How can we help you?

For Kelley Vigstol, becoming a nurse and eventually a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at Trinity Health was a passion that developed early and was something she witnessed firsthand in her family. Knowing she would enjoy that field as well, Kelley followed her passion on her own path.

“My older sister went into nursing, specifically in family medicine. It was nice to follow in her footsteps, but also branch out in my own way,” said Kelley. “Nursing is just a way of caring and giving back to your community. It’s a very diverse field where you see something new every day.”

Growing up in Minot, Kelley always felt a strong sense of community and knew she wanted to finish her education in North Dakota as she pursued her career. This led to Kelley obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Minot State University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of North Dakota.

Although Kelley moved to Colorado Springs to gain experience as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after graduating from Minot State, returning to North Dakota was always part of her plan.

“North Dakota shaped my sense of community. Being around the people I would work with in the future was always appealing to me. Even though I moved to Colorado Springs, I knew I always wanted to return home. It was nice to experience life outside of North Dakota, but to also plan to come back in the future,” said Kelley.

Throughout her time working in the ICU and during clinical experiences, Kelley became more familiar with anesthesia and the role of CRNAs. This ultimately shaped her decision for her career path and helped her develop the necessary skills to become a CRNA.

“As an ICU nurse, you work very closely with your patients, providers, and other departments. It involves critical thinking at all times and teaches you who you can rely on and that you are capable of caring for the person in front of you,” said Kelley. “Meeting the people who work in anesthesia was inspiring and motivating to me. It’s a field that gives you ample opportunity to keep on learning.”

Once Kelley knew she wanted to advance her career and become a CRNA, she enrolled at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where she pursued her Doctor of Nursing Practice.

“Nurse anesthesia is a very rigorous three-year doctoral program. You are working and learning the entire time. You are continuing to utilize your critical thinking skills, managing anesthetics, managing patients and coming up with plans. It’s a great field that gives you something new every day.”

As Kelley progressed through her training and clinical experiences, she began to see why nurse anesthesia is such a compelling path for students and early-career nurses who are exploring their next step. The blend of hands-on patient care, advanced clinical decision-making and lifelong learning stood out to her as she considered where she wanted her career to lead.

“Anesthesia is an ever-evolving field that requires constant critical thinking. You’re working through decisions independently while also collaborating closely with others. Ultimately, it’s about caring for the patient in front of you and doing everything possible to keep them comfortable and ensure they have a positive experience,” said Kelley.

In her role, Kelley says the work of a CRNA is both highly technical and deeply personal, offering the opportunity to build trust with patients during some of their most vulnerable moments.

“You get to know your patients and you take care of them in their most vulnerable states, focusing on one patient at a time,” said Kelley. “It’s truly a passionate field where you work closely with so many people.”

As Kelley’s career path became clearer, so did the place where she wanted to continue that journey. From her time as an ICU nurse to completing clinical rotations at Trinity Health, she found herself drawn back to the organization that helped shape her professional growth. That connection ultimately led her back as she prepares to begin her role as a CRNA this fall.

“The people at Trinity Health have always been so welcoming, inviting and encouraging. They truly made it easy to come back. It has been a smooth transition. Everyone is so willing to teach and encourages you to learn at the same time,” said Kelley.

She added, “I always knew that Trinity Health was the organization that I wanted to strive to work for. Getting to know all of the people, being able to do clinical rotations and also experiencing life elsewhere helped me solidify the thought of this being the organization I want to work for.”

With her role as a CRNA set to begin this fall, Kelley hopes to encourage students and early-career nurses who may be considering a similar path. Drawing from her own experience, she offers simple but powerful advice for those exploring a future in nurse anesthesia.

“Go for it. The only thing holding you back is yourself. If it’s something you’re interested in, just gain the knowledge and pursue it,” said Kelley.