Path to Leadership: Find the lesson in every experience
We celebrate women across our NAPA family. In this Women of NAPA series: Paths to Leadership, we share stories of challenges, successes, and lessons learned on the career journeys of women throughout our organization.
By Heather Kartchner, MSNA, CRNA
Advanced Practice Anesthesia Director, NAPA Virginia Region
From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. However, I was halfway through high school when a West Point recruiter came to my history class and temporarily derailed that life plan. I applied to the iconic military academy, and 18 months later—after passing every requirement, exam, and interview—I was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. That’s when my mother sat me down and asked, “Are you sure you want to give up your passion for nursing?” I convinced my mother my plans had changed, and now I wanted to be a general—at least until I started the first week of Cadet Basic Training.
Shortly after I reported to West Point, I called my dad in tears and begged him to pick me up, convinced I had made the worst mistake of my life. He refused. He reminded me that I had made a commitment, both to myself and the Academy, and I should not give up so quickly. We agreed that I would stay through the end of summer training and then re-evaluate. I ultimately stayed for two and a half years, made some great friends, gained new insights into the world, learned a lot about leadership, and learned a lot more about myself.
A true passion
Just before my third year, I had to commit to a military obligation or quit. I elected to resign my commission—not because it was difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable, but because nursing was my calling. Three years later, I completed my nursing degree and entered the field that first excited me.
During the next six years, I explored various nursing roles, including intensive care and travel nursing. I married and divorced. Then one day I found myself sitting at lunch next to a stranger who—out of the blue—said: “If I were young and single, I would go to anesthesia school.”
I was young, I was single, and now I was intrigued by a new challenge.
I returned to school for my master’s degree and subsequently found a tremendous career as a nurse anesthetist. Now in a leadership role dedicated to advancing this wonderful profession and serving as a voice for my fellow advanced practice anesthesia (APA) colleagues, my career has come full circle.
Listen more with an open heart
It’s amazing how a single person can change the course of your life. That nurse in the lunchroom will never know the impact she made. The same can be said for consequential interactions we engage in unknowingly each day.
The day we learned our private practice had merged with the greater NAPA family was one of those pivotal days. I had recently accepted the role of chief CRNA and so much change initially scared me. It was uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure I was ready to lead. But I was fortunate enough to have a few critical mentors who helped guide my course and support me along the way. These remarkable colleagues and friends did not shy away from feedback—sometimes hard feedback. I soon realized they were so honest with me because they cared. In the end, they helped me grow me as a leader.
When I was approached last year about assuming the role of APA director for the Virginia Region, I was excited by the prospect of change and the challenge of growth. This year has been filled with many unknowns and some uncertainty. But it has also presented opportunities to help shape processes and build systems. It’s been a challenge, and I am a sucker for a challenge.
Growth is vital to us as human beings. Wherever we are in our lives, we should cultivate our ability to not only request feedback from others, but to also self-reflect on the value and lessons learned from every experience, whether they are good or bad. Life is not always going to be easy; sometimes negative circumstances are not of our making. But in every experience, we can take away something positive. From my perspective, that’s what keeps life interesting.
Heather Kartchner, MSNA, CRNA, serves as the Advanced Practice Anesthesia Director for NAPA’s Virginia Region. Prior to joining the regional leadership team, she served as Chief CRNA at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, VA. Heather completed her early leadership training at the United States Military Academy at West Point and later graduated from Brigham Young University with her BSN. In 2008, she received her MSNA from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2017, she completed the NAPA SELECT leadership training program.