Plus you're learning the anesthesia machine. So if you don't have a solid foundation in caring for critically ill patients and knowing your kidney function and knowing your liver and your brain, you know, if you don't know all those key components , it's just going to be harder for you.
So my thing is, is experiences everything. Yeah. Will become charge nurse, take the heart assignments, take the most acute patients, go get that job in the inner city. That's got the pay. You know what I mean? Like put yourself out there cause you're just going to make your life easier when you were in school because it's
a seasonal school and I'm like humbled, like you're just like, you know, so you just want to make sure that you have a solid nursing that you are. I always say, excellent nurses make excellent. CRNs so ieryou have to be an excellent nurse first point blank period.
Naseema McElroy: [00:06:50] Yes. I love that. I love that. And I can tell, Jess, your passion around.
Like your career. And I think that that's awesome because you know, nursing, especially right now is super challenging. but I also love that you reach back and help nurses who want to become CRNs navigate that process. Can you tell me why you felt like it was important to do that and how you help other nurses?
Amanda Kay: [00:07:19] Yes. I think that, I mean, as we said earlier, getting into school and getting through it is really difficult. There's a lot of pieces. There's a lot of, you know, parts to navigate. And so for me, my journey, there was a rough one. I think I just shared, kind of a little bit of my story on Instagram the other day of just, you know, I.
It was a struggle getting in. And my relationship was in a bad place and my grandma had just passed away and my personal life was an absolute mess, you know? And then you get into school and then you're just like, you're a whole new world. And it's, you know, you're looking for like a mentor. You're looking for someone to help you.
And I remember walking into clinical and you just. I didn't know anything and I was lost and I was confused and I keep, I keep thinking now, like, what do I wish I would've known back then? And that's where I kind of work from, how can I help out new nurses, new SRNAs who want to take on this journey? What are all the things that I didn't know, or I didn't have, I can give just to make your life a little bit easier, you know?
and that's essentially, while I'm here is like, you're, it's gonna be hard. But that's why we're here to help each other. That's why we should mentor each other. That's why we should hold each other's hands. We should push each other challenge each other, because life doesn't have to be that hard.
We should help each other. And so that's why, that's why I'm here. And that's why I started my mentoring program so that I could help, you know, help with the interview process. I can help get a strategy sessions to how you can get into school. We can talk about anesthesia topics that are hard. We can do some tutoring sessions.
We can, I can help you pass boards. so yeah, so that's kind of why I just created that because once you achieve your dreams and become successful. I feel like it is our duty to help other people do the same.
Naseema McElroy: [00:09:00] I think it's especially onimportant because in the world of anesthesia as a whole, not even just being a nurse, but that world is super, male dominated, super, Pale. And I think it's hard for people to identify themselves in that space. apart from getting all the educational stuff in place and the experience in place, just to even be able to identify with that, that I belong in that world.
I'm a firm believer that representation matters. So to know that there's somebody that is a relatable that you can connect with. I think it's super impactful. So I think that's really, really important that you're doing that. And hopefully more people will start to do that because I mean, we're out here, you know, and people just need to know, that there's a touch point and that, you know, People who have gone through similar struggles as you have been able to achieve those things.
And so that's why mentorship to me is super important. It's about those soft things. They'll see things that you can't learn in school or through experience. Yes.
Amanda Kay: [00:10:14] and I just think too, I think kind of, you know, what you were saying with, you know, navigating the, or environment and this and that. And I also want people to, you know, see me and look at me like I can do that. You know what I mean? Like I'm no different than y'all like, I'm no, you know what I mean? I wasn't perfect.
I wasn't, you know, had the perfect grades and this and that, but I went. For it. And I did it. And I think that I just want to be that person. That's motivating people and pushing you from behind. You can do it. You know what I mean? Cause so many doubts and the world is always going to doubt you, right?
There's always going to be, your own head getting in and other people telling you this. And I want to be like, no stop. If you want this, I'm going to help you. And we're going to do this. Keep fighting for your dreams, keep pushing. And that's, that's just what I'm all about. I want you to live. I want people to live the life they were made to live and.
I want to push you to do that your best self ideal.
Naseema McElroy: [00:11:04] And I know there's so many other people out there like me that think that becoming a CRNA is a dream. And along with that dream, like CRNAs make really good money, better to get to that point where you're making really good money. You have to have a lot of education and experience and all those things that we talked about. Yes. So financially, like what were your expenses around becoming a CRNA and like other financial struggles you've had along your path?
Amanda Kay: [00:11:42] Oh my gosh. So I was like travel nurse. Making good money as a travel nurse, I was in a long distance relationship. So it was essentially me and my dog and, and, you know, I had a good time.
I didn't really, I didn't really say I didn't really invest. I just kind of spent my twenties doing my thing, you know, traveling. Yeah. Et cetera. And it was all, it was all good. I was making it. I was fine. I no problems. And then all of a sudden, like I said so much changed for me the year I went to anesthesia school, just my whole life got wrong.
