A Tailgate Conversation Inspired This Nurse To Become A CRNA

Kalli McGrievy first learned about nurse anesthesia in high school. Years later, she's living the career that conversation inspired.

Welcome to Nurse Ascent, a twice-weekly newsletter created by nurses for nurses. This week, CRNA Kalli McGrievy shares how a conversation at a high school football tailgate set her on the path from nursing school to the transplant ICU and eventually nurse anesthesia. We also look at a hospital pilot using ambient AI to streamline nursing documentation, why health systems are reconsidering growth as a financial strategy, and policy proposals that researchers estimate could save billions in healthcare spending. Plus, explore nursing jobs tailored to your location.

But first....

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Featured Jobs

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Registered Nurse - PACU, Luke Staffing

Agana Heights, GU

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Family Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), Fast Pace Health

Vicksburg, MS

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RN - PACU, University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester, NY

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Nurse Spotlight: Kalli McGrievy, DNP, CRNA

From our spotlight archives: A conversation at a high school football tailgate introduced Kalli McGrievy to a career she'd never considered. Years later, she's a CRNA who says the autonomy, critical thinking, and variety are exactly what she was looking for. Read the full spotlight →

Headlines in Healthcare

Health systems shift away from volume growth

Health system leaders are moving away from the traditional belief that increasing patient volume automatically solves financial issues. According to Becker's Hospital Review, executives now recognize that scale often amplifies existing organizational inefficiencies. This shift in strategy directly impacts nurses, as systems prioritize internal quality over rapid expansion.

Cooper pilots AI to streamline nursing documentation

Cooper Norcross University Hospital is piloting Microsoft Dragon Copilot to help nurses reduce documentation time by using ambient AI to draft electronic health records from patient conversations. According to a hospital news release, nurses retain full control by reviewing and approving all entries before they are finalized. This technology aims to support staff efficiency while requiring patient consent for every recording session.

Yale researchers outline policies to save billions

Researchers at Yale University have proposed 10 health policies targeting Medicare Advantage payments, site-neutral payments, drug costs, and nursing home care. Nine of the proposed policies carry combined annual savings estimates ranging from $70 billion to $84 billion. The final proposal is estimated to save individual households between $44 and $58 per month.

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