MITRAL RUMBLES

Natasa works in the Department of Anesthesia as an Anesthesia Attendant. 

After the Yugoslavian civil war in 1992, many young people were left without a future. Natasa and her husband decided to leave Serbia in 1999 to start a new life in Canada. She attended post-secondary school at Red River College to become a Sterile Processing Technician. Natasa graduated in 2001 and began working at St. Boniface Hospital in the Central Processing Department.

Three years later, she applied for a position in the Anesthesia Department to work as an Anesthesia Attendant. Natasa best describes her experience “It was challenging, but I absolutely fell in love with the job – that’s why I’m still here! I love being part of the anesthesia team, doing my part to help our patients. Before surgery, my job is to set up the anesthesia machine, all the drugs, art lines, and additional equipment, depending on the preference of the anesthesiologist and type of surgery. There are many different scenarios. During the case I make sure the anesthesiologist has everything they need, which can change at any minute. After the case, I have 10 minutes to clean and reset the room for the next case. Our days are busy. We also assist in “Anesthesia 25’s”. Wherever our anesthesiologists go, we are there to assist them. My job is always different and no day is like the other. There are always different patients, different cases, and different needs of the physicians. From making a fresh pot of coffee on days when our doctors don’t get a break and can’t leave the OR, to fast-paced E1s and resuscitations. This is what my day looks like as an Anesthesia Attendant.”

Natasa is excellent at her job and a pleasure to work with. As Cardiac Anesthesiologists Natasa and the Anesthesia Attendants provide critical support that allows us to provide our patients with the best care. Natasa’s son Nebojsa is a third year medical student at the Max Rady College of Medicine and hopes one day to become a Cardiac surgeon.

Thanks Natasa for all you do!

The ACS Network has just launched their Dial Don’t Drive (DDD) Campaign. This is in conjunction with Shared Health, St. Boniface Hospital Foundation and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, as our key partners. This initiative is a public awareness campaign aimed at increasing the use of  911 calls for people who are worried they might be having a heart attack. Of all Canadian provinces with a cardiac centre, Manitoba has the lowest rate for 911 use among STEMI patients.

As part of the campaign Shared Health has agreed to place DDD decals on every ambulance in the province! 

The links for the  first media piece in the Winnipeg Free Press and Facebook, Instagram and Twitter sites:

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/decision-to-dial-not-drive-vital-to-heart-health-576248612.html

https://www.facebook.com/mbacsnetwork/

https://twitter.com/mbacsnetwork

https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/mbacsnetwork/