Recent News from Around the NationNurse Anesthetist Appointment to National Nursing Council Makes History Park Ridge , Ill. – For the first time, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) will serve on the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP). American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) member John Nagelhout, CRNA, PhD, FAAN, was appointed by Michael Leavitt, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to serve a four-year term that will end in September 2011. The NACNEP is responsible for providing recommendations to the HHS secretary and U.S. Congress on policy issues pertaining to nurse education, practice improvement and workforce supply. The council is authorized under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act, which is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of the Health Professions Division of Nursing. “The NACNEP has an irrefutable history of correcting the disparities that exist within the nursing community and healthcare industry, and among the general public,” said Nagelhout. “I am proud to be the first CRNA to represent the specialty on the NACNEP. As a member of the council, I plan to use my experience to contribute to its ongoing success and work to positively influence the nursing profession.” Nagelhout has co-authored more than 30 publications, served as an author and editor for the AANA Journal, and presented at more than 300 national and international meetings on the topic of anesthesia, research, nursing and pharmacology. In addition, he has secured more than $1 million in grant funding to assist with healthcare related research. Recognized as a committed professor, clinician and publisher, Nagelhout has received numerous awards throughout his career and is a member of several professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association, California Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and AANA Foundation. A CRNA for more than 30 years, Nagelhout received a doctorate and master’s degree in pharmacology, and his bachelor’s degree in nurse anesthesia, from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. He also earned a certificate in nurse anesthesia from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Va., and an associate’s degree in nursing from Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, N.Y. Nagelhout is currently director of the nurse anesthesia educational program at Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia in Pasadena, Calif., and California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, Calif Suzanne Brown, CRNA, Recognized for Commitment to Global Health
Ms. Brown was selected for this recognition for her work designing and implementing nurse anesthesia educational programs at two hospitals in Cambodia: the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, and the Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope in Phnom Penh. Her involvement with these facilities began in 2003 when she conducted a site assessment. Appointed to serve as program director for this site, Ms. Brown oversaw the recruitment of more than a dozen volunteers who have completed more than 20 assignments. As a result of the training, support and mentoring provided by HVO volunteers, the quality of anesthesia care at both hospitals has greatly improved. Local anesthesia providers now offer post-op pain management as a component of the anesthesia care that patients receive. In addition, the local anesthesia providers have themselves initiated training programs for their colleagues at nearby hospitals and clinics. Lois Krug, CRNA, CHE, RN, chair of the nurse anesthesia steering committee states, “Suzanne works diligently with the local anesthesia providers and hospital administrators to coordinate the efforts of the volunteers in order to establish an effective and worthwhile training program.” Ms. Brown is currently on staff with the anesthesia department of Northwest Permanente located in Portland, Ore. She is a member of the Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Ms. Brown has been an active member of HVO since 1999 and currently serves on the steering committee for nurse anesthesia. According to recent reports, the global shortage of healthcare workers is estimated to be 4.3 million. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, MD commented on the healthcare shortage stating, “The simple fact is that the world needs many more health workers. The world faces global as well as local threats to health. Infectious diseases have staged a dramatic comeback, and chronic diseases are on the rise. We cannot improve people’s health without staff to deliver health care.” “I am delighted that Suzanne’s contributions to Cambodia are being recognized with this award,” said Nancy Kelly, HVO Executive Director. “By highlighting the accomplishments of volunteers like Suzanne, we hope to raise awareness of global health issues and of the role that individuals can have in making a difference.” A private, non-profit membership organization, HVO was founded in 1986 to improve global health through education. HVO designs and implements clinical education programs in child health, primary care, trauma and rehabilitation, essential surgical care, oral health, infectious disease, nursing education, burn management and wound care. In more than 25 resource-poor nations, volunteers train, mentor and provide critical professional support to healthcare providers who care for the neediest populations in the most difficult of circumstances. Major General Gale Pollock to Serve as Interim Army Surgeon General Major General Gale Pollock, CRNA, has been selected to serve as the interim Army Surgeon General/Commanding General of the Army Medical Command. The resignation of Army Surgeon General Kevin C. Kiley, who submitted his request to retire on March 11, 2007, made it necessary to fill the vacated position during the interim. Major General Pollock will execute the duties of the Surgeon General/Commanding General of the Army Medical Command until a new officer is named. "The nurse anesthesia community is proud to know that Major General Pollock has been tapped to serve as interim Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the Army Medical Command during this time of transition," said Terry