Fall 2010 - University of Kansas Medical Center

KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter
Fall 2010
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
It is my pleasure to greet the KU Nurse Anesthesia Program alumni! Thanks to
an ambitious Capstone Project by two of our senior students, Jeslyn Scott and
Gina Pecaro, the first KU Nurse Anesthesia Program Newsletter is a reality. My
name is Donna Nyght, and I am a 1993 graduate of the KU Program. A lot has
changed since my days as an SRNA, and I am very excited about the direction of
the Program. We currently boast six full time CRNA faculty members: Karri
Arndt, Shelley Barenklau, Paul Bennetts, Paul Hertel, Donna Nyght, and Christita Weber. Dr. Carol Elliott, our long-time Program Director and Department
Chair, is now in phased retirement. Carol continues to teach didactic courses,
providing much needed assistance to the current full-time faculty, all of whom
are enrolled in DNP or PhD programs.
As many of you know, all nurse anesthesia programs must transition to entry
level DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) by 2025. A few programs in the country
have already made this leap, and our program will begin planning for the DNP
curriculum in early 2011. It is difficult for the faculty to concentrate on changing the program while enrolled in
their own doctoral studies, but four (Karri, Shelley, Paul H., and Donna) hope to finish the DNP in December 2010.
Paul B. and Christita are working toward PhDs, necessitating a few more years of study. Changing the Program to
an entry level DNP will require approval from the KU Graduate School and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse
Anesthesia Education Programs (COA). At this point, I cannot predict the feasibility of a DNP completion program
for our graduates prior to the 36 month curriculum (first graduates in 2008). Needless to say, planning for and
changing to the entry level DNP will be the next big challenge for the KU Nurse Anesthesia Program faculty members!
There have been many changes in the Program and it would be impossible to discuss all of them in a newsletter.
One of the most notable changes involves clinical at KU Hospital. Three years ago, the Anesthesiology Department
had one CRNA employee. Now there are 17 staff CRNAs, five of whom are graduates from our 2010 class. CRNA
staff at KU Hospital has greatly changed the dynamics of clinical at our home hospital, and I am very thankful for
the CRNA mentoring now occurring at KU.
In October 2009, the Program participated in the required COA site visit for the purpose of reaccreditation. Our
Program had last received the full 10 year accreditation in 1999, so it was time for this anxiety producing (for me, at
least) event. Since I joined the faculty in 2004, this was my first experience with writing a self study and hosting the
accreditors. I am thrilled to report that the visit went extremely well, and we again received the longest possible
accreditation of 10 years. As a matter of fact, the following statement was made in the letter from the COA Executive Director, Dr. Frank Gerbasi:
“Finally, the COA would like the program to know that very few programs are granted
accreditation with no progress report required. Even fewer programs have achieved the
maximum accreditation of ten years. Therefore, the directors of the COA are particularly pleased to
offer their congratulations to everyone at the program who has demonstrated their commitment to
meeting the requirements for continued accreditation. Please accept the COA’s congratulations on
the program's performance in achieving maximum accreditation status.”
In closing, I want to encourage all of you to become involved and stay connected to your Program. I encourage you
to participate in Program and Alumni activities, mentor our SRNAs or any SRNAs, and consider a monetary gift to
support students enrolled at your alma mater. I look forward to meeting or reconnecting with KU nurse anesthetists!
Calendar of Events:
SEPTEMBER 11, 2010
KU NURSE ANESTHESIA
ALUMNI TAILGATE
LAWRENCE, KS
OCTOBER 8-9, 2010
KUMC ALUMNI
REUNIONWEEKEND
KANSAS CITY, KS
WWW.KUMC.EDU/ALUMNI/REUNION
OCTOBER 23-24, 2010
FALL KANA MEETING
WICHITA, KS
WWW.KANA.ORG/CALENDAR.SHTML
Inside this issue:
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
2-3
STUDENT MISSION TRIP
4
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN
LEGISLATION
4
FACULTY IN THE SPOTLIGHT 5
PUBLICATIONS
5
EVENTS
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KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter
1967
The first
four students
were admitted into the
Program,
under Jack
Cleverdon,
CRNA,
Chair,
1967-1973
1968
1974
The
AANA
granted
the
Program
full
accreditation
The
Program
became
part of the
School of
Allied
Health
1987
First class to
graduate with
Master’s degrees
Carol Elliot, CRNA, PhD
Chair– Nurse Anesthesia
1973 - 2007
1960
1970
1980
1979
1966
The Program of
Nurse Anesthesia
was initiated at
the University of
Kansas, as a
certificate
Program, under
the sponsorship of
the Department of
Anesthesiology
First class to
graduate with
Bachelor’s
degrees
1987
First class of
Master’slevel
degree
completion
students to
graduate
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KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter
1993
1990
First class
of
BryanLGH
students to
graduate
2007
First
satellite
Program
established
at Mount
Carmel
Medical
Center
1990
Donna
Nyght,
CRNA, MS
appointed
Department
Chair
2008
First class
to
graduate
from
36-month
Program
2000
2010
Program
granted full
ten year
reaccreditation
2010
2008
2003
Second
satellite
Program
established
at Overland
Park
Regional
Medical
Center
Programs with
Mt. Carmel,
Overland Park
and BryanLGH
ended
Program Faculty Circa 1990
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KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter
The First Student Mission Trip
After months of preparation, Program students for the first time participated in a medical mission trip to Antigua, Guatemala. Three nurse anesthesia students from the University of Kansas joined forces with the Kansas City based Medical Mission Foundation to provide medical services
to serve the impoverished country of Guatemala. Senior students Michelle
Wray, Erin Gibson, and Erica Swingle found the eight day experience
invaluable and extremely rewarding. The trip was an absolute success.
