Peek behind the surgical drape in this eye-opening conversation with Jared Barton, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) with an extraordinary career. Did you know that 80% of all anesthetics are administered not by doctors, but by nurse anesthetists? Barton reveals this surprising statistic while taking us through the intense world of operating room anesthesia, where life-and-death decisions happen behind a paper screen that separates the anesthesia provider from the surgical team.
Barton shares his remarkable journey through the "militant" training program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where a single mistake meant immediate expulsion, and his subsequent work in high-stakes environments including level one trauma centers. With striking candor, he discusses the reality of watching patients' vital signs "second by second by second," and the intuition that develops after years of practice – that sixth sense when something doesn't look quite right.
Perhaps most impressive is Barton's perfect track record: he's never lost a patient throughout his entire career. While he modestly attributes this to luck rather than skill, his descriptions of managing critical situations – pushing blood products with both hands during massive hemorrhages, anticipating problems before they become critical – speak to the expertise that comes only with thousands of hours of vigilant practice.
The conversation also explores the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery, with ambulatory surgery centers creating even more demand for CRNAs, making this a highly secure career path that's unlikely to be replaced by automation or artificial intelligence. For anyone curious about what really happens when you're under anesthesia, or considering a career in healthcare, this conversation offers rare and valuable insights from someone who has spent decades keeping patients alive during their most vulnerable moments.