Wicks, CRNA, MHS, president of the 36,000-member American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. " This appointment is a definite vote of confidence in her abilities as a soldier, leader, and healthcare provider who began her career as a nurse anesthetist many years ago." The advisory board will recommend a slate of candidates from among officers in the Army Medical Department for consideration as the next Surgeon General. Title 10, United States Code requires such a board. The officer ultimately selected must be approved by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. This board will be announced as soon as possible with the intent to convene on a date in April. Major General Gale S. Pollock became the U.S. Army Deputy Surgeon General in October 2006. Pollock received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Maryland. She attended the U.S. Army Nurse Anesthesia Program and is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She received her Master of Business Administration from Boston University; a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Baylor University, a Master's in National Security and Strategy from the National Defense University, and an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Maryland. She is also a Fellow in The American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
New Study Shows OB Anesthesia Equally Safe When Provided by CRNAs or Anesthesiologists For more information, contact: Park Ridge, Ill.—Obstetrical anesthesia, whether provided by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) or anesthesiologists, is extremely safe, and there is no difference in safety between hospitals that use only CRNAs compared with those that use only anesthesiologists, according to the results of a new study published in the January/February issue of Nursing Research (Vol. 56, No. 1, pp. 9-17). The study, titled "Anesthesia Staffing and Anesthetic Complications During Cesarean Delivery" ( www.nursingresearchonline.com ), was a retrospective analysis undertaken by Daniel Simonson, CRNA, MHPA, chief anesthetist and managing partner of The Spokane Eye Surgery Center in Spokane, Wash.; Melissa Ahern, PhD, MBA, associate professor, Department of Health Policy and Administration, Washington State University, Spokane; and Michael Hendryx, PhD, associate professor, Department of Community Medicine, and research director, Institute of Health Policy Research, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, W.V. Simonson and his fellow researchers set out to identify differences in the rates of anesthetic complications for cesarean section in hospitals where the OB anesthesia is provided solely by CRNAs compared to hospitals where the OB anesthesia is provided solely by anesthesiologists in the state of Washington. The results showed that there is no difference in rates of complications between hospitals that use only CRNAs compared with those that use only anesthesiologists. No difference was found in mortality rates either. "The study results clearly demonstrate that OB anesthesia complications are no different between the CRNA-only and anesthesiologist-only staffing models," Simonson said. "Expectant mothers can have great confidence knowing that they and their babies will be safe in the care of a nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist. "Further, hospital administrators and anesthesiology groups can comfortably consider variables other than provider safety or quality—such as provider availability, cost, and the percentage of Medicaid patients cared for at their facility—when staffing for obstetrical anesthesia," Simonson added. The study involved 134,806 patients, including 33,236 who were cared for at hospitals whose OB anesthesia was staffed by CRNAs only, and 101,570 who were cared for at hospitals staffed by anesthesiologists only. Washington state hospital discharge data for 1993-2004 were obtained from the Comprehensive Abstract and Reporting System database and merged with data from a survey of anesthesia or medical staff at the two types of hospitals. In the study sample there were 965 anesthetic complications and 17 deaths: 76 percent of the complications were classified as less serious according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), and only one of the deaths had an ICD-9-CM code associated with an anesthetic complication. The CRNA-only hospitals had a complication rate of 0.58 percent, while the anesthesiologist-only hospitals had a rate of 0.76 percent. Regression analysis was used to adjust for independent variables such as hospital characteristics (geographic location, size, and teaching status), patient demographics (ages, primary payer, and type of admission), and patient commorbidities. Several interesting patterns emerged from the data. The CRNA-staffed hospitals treated the greatest percentage of Medicaid, rural, teaching, urgent admission, and very young (under 17 years old) patients, while anesthesiologist-staffed hospitals had the greatest percentage of emergency admissions and older mothers (over 35 years old). Additionally, a substantially higher percentage of sicker patients were transferred to CRNA-only hospitals, a factor which could, potentially, affect the number of anesthetic complications at a facility. However, this did not prove to be the case. "Hospitals and anesthesiology groups, particularly those in rural areas and those in medically underserved urban areas with large Medicaid populations, now have a possible long-term solution to their OB anesthesia staffing needs: greater use of CRNAs working without anesthesiologist supervision," Simonson said. He added that further studies are needed to validate the observations made from this study. Men in Nursing DVD now available from American Association of Nurse Anesthetists For more information, contact: Philadelphia, Pa.