My dog hurt her back. She was like four. She had to have all these procedures and stuff, and I spent thousands of dollars on that. And then, what else happened? I had all these things just happen, you know, me and my boyfriend broke up. and then to get into anesthesia school, I had to buy a plane ticket.
Why from Arizona to Rhode Island just to interview. So that was, was expensive. And then get the flight back. Then I had to fly back again to like, you know, do some stuff and then you have to pay, like, I don't even know, $500 or seven hundreds of just admission to secure your spot in the program. then you have to buy your books, which are upwards of $1,500, something like that.
And all these expenses were hitting me. And it kind of hit me like, Oh my God, I believe actually for this, I was just kind of like, Oh, I'm going to do this. Yeah, I'm going to do that as an off I went and then I literally found myself right before anesthesia school. I was literally broke. I had nothing, everything I had worked for for the past.
I don't know, seven, eight years was like literally gone. And I remember my friend, cause then you have to find a place and you have to pay all those fees for your new apartment. Cause I moved across country to go to school and you know, I remember she ended up loaning me money. I was so embarrassed and ashamed and like ask my parents.
Cause they were like, what, what do you mean? You've been working for seven years. Where's your money? You know? so yeah, so I literally started anesthesia school with nothing. Like bought like $0 in the bank, nothing. and then luckily, you know, you get your fafsa loan then you can get your grad plus loan on top of that, which gives you a little extra money per semester.
But it was very humbling. And I think that it was in that time where I was, I wasn't with my boyfriend anymore. I was single, I didn't have any money, but I think I was able to. Build myself up into a different, in a better because of that. And I look back and I'm so grateful that I lost it all so that I could be built up into something new.
So that was my, lit was a mess and I don't recommend anybody do what I am. I trying to, you know, I try to talk to. You know, RN is aspiring to be CRNAs. I always say, save your money. oanLike make sacrifices, like, you know, don't get your hair done quite all the time. Or your neck, like nails, like little sacrifices like that, you know, is worth it.
Like put money away, like prepare for it. Don't be like me where I was like struggling from day zero at, in anesthisia school. but it's a sacrifice. And if you start sacrificing now and in the beginning, the sacrifices in school a little bit less and a little bit more tolerable as well.
Naseema McElroy: [00:14:42] Yeah. Yeah. So definitely nobody ever regrets, saving too much money, you know? So like, as I always encourage nurses from the time they get their first job, just say, just save, save for retirement, saving your savings account. Always have a good cushion because you'll never regret that if you can, if that's just the one thing that you do is to automate your savings. As soon as you start working.
Yes do that, but yeah, but now you, you are on the right path financially. and a little bit of thanks to choosing a really good, partner in life. so can you talk about some ways that you turn your finances around?
Amanda Kay: [00:15:32] Yes. So, you know, I think I posted on any of you who follow me on Facebook. I asked a question about, you know, when you get your 10 or $20,000 sign on bonus, what are you going to do with it?
And you guys have great answers, invested, you save it, you know, whatever. So when I, me and my boyfriend got back together, we're married now. Cause we had broken up before school. So we got back together and you know, I got my sign on bonus and stuff like that. The money kept rolling in and, you know, I like, I was perfect with it, but I kind of splurge a little bit enjoyed myself.
and then fast forward to getting engaged, planning a wedding. And then buying a house together, you know, have you ever bought a house with somebody? All your stuff is exposed, right? Your debts, your bank account, like everything was exposed. And so my fiance at the time was like, girl, what is going on?
You're making this much money and you got this going on. And I was like, I don't know. So my husband is actually a CPA and a CFO, so he finance guru person. And I'm like, and so it took kind of, you know, getting money together for, you know, a mortgage and buying a house and stuff. And him kind of really looking at my finances, creating a budget for me and for us.
and then now. My money game is much tighter. I've got, I've got, like a savings account, like a money market savings account. I have money automatically going to that, but I don't even see, I have an HSA I have money going to that, but I don't even see. That's like I have a couple of, 401ks money goes to that.
If there's a match, I have all that set up and going. and then, my husband has a savings account. I have a business account that I also, you know, keep all my business finances together for my anesthesia business. and then I just finally got control of my spending. I think I got like an app.
And I literally started recording every single thing I spent, whether it was a pair of shoes, it was a lip gloss. It was, I looked at everything I was spending. And then I started making like big changes. Like I was like, okay, I don't need this. Or I can spend this much money on this, and I just became more responsible because.
it's easy. Like, Oh, I make way more money than I've ever made, but that's not what it's about. you're not really wealthy. You're not really building wealth or you can be rich, but you can not be wealthy. And I wanted to start building wealth and being smarter with my choices. And so I think that's crucial, especially like nurses when you get out.
CRNAs is when you guys get out, like get a budgeting plan together because that money's going to come rolling in and it's going to mean nothing. If you don't know how to manage it and use it to your advantage.
Naseema McElroy: [00:18:06] And I think like, as nurses, I mean, a lot of times doctors like, they'll have financial advisors come into their groups and make sure that their finances are together.
