KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Fall 2015

Transcription

1 KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Fall 2015 DIRECTOR S MESSAGE Greetings from the KU Nurse Anesthesia Program! Congratulations to our 2015 graduates as they begin their CRNA careers! About two weeks after graduation, the Class of 2018 began their nurse anesthesia curriculum and has completed summer semester courses in anatomy and chemistry/physics. The first year SRNAs will begin simulation training and shadowing in the OR during fall semester while the second year SRNAs will complete the advanced beginner phase of clinical training at the end of fall semester. The senior class began affiliate rotations in April and is now working on Capstone projects: it is difficult to believe they just have two semesters remaining in the program! A number of changes have occurred in the University of Kansas School of Health Professions (SHP) administrative personnel. Dr. Karen Miller, Dean of SHP and Dean of the School of Nursing (SON), retired July 1 st. A national search is underway for two separate Deans, one for SHP and one for SON. Dr. Miller served as Dean of SON for over two decades and was also Dean of SHP for 17 years. Dr. John Ferraro, Chair of the Department of Hearing and Speech, has been named interim Dean. Dr. Marge Bott has been named interim Dean for the School of Nursing. Lou Loescher-Jung, Associate Dean of SHP, also retired in June. Since SHP will have its own Dean in the future, the Associate Dean position will no longer exist. Inside this issue: Director s Message 1 Class of Scholarships 2 Mission trip 3 Faculty Spotlight 3 AANA Mid-Year Assembly 4 Welcome Picnic 4 Fundraiser 5 Upcoming Events 6 Contact Information 6 KU Medical Center is quite a construction zone at the present time. A simulation center is being built in Sudler and the KU Nurse Anesthesia Department hopes to utilize the new space. The department currently utilizes a state of the art simulation center at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Mo. In addition, construction has begun on the new Health Education Building on the corner of 39 th and Rainbow. This building will be 100% classroom and simulation space and will include a very wide walkway from Orr Major over 39 th. The walkway will be wide enough for restaurants and study areas. The first of four new hospital towers is well under way on the corner of State Line and 39 th. The first tower will house neurosurgery and ENT, including new operating rooms. The growth at KU Hospital and the Medical Center is phenomenal: it is probably difficult for any graduates prior to 2000 to envision, but there are now about 60 staff CRNAs at KU Hospital! Please make plans to attend the second annual fundraiser on October 10 th in Kansas City and the tailgate in Lawrence prior to the September 12 th football game. We hope to see you at an alumni event soon! Donna Nyght, CRNA, DNP Department Chair 1

2 KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Fall 2015 Front Row: (Left to Right) Jenny Hermes, Nicole Hofmann, Crystal Craig, Meagan Aurandt, Paige Pasternak, Jamie Seller Middle Row: Steven Freier, Bryce Uhl, Kayla Larsen, Kerri Helm, Maria Oles, Ariana King, Vanessa Jackson Back Row: Stacy Hackler, Benjamin Baker, Marissa Fahrbach, Nicholas Linderer, Reed Tenney, Isaac Russell, Emily Covington, Sigismund Njogopa The class of 2015 participated in commencement exercises and celebrated with graduation ceremonies in May. This was the first KU class to earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Festivities included the Hooding Ceremony, the School of Health Professions Recognition Ceremony, and the walk down the hill in Lawrence. The 21 graduates have obtained jobs in the states of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Washington. Congratulations Norton-Ringle Scholarship Winners Melissa Albers, Ruth Petros, and Komla Badjalimbe are this years winners of the Norton-Ringle Scholarship. These students wish to express gratitude to the University of Kansas Nurse Anesthesia Education Department for selecting them to receive this award. Melissa Albers is from Manhattan, Kansas. She and her husband Dave have three beautiful children: Riley, Dillon, and Reagan. Melissa earned her BS from Kansas State University and then earned her ADN from Hutchinson Community College in She worked in the ICU in both Manhattan and Topeka, KS. Upon graduation, she would like to relocate to a smaller town or rural location in the Pacific Northwest. Ruth Petros was born in Eritrea and raised in Ethiopia. She earned her BSN from Union University in Germantown, TN in She worked in the DC metro area prior to being accepted to the KU Nurse Anesthesia Program. Komla Badjalimbe is originally from Togo, a small West African country. He has lived in the United States for almost 14 years. He and his wife have a beautiful daughter named Madelyn. He earned his BSN from Mid-America Nazarene University in He worked at SMMC and OPRMC prior to being accepted into the KU Nurse Anesthesia Program. He hopes to become a faculty member so he can educate and mentor students. Melissa Albers and Family Ruth Petros and Family Komla Badjalimbe and Family 2

