We had the good fortune of connecting with Jada Byrd, Dnp Crna and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jada, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
Inspiration comes from a lot of different factors in my life. I’ve always been motivated to find success in whatever challenges have come my way so I’ve always pushed myself to achieve greatness in everything I set out to do. I come from humble beginnings, so every achievement I’ve made came through hard work and dedication to make each dream a reality.
My mother was my first inspiration. As the only child of a single mother, I watched her work sometimes 2 and 3 jobs to make ends meet. She sacrificed her time, sleep, and energy to make sure I had the best opportunities. So, to show my gratitude for her sacrifices, I did my absolute best to excel in school.
Because my early life was a modest one, I knew that education would put me at a greater advantage for life long success. So I sought out a career that would afford me room for growth and also give me a sense of fulfillment. My nursing career and the patients I care for also inspire me to provide the best care possible as I strive to leave a lasting impression on my patients’ lives.

Lastly, becoming a mother has been one of my greatest inspirations. Looking into the eyes of my son and seeing his inquisitive nature pushes me to do more so that I can give him even more experiences than what I had at his age. I want to provide for him a life full of opportunities that build character and foster his desire to learn and see new and exciting things as he begins to explore the world around him.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been a Registered Nurse for 21 years and a CRNA for the last 7 years. Before I decided to pursue nursing, I was uncertain about what path of healthcare I would take. I knew that whatever path I’d choose, I wanted to make a difference. Not until my junior year of college did I decide that nursing was where I needed to focus my sights.
I fell in love with the specialty of labor & delivery in nursing school, but I was always intrigued by the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia. However, I followed my passion and ventured off into the world L&D, even working as a travel nurse working from the east to west coast for a few years.

Once I was done traveling and working again as a staff RN, I confided in my nurse manager that I wanted to go back to school but I was unsure of which advanced advanced degree path I should take – certified nurse midwifery or certified registered nurse anesthetist. She advised that she thought I had exactly what it took to be a CRNA, but to me, it meant I would have to leave my comfort zone of L&D. She saw the potential in me and took it upon herself to find an ICU position for me within the hospital. At this point, the only thing standing in my way was me, so I stepped out on faith and began my journey towards my life’s dream of becoming a CRNA. I’m forever grateful to Sha’nice Clark for her belief in me!

After meeting the requirements necessary for applying to graduate school and getting accepted, I began the grueling challenge of matriculating into anesthesia school and working towards earning a doctorate of nursing practice. It’s a time in my life when I questioned my decision and felt like maybe I wasn’t cut out for this. But I thought about all of the many people who believed in my abilities and realized that I had to have those same beliefs in myself. With the added support of 2 of my classmates, who remain friends to this day, we pushed each other through. We all had times where we felt like giving up but we never gave up on each other or ourselves, no matter what life or the program threw our way. Shoutout to my colleagues, Zack and Janea, for pushing me when I felt I had nothing left to give.

All of these experiences taught me that anything worth having in life is worth fighting for and working hard for. Sometimes the reward will far outweigh the risk you took to get there. So as I venture into the world of entrepreneurship and I step into another world of unknowns, I know that I’ll never know where this path may take me unless I take a chance on myself and once again step out on faith to see where the journey leads me. No matter what paths I’ve chosen in the past, I’ve put my heart and soul into them and I plan to do the same as a business owner.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m such a homebody so this question requires some thought. But it would most definitely involve eating and maybe some live music. Houston is a Mecca for good food from various cultures so it’s quite easy to find places to eat, whether it be a trendy brunch spot, a classy fine dining experience, or just a local dive bar for a quick bite. Houston is so vast that there’s always something new to try or even revisit. There’s always someone in town performing in concert or at a comedy show, which I absolutely love. Music, especially live music, is one of my favorite pastimes. I attend several concerts through the year. And I also love a good live standup comedian.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Kisha Miller is who I credit with pushing me to dive into the world of entrepreneurship. She’s my esthetician, but she’s also grown to be a confidant and friend. She saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. She spoke this business into existence and encouraged me to bring it to life.
Also, my sister, Tamiqua, and my closest friends have motivated me to bring this once impossible dream to reality. I thank them all for their support.

Instagram: Anestheaseya

Facebook: AnesthEASEya, PLLC

Other: For appointments reach me at jada@anestheaseya.com

Image Credits
Photo credit for the pic of me in the Christmas pic is photographer Monica Blackshire

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