But as nurses, you know, we're kind of left out there and sometimes we make just as much. Or more than doctors. And so we need to be really good stewards of our money. And I think everything that you shared or like gems and gems, and like I said, nobody ever regrets starting from the beginning of the end saving.
So that's what I always advise. But if you are at that point, start today, start today. Start automating, so you get your stuff and like I check before you see it, have it going in your buckets? Yes. Yes.
Amanda Kay: [00:18:51] Like everything just goes. And then if I have a set amount of money at the end of the month, and that's what I have, and like no more charging credit cards, because I want something or because of that, like, you know, and then I did get a couple of credit cards, but I mostly use them for cash back points.
So if I do anything with my credit card, I gotta be able to pay for it the next cycle and get it off, or, you know, and then I just get cash back rewards or travel awards or stuff like that. But other than that, No, that was it. I was really bad with credit cards in my twenties too. So don't do that. Don't do it because you just gotta pay it back later on top of your student loans,
Naseema McElroy: [00:19:28] you just have so many lessons upon lessons and just from living your life and just be on you. So I love that you're able.
Amanda Kay: [00:19:38] But I think that's what I'm like, that's the thing is I made it here, but it was really ugly. So I'm like, if I can help people move out their journey, then that's really what I'm here to do.
Naseema McElroy: [00:19:49] Yeah. And that's the power of mentorship because people don't have to make those same mistakes. They can learn from your mistakes. I think that that's like one of the biggest life hacks is that you don't have to reach all the stumbling blocks. Just learn from somebody that did
Amanda Kay: [00:20:03] not have to always fall on your face, touch the burning stove.
You don't have to do that
Naseema McElroy: [00:20:09] is yes. So let's talk about what services you actually provide for SRNAs and how people can get in contact with you.
Amanda Kay: [00:20:19] Absolutely. So on my Instagram and Facebook page, I pick like a topic a week that has to do with anesthesia and I discuss. You know, discuss kind of tips, pointers, et cetera.
I do some lives here and there. I do some teaching on kind of like a, I think what I have up right now is, you know, decreasing anxiety, and you know, just kind of. There are ways to mentally be able to make it through, you know, CRNA scho0l. so I do that. And then I also have these mentorship sessions, $27 for 30 minutes and 57 for an hour.
And like I said, there, I want to help you the whole waythrough. So if you're an RN wanting to be a CRNA. You know, we can talk about that interviewing techniques, strategies to getting in, motivation, whatever you guys need. And then once you get into school, you know, do you need help with clinical? Do you need help with certain topics?
you just need someone to, you know, mentally and, you know, emotionally. Personally help you through like I'm here and then I'm happy to help with the transition from SRNA to CRNA. So passing boards, like, what is your strategy like to pass your boards? And I've got some fun stuff coming down the pipe for that.
And then I have my own anesthesia business. So, and talk about that. What are the jobs available malpractice like all these new things you have to learn because you're, you're essentially considered a provider now in the hospital. When you're seeing, you're not under nursing anymore, you're now under the medical side and there's a whole, you know, whole gamut of information that you need to know when to make that transition.
But I don't really think is covered well in school. so I'm kind of there to mentor you through all those parts. And then I have a free clinical guide that me and my business partner made that kind of. Is great for new, SRNs starting out kind of clinical pearls from online learning pearls. And then I send you guys weekly emails of stories and tips and tricks, of how to make it through.
That's what I'm here for. I have some other exciting stuff coming down the pipe, some masterclasses. Yeah. some more PDFs, just to kind of help you guys. So I'm available here, but I'm also going to have other ways and documents you can use to kind of. Helping you Excel on your journey per se.
Naseema McElroy: [00:22:28] So the best place for people to just do that initial contact with you would be Instagram or through your website.
Amanda Kay: [00:22:34] I would say Instagram right now. I've got everything kind of through Instagram it's @ak17. and then from there it links to my Facebook page, which is. So the surviving and thriving SRNA and from there you, the mentor sessions and all that stuff, I'm rehabbing my website at the moment. So I'll have that out for you guys shortly.
I love it.
Naseema McElroy: [00:22:55] I love your Instagram page also by the way, but I'll have all those, the links in the show notes. So. You don't have to worry about writing them down. They'll be in the description box. So, thank you so much for all that you do. Thank you for sharing your story. I just so blessed that I am able to just know all these.
Extremely talented and just a successful nurses. And, I know people could benefit so much for this. So I just appreciate you taking your time out to join the nurses on fire community and, you know, giving back and sharing.
Amanda Kay: [00:23:33] Absolutely. I love what you're doing. So thank you for what you're doing, especially the financial piece.
And I was reading through your page. I'm like where. For you, but I need to do, cause this is all important and so key. So I really appreciate what you're doing. And, I think it's amazing. Plus your labor and delivery nurse, which y'all are angels. So, I really appreciate what you're doing and thanks for having me.
I'm so glad to be here. Of
Naseema McElroy: [00:23:56] course. Thanks again.
Hey there I’m Naseema
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