A message
fromFrom our founder:

I worked for almost 8 years in critical care nursing before pursuing my APRN in Anesthesia. I graduated from MUSC College of Health Professions, Anesthesia For Nurses program in Charleston, SC in December 2013, and have been practicing as a full-time clinical CRNA for almost 10 years. I worked primarily in a Level 1 Trauma facility covering all shifts, including OB and in-house or home call. After going through a difficult divorce, it became clear that I would have to manage single parenting and a demanding job alone. My ex-spouse was unwilling to negotiate with childcare needs specific to our lengthy shift requirements, so I hired a nanny through www.Care.com to assist with morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups for my 5-year-old son. I began to feel that providing a consistent income and investing in my career was not contributing to a balanced, healthy parenting role or enabling wellness individually. I began searching for alternatives to working late, covering 24hr shifts, getting called in during the night, and working many holidays where I missed time with my son, and enjoyed even less time with him due to our custodial arrangement. The inflexibility of both my work schedule and ex-partner contributed to the continued stress and unhappiness in my life. When hospital demands and staffing issues grew more challenging during and after the pandemic, I finally decided to resign April 2022 without much of a plan. After networking, I was able to secure a few local contracts during my 1099 transition, and had enough savings to complete my task list and credentialing in about 6 weeks. I signed on with two staffing agencies out of Atlanta (Quest and MedTalent), and have been fairly pleased with their services at this point.

With my current husband, who is a web developer, our goal is to create a platform that functions like the agency without the added cost. It stores all my credentialing documents, sends notifications when certifications or license renewals need to be updated, and establishes independent contracts with employers who meet my professional goals and personal needs. We plan to create an all-inclusive platform that streamlines the process of efficiently staffing healthcare facilities while matching quality providers to the best opportunities, without raising costs like agencies do.

I would love to assist others in finding their way to the same satisfaction that I have gained through this process. I hope this guide helps you prioritize tasks, and takes the guesswork out of making the transition. I want to provide others with access to the reassurance and resources to move forward independently, without the panic, stress, and self-doubt that many endure.

My business name, Karuna Health, was chosen to reflect my experience in the science and art of healing through anesthesia, while focusing on compassion in action. Karuna signifies my commitment not just to compassion and empathy toward my patients, but toward all people and specifically colleagues of mine who deserve respect, honor, and healing through both their professional and personal lives. So, let’s dive in!