Ariana Okerstrom, CRNA

Introduction

Ariana “Ari” Okerstrom is a certified registered nurse anesthetist who provides care for patients undergoing surgery or other medical procedures requiring anesthesia. In addition to her experience in this field, Ari also has experience as a registered nurse in emergency medicine at a level one trauma center and an intensive care unit for cardiovascular patients.

Emergency medicine was a fitting start for Ari’s medical career. She is the daughter of a 911 dispatcher and firefighter/paramedic who worked in the same city.

For Ari, patient safety and comfort are top priorities. She takes the time to discuss the anesthesia process with her patients and answer any questions they have, and she makes sure she is available to follow up with a patient if needed.

“I want to make sure my patients feel confident as we prepare them for their surgery or procedure,” she says. “I want to set expectations with them about how they will feel afterward, along with what they can do and ask for to help them experience as comfortable a recovery period as possible.”

Ari and her family enjoy living in the Mountain West. In fact, she and her husband fell in love with Montana — so much so they decided to elope in Glacier National Park. They enjoy winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. In the summer, Ari and her family go hiking and explore Montana’s lakes.