Behind the OR Doors: A Nurse's Journey to Anesthesiology

by Dana Alcin

The hallway outside the operating room was filled with quiet tension as I helped wheel my patient to what I hoped would not be her final destination. She gripped the bedrails tightly, her anxiety palpable, and I did my best to comfort her despite my own uncertainty. As a nurse, I walked down this same hallway countless times, but once I handed my patients off and the OR doors closed, I was no longer part of their story. As a result, I often found myself wondering about the moments behind those closed doors that I could not see. Behind the OR doors, who was making the critical decisions that would ultimately shape my patient’s outcome?

Over time, I came to understand that it was the anesthesia team who carried my patients through their most vulnerable and critical moments. While surgery is often the most visible component of the operating room, I became increasingly drawn to the less visible role of the anesthesiologist.

This curiosity followed me as I transitioned from a registered nurse to a medical student, where I began to view patient care through a broader lens. As a surgical acute care nurse, I experienced firsthand the transition from bedside care to the operating room.

Stepping away from nursing, I came to appreciate how the skills I developed translate into anesthesiology. My approach to patient care remained rooted in vigilance, advocacy, and teamwork. I learned to recognize subtle changes in vital signs that signal early clinical decline, anticipate perioperative complications, and communicate effectively within multidisciplinary teams. These skills are foundational to anesthesiology and solidified my interest in a field centered on physiology, patient safety, and high-acuity care.

Reflecting on this journey, I have come to see that prior experiences are not detours, but preparation. Whether you are a nurse or a career changer, your path brings a perspective that is needed in medicine. 

To make this transition, I worked as a travel nurse while completing prerequisite coursework, and intentionally pursued mentorship and shadowing in anesthesiology. This process taught me that success is not rooted in having everything figured out, but in being intentional, resourceful, and willing to seek guidance early.

For nurses considering a similar path, the following strategies outline what proved most valuable, things I would’ve done differently, and what I wish I had known sooner.

Pathway: Transitioning from Nursing to Medicine
• Structure your schedule intentionally. Create a work plan that allows time for prerequisite coursework and MCAT preparation. Per diem (PRN) roles offer schedule flexibility and higher hourly pay, allowing you to cluster shifts and dedicate uninterrupted time to studying. If maintaining health insurance is important, consider transitioning to a benefit-eligible part-time role or obtaining coverage through the ACA Marketplace.

• Gain early operating room exposure. Perioperative roles such as a PRN circulating or scrub nurse provide direct insight into surgical workflow and anesthesia practice, while also helping you understand team dynamics and intraoperative decision-making.

• Be proactive during clinical shifts. Introduce yourself to anesthesia staff, ask to observe inductions when appropriate, and express genuine interest in learning. These small interactions can lead to mentorship and additional opportunities. 

• Pursue formal shadowing and observerships. Actively seek observership opportunities at teaching hospitals and use your days off to shadow anesthesiologists across different settings (e.g., general OR, ICU, procedural suites) to gain a broader understanding of the specialty.

• Plan financially and think long-term. Career transitions require both time and financial investment. As a career changer, you may have fewer working years ahead before retirement compared to peers who enter medicine earlier, making it especially important to be intentional about debt and long-term financial planning. Consider higher-paying, flexible roles (e.g., PRN or travel nursing) to build savings. When applying, prioritize in-state public schools and carefully consider the cost of attendance.

Lastly, if you find yourself at a crossroads between multiple acceptances, remember that you are earning the same MD or DO degree regardless of institution. Choosing the more affordable option can significantly reduce your long-term financial burden.

What to Know Early
• You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting. Clarity develops through exposure, experience, and mentorship. 

• Your prior career is a strength. Clinical experience in nursing translates directly to skills valued in anesthesiology, including patient monitoring, advocacy, and crisis management.

• Mentorship accelerates growth—seek it early. Physicians, residents, and peers can offer invaluable guidance, insight into the application process, and access to meaningful opportunities for exposure.

• Be intentional about your narrative. As a career changer, your story matters. Recognize the value of your experiences and be prepared to clearly articulate how they have shaped your path to medicine.

Final Thoughts
The path to medicine is demanding and often filled with challenges, mistakes, and moments of self-doubt, but each obstacle presents an opportunity for growth. Approaching this journey with resilience and curiosity will allow those experiences to shape and strengthen the physician you are becoming.

I look forward to continuing this journey alongside my peers, knowing that the different paths that brought us here will shape not only how we practice medicine, but how we show up for our patients and for each other.