—Men comprise less than 10 percent of the nurse workforce in the United States, but the newly released career exploration documentary titled Career Encounters: Men in Nursing hopes to persuade more men that nursing is a viable career option, announced Producer Gary Gray of Davis Gray Productions. The 27-minute program was produced under the auspices of the American Assembly of Men in Nursing (AAMN) with funding from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), Kaiser Permanente, Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future, Nurses Service Organization, and Nursing2006 Foundation. Additional funding was provided by the schools of nursing at Case Western Reserve University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Vanderbilt University. Male nurses from across the United States are featured in the program, including student nurses, nurse educators, registered nurses practicing in a variety of settings, a U.S. Army nurse treating wounded soldiers just back from Iraq, nurse anesthetists, and other advanced practice nurses. In addition to interview segments, the program includes ample "action" footage to give viewers a sense of the work nurses do. The men featured in Career Encounters: Men in Nursing explain how they chose nursing as a career, which obstacles they have faced in a predominantly female profession, how their career paths are unfolding, and what they find rewarding about being nurses. The program was shot on location at an inner-city hospital in Philadelphia; Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; the National Flight Nurse Academy in Cleveland; a hospital in Richmond, Calif.; and the school of nursing at Samuel Merritt College in Oakland, Calif., where a class using a state-of-the-art simulator to train nurse anesthetists is highlighted. Career Encounters: Men in Nursing is designed for young adults seeking career information and adults considering a new career direction. The program is already being recognized as a valuable resource for nurse recruiters and nursing educators, high schools, colleges, libraries, and career counseling centers. "This DVD is a terrific program that will motivate men to consider the possibilities of a rewarding career in nursing," said AANA President Terry Wicks, who is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). "I pursued my degree in nurse anesthesia through the U.S. Army. Let me tell you, there is absolutely nothing more satisfying than participating in the physical healing of another human being. I couldn’t be more pleased with the path my professional life has taken." Nearly half of the nation’s 36,000 CRNAs are men, compared with the relatively low percentage of men in nursing as a whole. Career Encounters: Men in Nursing is available in DVD format and can be purchased from the AANA for $12 plus $2.50 for shipping and handling. To order a copy, mail checks and money orders to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, 222 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068, or email credit card orders to shorton@aana.com . The AANA is the professional organization representing the nation’s CRNAs, who provide approximately 27 million safe anesthetics each year in the United States. The purpose of the AAMN is to provide a framework for nurses as a group to meet, discuss, and influence factors that affect men as nurses. Membership is open to any nurse – male or female – to better facilitate discussion and to meet the most important objective of AAMN: strengthening and humanizing healthcare. Career Encounters is a registered trademark of Davis Gray, Inc. Davis Gray Productions has been producing career exploration documentaries for professional associations since 1990. More information about the Career Encounters series can be found at www.DavisGrayinc.com . FDA and Bayer Pharmaceuticals Announce Changes to Trasylol® Prescribing Information MedWatch (The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program) reports significant changes in prescribing information for Trasylol® (aprotinin) that is of concern to healthcare professionals. These changes contain a new warning indicating an increased risk for developing renal dysfunction as a result of Trasylol® administration. Trasylol® may also increase the need for perioperative dialysis in a patient receiving this medication. Finally, a stronger warning addressing anaphylactic reactions has been issued with this revision. Aprotinin, the functional element of Trasylol®, is a naturally occurring serine protease inhibitor that may be used by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) during certain surgical procedures in the prevention and treatment of surgical hemorrhage. The MedWatch safety summary concerning Trasylol is at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2006/safety06.htm#Trasylol .
Dr. Lorraine Jordan Named AANA Foundation’s First Executive Director For more information, contact: Park Ridge, Ill.– Lorraine Jordan, CRNA, PhD, will serve as the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Foundation’s first executive director. Until accepting this newly created position, Jordan had served as the AANA Director of Foundation. In a recent effort to reorganize the way the AANA Foundation is structured and increase efficiency, Jordan will divide her time at the helm by focusing primarily on research and fundraising. The AANA Foundation, founded in 1981, is the research development and charitable affiliate of the AANA. “Fundamentally, the focus of the AANA Foundation has not changed,” said Jordan. “However, this new structure allows for programs that will better serve our AANA members, and increases the dissemination of research conducted by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to medical and healthcare providers outside the anesthesia community.” With regard to new research endeavors, Jordan’s responsibilities include developing the rationale for and examining the possible ramifications of undertaking proposed studies. Two major studies currently under way include the CRNA workforce and faculty workforce for nurse anesthesia educational programs. Jordan’s expansive plans for the Foundation include raising enough funds to establish additional scholarships and grants to support research conducted by CRNAs as well as student nurse anesthetists. In addition, the Foundation will participate in efforts to increase the number of doctorally prepared CRNAs, which will ultimately assist in alleviating the shortage of educators in nurse anesthesia educational programs around the country. “Through the research and philanthropic efforts, the AANA Foundation will enable CRNAs to establish stronger ties with our fellow research organizations, accrediting agencies, educational programs, clinical sites, and legislators in Washington, D.C., ,” said Jordan. A CRNA for more than 20 years, Jordan received her PhD in Health Education and her master’s in Allied Medicine from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, she received a certificate in nurse anesthesia, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from The Ohio State University. Anesthesia Helps Nervous Patients Undergoing MRI Test For more information, contact: Park Ridge, Ill.