Humans of UNAC/UHCP: Sanne Jacobsen, CRNA

“I grew up in Walnut Creek, where synchronized swimming was serious business. Half the Olympic team came from our local club. I joined when I was seven after seeing one of their shows. Later, in college at UC Berkeley, I joined the rowing team, rowing with seven other women in perfect unison. Both sports taught me how to work in tight synchrony with a team: Something that’s shaped who I am, in and out of the OR.

“In nursing school, my fiancé—who was in med school—suggested I shadow a CRNA. I’ll never forget that day in the OR. When the surgeon dropped a tourniquet, the patient’s physiology changed instantly. Temperature dropped. CO₂ spiked. Blood pressure fell. I was amazed at how dynamic it all was—and how critical it was to stay one step ahead. That’s when it clicked. This is what I wanted to do.

“Now, 13 years into my career at Kaiser Oakland, my role remains clear: Protect the patient.

“I see my role as being the quiet guardian of the patient, watching, adjusting, keeping them safe in one of the most vulnerable moments of their life.

“That’s why it hit so hard in 2021 when leadership changed our pay structure without real dialogue, without explanation. I wrote a letter asking for transparency. Ninety percent of my department signed it. We got no response.

“That silence told me everything.

“At first, I didn’t think organizing a union was possible. But a year later, a coworker told me that some CRNAs up in Sacramento were starting to organize. That was the spark. I joined the effort, became part of the organizing committee to become a part of UNAC/UHCP, and now I sit at the bargaining table.

“Here’s the truth: When CRNAs are underpaid, burned out, or leave for better opportunities, patients feel it. When we’re not allowed to practice our full scope, patients miss out on safer, faster care. Everything we’re bargaining for—pay, scope, protections—is directly tied to patient care.

“It’s been energizing, challenging, and at times, frustrating. But like rowing in sync or giving anesthesia, this is about precision, persistence, and trust. I’m doing this because I believe in our profession, and I want to leave it better for the next CRNA who comes through those OR doors.”

—Sanne Jacobsen, CRNA, is a member of the bargaining team for UNAC/UHCP’s certified nurse anesthetists bargaining with Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.