3 KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Fall 2015 Mission Trip to Guatemala June 20-28, 2015, marked the 6th annual medical mission trip to Antigua, Guatemala, for the University of Kansas Nurse Anesthesia Education Program. The medical mission trip was in collaboration with the Medical Missions Foundation and participants from KU included Donna Nyght, CRNA, Alissa Blau, CRNA, Dr. Terry Chaffee, Komla Badjalimbe, SRNA and Zack Waldron, SRNA. The eight-day trip was an invaluable and rewarding experience. The first day was spent performing preoperative anesthetic evaluations on all of the patients for the week. Some patients walked for miles in the hope of being seen and having surgery. The next five days were spent in the operating rooms at Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro where anesthesia providers worked as part of a team with surgeons (ENT, urology, & general) and registered nurses to complete 108 surgeries! Other volunteers of the team included: medical students, college students interested in health care careers, an IT team from Cerner, pharmacists, an art team, interpreters, and an audiology team who saw 154 patients in clinic and were able to provide 134 hearing aids. This year s trip was an overwhelming success. The first surgical day involved 37 cases; a new record for the trip! The students, under supervision of volunteer certified nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists, were allowed to perform general and regional anesthesia techniques for individuals of all ages. With language barriers, supply shortages, and older and unfamiliar anesthesia equipment, the SRNAs faced significant obstacles during the trip. They learned to adapt to the environment while providing the safest care possible; acquiring priceless experience to be used throughout their careers. The SRNAs also enjoyed working with the nursing staff from Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro, who were great resources and assisted the MMF team in handling any issues that arose. After a day of recovering from surgery, patients had to find their own means of transportation back to their homes For some individuals that meant walking for miles, but they were still grateful and appreciative of the care. It was amazing to witness the entire MMF team collaborate to provide great care for many Guatemalans. Komla and Zack are extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 2015 Antigua, Guatemala, trip! More information, including a blog and video, can be found at Zack providing anesthesia Komla showing off his spinal skills Dr. Chaffey, Alissa, Zack, Komla, and Donna Paul Bennetts named one of Top 20 Outstanding Professors Dr. Paul Bennetts, CRNA, PhD, has been named one of the Top 20 Outstanding Professors of Nurse Anesthesia by Nurse Practitioner Schools. Dr. Bennetts is currently an instructor of didactic courses in advanced physiology, theory and research, regional anesthesia and pain management, evidence-based practice and senior-level nurse anesthesia theory. His primary clinical responsibility is in teaching cardiothoracic anesthesia in the Center for Advanced Heart Care at The University of Kansas Hospital. 3