Throughout the week, a total of 500 patients were seen in the Ear, Nose,
and Throat (ENT) Clinic, with 160 procedures performed. An additional
150 patients were seen in the audiology clinic with 145 hearing aids fitted
successfully. Eighty surgeries were completed in four days utilizing only
four operating rooms. The students, under supervision of volunteer anesthesiologists, were allowed to perform regional and general anesthesia
techniques to all ages. The students were given the opportunity to overcome language barriers, adapt to older anesthetic equipment, appreciate the conservation efforts implemented by the hospital, and
learn to love the art of giving back. The patients and their families were nothing but grateful. Many of the men that needed transurethral prostatectomies had been forced to have an indwelling catheter for over a year. Many of the children had acute and
chronic respiratory tract infections that necessitated removing their tonsils and adenoids. Health problems such as these are detrimental to life due to the lack of basic health care needs in their communities. The students were humbled by the experience. Reflecting back, the students discussed the desire to return for another mission trip and support future nurse anesthesia students in
pursuing such a noble cause. The trip could not have been made possible without the support of the Medical Mission Foundation,
Donna Nyght, the nurse anesthesia department, the volunteer anesthesiologists, and the generous donations from the University of
Kansas Medical Center community.
Student Involvement in Legislation
The second Annual Student Lobby Day was held at the Kansas state capitol in
Topeka on January 26, 2010 to coincide with the celebration of National Nurse
Anesthestist week. The purpose was to promote student awareness and participation in political activities that impact CRNA practice. Eight students and two
faculty from the University of Kansas nurse anesthesia program, two students
from the Newman University nurse anesthesia program, two students from
Texas Wesleyan University nurse anesthesia program and two board members
of the Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists were in attendance. Led by KU
senior students Tara Brunin, SRNA, Christopher Morrisey, SRNA, and Todd
Nason, SRNA, students and certified nurse anesthetists met with their state legislators to discuss the importance of nurse anesthesia in rural and metropolitan
Kansas and to advocate for the profession and protection of practice rights.
Preceding their day in Topeka, students were educated on the key legislative
issues facing nurse anesthetists in Kansas and nationwide and given a tutorial on how to contact their representatives and senators.
Armed with a myriad of effective lobbying techniques, students met with approximately 15 legislators in individually scheduled appointments throughout the day or while walking them back to their offices and attended a Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee meeting. It was at this meeting that the Chair, Senator Jim Barnett, informed his fellow committee members of the purpose of
nurse anesthesia presence at the Capitol that day and displayed a map showing the large distribution of counties in Kansas that rely
solely upon CRNA’s for anesthetic care. In addition, Christopher Morrisey was asked to introduce each member of the group and the
committee applauded the group’s efforts and honored the goal of political awareness and advocacy by all citizens. The Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists held a private luncheon where legislators were invited to join in a more informative roundtable discussion comprised of students and board members. The day was a great success as evidenced by both the legislators who acknowledged
their newfound understanding of the importance of nurse anesthesia practice to the people of Kansas, as well as by students who became keenly aware of the value and significance of being an active participant in the political issues facing their profession. Kansas
Student Nurse Anesthesia Lobby Day is planned as an annual event and students and CRNA’s are encouraged to attend next year.
