20 Apr Alumni Profile: CRNA and Three-time Ursuline Graduate
Barbara Mako Douglas, DNP, MBA, MSHS, CRNA
“Ursuline has opened many avenues for me.”
Why I chose Ursuline College
I chose Ursuline 3 times! I graduated in 1985 with a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) and worked for four years as an emergency room nurse. After attending St. Francis Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia and La Roche College in Pittsburgh, I graduated with a MSHS and started my lifelong career as a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist (CRNA). I returned to Ursuline in 2012 to obtain my MBA (Master of Business Administration degree) and then DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice).
Putting my Ursuline Degree to Work
Since becoming a CRNA, I have had many roles from large academic settings to rural assignments as the solo nurse anesthesiologist. It has been a fantastic career that built upon my initial bachelor’s degree and RN licensure through Ursuline. Since obtaining my MBA and DNP, I have held positions of leadership including President of the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists and now as a member of the Ohio Board of Nursing.
I’m Making my World More Educated
Ursuline has opened many avenues for me on the Board of Nursing and in Health Policy. I am completing a post master’s certificate through George Washington University for Healthcare Policy and Media Engagement. I hope to apply the principles learned in my various roles as a CRNA, president of a trade organization, member of a regulatory board, and teach other nurses how to advocate, protect and elevate professional nurses. I feel it is my duty to mentor those willing to learn and hopefully leave our profession better than when I first began.
Learn more about Ursuline College at the institution’s website.