—Apprehensive patients who previously might not have been willing to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test can now rest easier knowing anesthesia is an option to calm their nerves, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). MRI is a diagnostic technique that uses a large, powerful magnet to create paper-thin sectional images of any part of the body—including the heart, arteries, and veins—from any angle and direction without surgical invasion. The drawback is that these procedures, while painless, require patients to be immobile for 20 minutes to well over an hour, often in a close space. A traditional, or closed, MRI machine is not to be confused with an open MRI machine. Open MRI takes place in a cylinder that is rounded on the top and bottom and open along the sides. An open MRI machine can accommodate people who weigh up to 500 pounds. By contrast, in a closed MRI machine the patient lays in a tube that is open at one end only. These machines cannot accommodate anyone heavier than 350 pounds. According to research, about one in four people cannot tolerate being in closed MRI machines because they suffer from claustrophobia, and therefore require some form of anesthesia to help them through the experience. To help alleviate patient concerns about MRI through information and education, the Council for Public Interest in Anesthesia, a forum used by AANA to promote patient quality care and practitioner wellness, has published a new brochure titled, Magnetic Resonance Imaging: What You Should Know About MRI. The brochure answers commonly asked questions about MRI, and the use of anesthesia for the procedure. To obtain a free copy of the brochure, contact the AANA Bookstore and Product Fulfillment Department by calling (847) 655-1116 or via email at bookstore@aana.com. Healthcare professionals attribute the increased use of MRI to technical advances in diagnostic imaging and the aggressive pursuit of minimally invasive techniques. Patients who may need anesthesia care during an MRI test include children, people who suffer from claustrophobia, psychiatric patients, and the critically ill. More often than not, the anesthesia provider who keeps patients safe and comfortable throughout MRI tests is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). A CRNA’s involvement may be necessary for a number of reasons, such as dealing with a patient’s inability to lie perfectly still or monitoring a patient’s vital signs such as breathing and heartrate. "Administering anesthesia to a patient undergoing an MRI procedure allows the machine to take the best possible images free from any complications caused by the individual moving about," said Sandra Tunajek, CRNA, DNP, director of the Council for Public Interest in Anesthesia. "It is also the responsibility of the anesthetist to ensure that the patient has a safe and comfortable anesthetic experience, and leaves the facility with positive feelings about the MRI test."
Recent News From VermontIn Memoriam - VANA Loses Long-Time Member Brenda Bruce, 64, died November 9th, 2006 at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in White River Junction. She was a 1960 graduate of Windsor High School, received her nurses training at the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California and graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Anesthesia in Springfield, Massachusetts. She married Murray Bruce on October 6th, 1973 in Isle La Motte. He died in 2004. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts and most recently at Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor, Vermont as a CRNA. She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Windsor where she was a former member of the Catholic Daughters of St. Francis. Survivors include one brother, Ronald Hamel Sr. of Windsor; two stepdaughters, including Beverly Saffle of Tabernash, Colorado and several nieces and nephews. The funeral mass was celebrated on Tuesday, November 14th at St. Francis in Windsor by Reverend Paul Belhumeur. She was buried in St. Mary’s cemetery in Claremont, New Hampshire. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Church, P.O. Box 46, Windsor, VT or the Hospice Room at the VA Medical Center, 415 N. Main Street, White River Junction, VT 05009.
CRNA Job OpportunitiesVermont Sheridan Healthcare is seeking full-time CRNAs for clinical practice in Rutland. A team of 4 MDs and 4 CRNAs will provide anesthesia at this community hospital located 15 minutes from the New York state border. Interviews are being conducted for full-time positions. Contact Karen Block at 800-816-6791 or kblock@shcr.com New York The Department of Anesthesiology at Albany Medical College is seeking full-time CRNAs for clinical practice. to join 25 colleagues due to expansion of services. Obstetrics optional. Flexible scheduling. No Call. Albany Medical Center is a Level I, tertiary care, 631-bed facility. Income potential $200K+ and full benefits. Albany, the capital of New York, offers arts and entertainment, seven colleges and universities, boating, golf, skating, and skiing. Less than three hours to Boston, New York City and Montreal. ID#27843N2. Contact Eileen Curl at 800-678-7858; fax 314-726-0026; anderson.curl@cejkasearch.com. For more opportunities, visit www.cejkasearch.com. |
Washington, D.C. – Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) is pleased to announce that Suzanne Brown, CRNA, is a recipient of the second annual Golden Apple Award. As part of its World Health Day observances, HVO created this award as a way of recognizing the extraordinary educational contributions of volunteers to sites abroad. Each volunteer honored with this award has demonstrated a strong commitment to HVO’s educational mission by working on curriculum development, teacher training, didactic or clinical training, or the enhancement of educational resources.