Timeline by Jacob Frost

Summer of 2021: First medical job

jacobfrostyschool — 2025-07-07 14:31:11 UTC

I spent the summer after high school graduation as a CNA at Ebenezer Ridges, which taught me the value of rapport, asking "why?", and solidified my desire to pursue nursing

Grand Canyon University

jacobfrostyschool — 2025-07-07 14:39:55 UTC

The decision to attend college out of state was difficult, but the GCU nursing program was well known, and my desire to constantly challenge myself in every facet of my life pushed me to commit. With a good chunk of credits from post-secondary classes I took in high school, I was able to fast track and complete my undergrad in three years with my BSN.

Summer of 2022: First ICU exposure

jacobfrostyschool — 2025-07-07 14:48:52 UTC

The summer after freshman year of college, I worked as a nursing station tech at Fairview Ridges step-down ICU unit. Contrasting the consistent nursing home atmosphere to the hustle and bustle of the hospital was necessary and valuable for me. Carrying that experience into nursing school provided an edge from my classmates and benefited my learning in multiple ways.

2024: First Registered Nurse job!

jacobfrostyschool — 2025-07-07 14:59:24 UTC

In August of 2024, I was hired into the Float Pool at United Hospital in St. Paul, where I fortified my fundamental nursing skills, experienced what it felt like to not have a preceptor or professor looking over my shoulder, and made connections in the hospital.

January 2025: Hired into the Neuro ICU

jacobfrostyschool — 2025-07-07 15:08:15 UTC

Wanting to gain critical care experience as soon as possible, I was hired into the neuro ICU at United four months into being a fully fledged nurse. Gaining exposure to critically ill patients with ventilators, arterial lines, drains, and vasoactive medications strengthened my critical thinking skills, pharmacology knowledge, multidisciplinary communication, and composure under high-pressure situations.

Rest of 2025 into 2026

jacobfrostyschool — 2025-07-11 13:50:17 UTC

Continuing to buffer my foundational nursing skills and taking deeper dives into pharmacology, hemodynamics, and ventilators will take priority. Studying for the CCRN and planning on taking it as soon as I have enough critical care hours is also on my to do list. Ideally, if I can transfer out of the Neuro ICU into a CVICU or SICU and obtain certifications (CRRT, IV/PICC starts, etc.), I will...because as much as I love the neuro system and my coworkers, the setting of a CVICU/SICU will provide more applicable experience to anesthesia. Building connections and setting up shadowing shifts with CRNA's in the hospital is another thing I plan on doing on the side. Additionally, I have to recognize I'll (hopefully) be taking the National Certification Exam five years from now, but it's never too early to start refining my test taking skills.

September 2026

jacobfrostyschool — 2025-07-11 13:54:41 UTC

Apply for anesthesia school at St Mary's, desiring to start in the fall of 2027. With hopefully over two years of critical care experience, CCRN completed, and additional certifications under my belt, I would expect to be a competitive applicant for the program.

Primary stakeholders:

While I unfortunately do not possess the ability to see into the future and know exactly what my life will look like in a year and a half, I can expect a few things:

Will most likely not be married or have any kids at the start of school, meaning I won't have an added pressure to deliver and provide for my family
I want to be continually cognizant of the weight of my profession and what I'm actively choosing to accomplish. My future patients are depending on my expertise, awareness, and knowledge in order to adequately provide for them during procedures
During the three years of anesthesia school, I would hope to continue progressing in my social and relational life, potentially making some big decisions. Recognizing the importance of communication is going to be very vital to success.

Fall of 2027

jacobfrostyschool — 2025-07-11 14:15:15 UTC

Begin anesthesia school!

Easiest part:

I have absolutely no idea haha. My best guess will be the how my classmates (and professors) are in the trenches with me and recognizing the support I have from them, as well as my friends and family.

Hardest part:

There will be long days, I'm sure. There will probably be times I'll be staring at the wall wondering how I ended up in this profession. Those moments will be real and I don't want to dismiss them. I want to feel them. I want to sit in the absurd emotion and learn from it. And when I'm ready, I'll move forward. This isn't going to be a sprint, but a marathon, and nothing I've done in my life so far can adequately prepare me for what it will feel like. All I can do is give it my all, starting now.