Copied with the permission of Tara Brunin, SRNA
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KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter
Faculty In The Spotlight
Paul Hertel, CRNA, MS
Paul Hertel, CRNA, MS, graduated from the University of Kansas Nurse Anesthesia Program
in 1999. After working for seven years in the Kansas City area, he returned to the University
of Kansas as a Clinical Assistant Professor. In addition to teaching, Paul is also a KANA
Board Member (2009-2011). With his political interests in the nurse anesthesia profession, he
has been a great faculty role model to help get students involved as well. He helped start student lobby day in Topeka and has accompanied students to the AANA Mid-Year Assembly in
Washington, D.C. He also acts as the chairperson on the capstone advisory committee, which
allows him to actively work with the students and express the importance of being active and
having a voice within the nurse anesthesia profession. Paul is “excited about the future of the
program and it’s positive involvement in legislative issues and helping students see a different
side of nurse anesthesia.”
Carol Goodyear-Bruch, CCRN, PhD
Carol Goodyear-Bruch, CCRN, PhD, has vast experience in the critical care nursing profession serving
as an educator, clinical nurse specialist, and faculty. Board-certified in critical care since 1983, she has
worked in a variety of critical care settings including surgical/trauma, medical, burns, and emergency
department. Dr. Goodyear-Bruch is active in the American Association of Critical Care Nurses both on
the local and national level. In addition to serving on the board of the local chapter since 1989, Dr.
Goodyear-Bruch was president in 2000-2001. At the national level, she served as the President of
the Board of Directors of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) from 2008- 2009,
and has previously served as chair of the AACN's Education Task Force. Dr. Goodyear-Bruch was
part of the program faculty, as clinical associate professor and Director of Research, from June 2001 April 2010. She is now Senior Nurse Researcher at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City. She will
be receiving the DISTINGUISHED NURSING ALUMNI award from the School of Nursing at the
KUMC Alumni Reunion Gala on October 9, 2010. We would like to congratulate her on all her accomplishments and say thank you for your commitment to teaching and excellence.
Recent Publications
We would like to recognize all the
hard work and professional accomplishments achieved by both students
and alumni.
Karri Arndt, CRNA, MS, Class of
1999 and KU Assistant Clinical Professor, was published in the October
2009 issue of Signa Vitae, coauthored
with Anthony Kovac, MD:
“Comparison of remifentanil versus
fentanyl general anesthesia for short
outpatient urologic procedures.”
Paul Bennetts, CRNA, MS, Class of
1989 and KU Assistant Clinical Professor, was published in the June 2010
issue of the AANA Journal, coauthored
with Janet Pierce, PhD: “Apoptosis:
Understanding Programmed Cell
Death for the CRNA.”
Mentorship Program at the AANA Mid-year
Assembly held in Washington, D.C. in
April, 2010.
Timothy Brady, CRNA, MS, Class of
2009, was published in the April 2010
issue of the AANA Journal:
“Anesthetic Management of a Pituitary Tumor Resection with Dexmedetomidine.”
Melissa Wiehe, CRNA, MS, Class of 2010,
has two publications in the AANA Journal.
"Massive Hemoptysis During Monitored
Anesthesia Care for Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with Percutaneous Endoscopic
Gastrostomy Tube Placement: A Case Report" in the February 2010 issue, and
“Cystic Fibrosis: A Systems Review” in the
June 2010 issue, coauthored with Karri
Arndt, CRNA, MS, Class of 1999.
Tara Brunin, SRNA, Class of 2011,
wrote an article about Lobby Day in
Topeka for the Spring 2010 issue of
Kanesthesia. Mrs. Brunin was also a
guest columnist in the June 2010 issue
of the AANA NewsBulletin writing
about her participation in the Student
Please let us know about your accomplishments. Email the department:
[email protected]
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KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter
EVENTS
Welcome to the Class of 2013!!
KU NURSE ANESTHESIA 4TH ANNUAL
June 2nd, 2010 marked the first day of the Program for the Class of 2013 . This is the 43rd
class of students in the University of Kansas
Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Alumni Tailgate on the Hill
September 11, 2010
The annual welcoming picnic for the new class
was a huge success! Students, along with their
families, were able to meet with current students
and faculty to get better acquainted.
Support the Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Give online today at www.na.kumc.edu/alumni
Please join us on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. on the
Lawrence campus for the Fourth Annual KU Nurse Anesthesia
Alumni Tailgate during the KU vs Georgia Tech football game.
Our tent will be located on the hill which is on the south side of the
stadium. Food and drinks will be provided. Tickets to the game are
available online through the KU Athletics office.
kutickets.com/football
KU Nurse Anesthesia Education
Mail Stop 2020
3901 Rainbow Bloulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160
Visit us at
www.na.kumc.edu/alumni
OR
Find us on Facebook
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