UNF doctoral candidate fulfilling lifelong dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist

When Madison Funk was in the sixth grade, she told her parents she was thinking about becoming a nurse. That summer, with the urging of her father, a healthcare employee, Funk gained valuable experience volunteering with hospital nurses.

"My dad got me involved in a volunteer program at his hospital," recalls Funk. "I got to volunteer with anesthesia techs, and then I spent a day with a CRNA, and I thought to myself, 'This is the coolest job.'"

She volunteered each summer until she graduated from high school, with her mother and father's encouragement.

She would go on to become a nurse, and eventually her path would lead her to the University of North Florida to continue her education.

Funk will graduate this December with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesiology.

College and Early ICU Experiences

A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Funk remained in-state for college - earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Campbell University in 2020. In August of that year, she began working at Duke University Hospital as a registered nurse in their medical pulmonary ICU. Shortly after her hiring, COVID-19 cases soared. Although it was a stressful time working on the frontlines during the pandemic, Funk says she was fortunate to work in a hospital with a great support system.

During her two-year stint working as an ICU nurse, Funk's responsibilities included handling medication infusions, administering sedation and caring for the overall well-being of patients and their families.

Reflecting upon her ICU experiences, Funk says supporting patients and their families through such difficult times further ignited her desire to become a nurse anesthesiologist.

"Working in the ICU, especially during the pandemic, you're there for the worst of it," said Funk. "With anesthesia, I have an opportunity to make someone's experience better."

Perseverance, Move to Jacksonville and UNF School of Nursing

In late 2021, Funk's father passed away. Going through the grieving process further ignited her passion for anesthesiology and deepened her understanding of the critical role this specialty plays in supporting critical care and pain management for patients.

While researching anesthesia programs, UNF's School of Nursing stood out for its community-focused curriculum and strong clinical partnerships. She enrolled in the UNF anesthesiology nursing (DNP) program in spring 2023. The rigorous cohort-model program consists of nine continuous semesters of full-time graduate study.

During her time in the nursing program, Funk completed clinical rotations at various healthcare organizations including Orange Park Medical Center, UF Health Jacksonville, Ascension St. Vincents and Ocala Medical Center.

She also performed pediatric clinicals at Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital and learned how anesthesia is administered in other countries while studying abroad in Ludwigsburg, Germany for two weeks during the fall 2025 semester.

Together with two of her cohorts, Funk presented findings from their two-year research project, titled "The Effectiveness of Ondansetron Prior to Administration of Spinal Anesthetic to Reduce Hypotension," at the 2025 American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Annual Congress.

The highlight of Funk's tenure at UNF came when she was selected as one of four students in the initial class of UNF student registered nurse anesthetist (SRNA) Fellows at a local healthcare clinic. The fellowship, which pays for Funk's final year of nursing school, provides one-of-a-kind experiential learning opportunities for promising anesthetists.

"The clinic handles a lot of very unique cases that you would never see anywhere else, and the anesthesia for those cases also involves things you'll never see anywhere else," said Funk. "It's been a bit of a learning curve, but it's a great opportunity."

Funk says her time in the nurse anesthesiology program has been both challenging and rewarding, crediting the faculty and her fellow cohorts for their support every step of the way.

"I have met some really great people through my cohort, and I think many of us will be lifelong friends," said Funk. "That's what's great about UNF and our faculty, they encourage us to build strong relationships with others."

Dr. Katherine Meuti, assistant professor and assistant program director of the nurse anesthesia program, says Funk's success within the program can be attributed to her unwavering positivity, resilience and a strong work ethic.

"Madison has evolved into a vigilant, organized, and highly competent nurse anesthetist," said Meuti. "I had the opportunity to work with her during her first clinical rotation, and even then, her dedication stood out - she put in the time, effort and grit necessary to build a strong foundation in nurse anesthesia."

Soaring Onward and Upward

As her time as an SRNA Fellow comes to an end, Funk has accepted a job offer to serve as a CRNA at the clinic - she will take the National Certification Examination shortly after graduation.

With graduation looming near, she is thankful for the support she has received from UNF faculty, fellow students, friends, colleagues and especially, her family.

"I would not be where I am without the influence of my mom and my dad," said Funk. "Also, my husband has been incredibly supportive."

Committed to advancing her expertise in anesthesia, Funk hopes to one day mentor others while continuing to contribute to the practice of nurse anesthesiology.

"Once I've settled into being a CRNA, I would love to become a preceptor and help SRNAs," she said.