4 KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Fall 2015 Left to right: Angelique Davis, Maegan Kinkelaar, Alex Doyle, & AANA President Sharon Pearce AANA Mid-Year Assembly This year s AANA Mid-Year Assembly was held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA on April 18-22, CRNAs and SRNAs from across the United States congregated in the nation s capital in record breaking numbers. The event consisted of current legislative affairs relevant to CRNAs, supporting the CRNA Political Action Committee (PAC), and rallying at Capitol Hill. KANA supported four students to attend this conference including Angelique Davis, Maegan Kinkelaar, and Alex Doyle, senior students at the University of Kansas, and Shannon Vance, a senior student at Newman University. The first day of the AANA Mid-Year Assembly educated attendees on current legislative topics relevant to CRNA future practice. On Sunday April 19th, the day began with the AANA President s Report where President Sharon Pearce gave a motivating speech about the importance of involvement in advocacy for CRNAs and their practice. Sharon Pearce encouraged students to continue their participation in professional organizations and quoted former AANA President Linda Williams, SRNAs may be 10% of our membership, but 100% of our future. Bruce Weiner then presented the AANA Treasurer s Report. Katherine Baicker addressed issues that impact CRNA practice and Amy Showalter provided education on the rules of persuasive advocacy. Frank Purcell led multiple sessions on understanding CRNA policy issues and communicating CRNA issues on the Hill. The evening concluded with a silent auction social event while spending time networking with CRNAs and SRNAs at the PAC event. On Monday, April 20th, attendees had the honor of meeting with candidates running for the AANA board after hearing their speeches regarding their platform for candidacy. The afternoon session consisted of regional breakouts where legislative updates were presented by each state. Hearing the updates from our neighboring states was enlightening as some states have different issues regarding CRNAs and their practice. On Tuesday, April 21st 2015 approximately 1,000 CRNAs and SRNAs marched to Capitol Hill to rally for the profession of nurse anesthesia. As the crowd gathered on the west lawn, AANA President Sharon Pearce made an inspiring speech. All in attendance felt her passion for the issues that face nurse anesthesia today. Rallying on Capitol Hill gave each CRNA and SRNA motivation to meet with their State Representatives and Senators. The goal in each meeting was to strengthen relationships and provide education on current and ever evolving practice. During these meetings each person expressed their gratitude for the ending of HR 2 and the continued support of Title VIII funding. Title VIII funding helps support nurse anesthesia workforce development due to the rising demand for healthcare services. Also discussed was the growing elderly population and the importance of APRNs and CRNAs ability to respond to the demands of rural Kansas. There was a strong voice of advocacy to make the language of the VHA handbook concurrent with every day practice. Each Senator and Representative was asked to consider the growing demands of veteran care and the importance of delivering safe, high quality, and cost effective care. The advocacy for CRNAs was prevalent throughout Mid-Year Assembly and will forever be ingrained into our hearts and minds. Every person the SRNAs met throughout this experience were great role models and mentors to students across the nation. The students will forever be indebted to the KANA board for their generosity and unwavering support. The KANA board members took all involved under their wings to show how to be successful in advocating for this profession at the state and national level. The student s look forward to continuing their involvement in organizations and someday becoming leaders to future students. Annual Picnic to Welcome Class of 2018 Each year the KU Nurse Anesthesia Department hosts a picnic for all of the nurse anesthesia students and nurse anesthesia faculty members. This year, the picnic took place at Shawnee Mission Park. The picnic allows the incoming class the opportunity to socialize with faculty and meet students from the various classes. 4

5 KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Fall 2015 Second Annual Nurse Anesthesia Fundraiser Saturday, October 10, 2015 Club Broadway, Kansas City, MO Time: 7:00-11:00 pm Tickets: $65.00/person Faculty and students will host the second annual fundraiser to benefit students in the KUMC Nurse Anesthesia Program. All proceeds will go directly to students and will help to support mission trips, educational travel expenses, scholarships, and more. The event will feature unlimited food, beverages (non-alcoholic & alcoholic), parking, games, and an incredible silent auction. To purchase tickets, register online and pay by credit card online or pay at the door. Please note the number of tickets and names of people attending. To buy tickets online: Cash, Check, or Credit Cards accepted at the door. Please go through the above website to register your attendance and select Pay at Door option To make a tax deductible donation to the Nurse Anesthesia Department please visit: Click on alumni info & events Click on KU endowment If you cannot attend but would like to donate or give an item to the silent auction, please contact the Nurse Anesthesia Education office at Thanks for your continued support of our program and we hope to see you there! Rock Chalk! 5

6 KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Fall 2015 UPCOMING EVENTS Alumni Tailgate KU vs. Memphis September 12th, 2015, on the hill in Lawrence, Kansas Tailgate 3:00 PM/game 6:00 PM 66th Annual KU Postgraduate Symposium on Anesthesiology KU Nurse Anesthesia department sponsors a lunch at the Symposium each year for Program alumni April 1-3, 2016, at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City Visit us at OR Find us on Facebook on the KU Nurse Anesthesia page Alumni Scholarship Thank you for all of your support to establish the Endowed Alumni Scholarship. The required endowment of $30,000 was achieved in 2014 A scholarship committee will determine the recipient of the award. Your continued donations are crucial to student and program success, so please donate to the endowed scholarship fund or the general program endowment fund to support student travel and other expenses. You can donate on our alumni page, Click on Make a Gift and indicate that the donation is for the scholarship fund or the general fund. Or you can contact Peggy Person with KU Endowment at or [email protected]. Thank you for your donations! KU Nurse Anesthesia Education Mail Stop Rainbow Boulevard Kansas City, KS