Tatyana LaTorres began her nursing journey at the University of Tampa, where she earned her BSN. She worked for three years in the neurosurgical and cardiac intensive-care units at Tampa General Hospital before her acceptance to Barry University’s Nurse Anesthesiology Program in 2018. As a member of the inaugural Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with specialization in anesthesiology class, Tatyana finds herself advancing on multiple levels. “Furthering my education was the best decision I have ever made!” she says. “Not only have I learned to be a nurse anesthesiologist, but I have also learned how necessary it is to be a political advocate for this astounding profession.”
During her first semester at Barry, Tatyana became aware of the professional hurdles facing certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). She believes that CRNAs should be able to care for patients within the full scope of their training and has actively fought for legal advancements that not only expand the clinical purview of CRNAs but also improve access and quality of care for underserved populations. Having been inspired from a young age by a cousin who is a professional lobbyist in Washington, D.C., Tatyana knew that she could make a difference in the way the profession is viewed. Her mentor, Dr. Debra Diaz, CRNA and 2014 graduate of Barry’s post-master’s DNP program, encouraged her to pursue her interest in political advocacy. With Dr. Diaz’s support, Tatyana quickly learned how to navigate political dialogues and soon began attending critical heath care policy meetings alongside other nurse anesthetists advocating for the right to practice at their level of training. These lobbying sessions, held in Tallahassee in early 2020, reaffirmed Tatyana’s interest in making her voice heard among legislators.
Now, as a very busy graduate student in her final year, Tatyana still finds time to participate in virtual legislative sessions with the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She and her student colleagues have educated many policymakers on the roles of advanced practice registered nurses, especially CRNAs. “If we, as a profession, do not fight for the right to make decisions, someone else will decide that they can make them for us,” she says. “When I graduate in May of 2021, I am committed to continuing the fight for that seat at the table and to being a part of how our profession progresses into the future.”