Buena Vista Regional Medical Center and Buena Vista Anesthesia Associates welcomes Austin Langel who will be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in Storm Lake starting this August.
CRNAs work in BVRMC’s Surgical Services Department providing anesthesia services to surgical patients.
“I chose to be a CRNA because I have always been drawn to the direct patient care that comes with nursing. Patients are at their most vulnerable when they are under anesthesia, and a CRNA’s job is to ensure patients are protected and well-cared for during these vulnerable moments,” explains Austin.
“CRNAs are at a patient’s side every breath, every beat, and every second during their surgery, and I am extremely excited to provide this one on one care to the patients of BVRMC.”
Austin has a passion for serving patients and living and working in a rural setting.
“BVRMC was the perfect fit for us because the hospital offers many of the services of a big city hospital, but retains the small town hospitality, friendly faces, and family focused care I have always appreciated from rural communities,” he says.
Austin was born and raised on a family farm in Le Mars with five siblings. One of his sisters attended Buena Vista University and he spent many weekends in Storm Lake at her volleyball games.
On July 7th of this year, he married Storm Lake native Ali Brashears. Both are graduates of the University Of Iowa Nursing Program and met working in the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Intensive Care Unit. They are excited to be moving back to the area closer to family. Both share a passion for spending time with family, biking and travel. Their honeymoon was spent traveling to South Africa.
Austin and Ali look forward to starting their married life in Storm Lake, he says, “The support we have received from family, friends, and many members of the community has been nothing short of amazing and has made our decision to return to Northwest Iowa an easy one,” Austin states.
BVRMC is hosting an open house on Friday, August 3 from 2:30 – 4:30 in the Bistro. The community is welcome to come and say hello.