When seconds count, CRNAs are there

National CRNA Week kicked off Jan. 21 as a way to remind patients, families, medical professionals and others: “Every Breath. Every Beat. Every Second. WE ARE THERE!”

As usual, PANA is taking it a step further, stretching National CRNA Week into a month-long campaign to introduce Pennsylvanians to the highly skilled professionals behind the mask --- the men and women who are by their side during surgical procedures, from open-heart surgery to routine outpatient procedures.

CRNAs are the face of anesthesia care in Pennsylvania. There are more than 3,000 CRNAs and CRNAs-in-training in the commonwealth, providing hands-on anesthesia care in every setting: hospital operating and delivery rooms; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons; and pain management centers.

It’s time to take off that mask and help our patients know who we are and what we do. The role of a CRNA requires intensive training and education and nurse anesthesia is a high-responsibility career. CRNAs provide anesthesia care for millions of patients each year. Nurse Anesthetists are most frequently the first responders to intraoperative emergencies, acting quickly with expert knowledge and skill in the care of our patients.

The average nurse anesthetist completes 9,000 clinical hours of training when you combine the clinical ICU experience as a RN required to enter CRNA training, the clinical experience obtained in an undergraduate nursing curriculum and the clinical anesthesia training in a nurse anesthetist program. That’s impressive. Our high level of education and clinical experience contributes to our capable, vigilant care of each patient.

CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America, enabling health-care facilities in these medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, pain management and trauma stabilization services. We’re battle tested, too, serving as the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on the front lines since World War I. CRNAs remain the primary anesthesia providers in austere combat theaters.

CRNAs are proud of their safety record and career. And that’s why this month, we are encouraging patients, families, medical professionals and others to learn more about the professionals behind the mask and appreciate the work we do. Because when it matters, nurse anesthetists are by your side for every breath, every heartbeat, every second. WE ARE THERE!

Jodie Szlachta, CRNA, Ph.D., is the President of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA).

Pittsburgh-area CRNAs honored with ‘Cameos of Caring’ Awards

The Cameos of Caring Awards Gala honors outstanding nurses for their commitment, dedication, and passion for patients, families, students and more. The award recipients are not only caregivers; they also are role models, advocates, educators and researchers. Two Pittsburgh-area CRNAs --- Chad Artman and Lynnette Sikora --- were recognized.

During its inception, 20 hospitals in western Pennsylvania joined the Cameos of Caring family, each selecting one nurse who demonstrated excellence in nursing care, served as an advocate for patients and families, and embodied the essence of the nursing profession.

Today, the program has expanded to include additional award categories to reflect the breadth of the nursing profession and recognize exceptional individuals in many different practice areas, such as the Advanced Practice Award, the Donate Life Award (recognizing those nurses who actively advocate for organ and tissue donation), the Case Manager Award, and the Nurse Educator Award. For 2015, a new award category was added, the Quality and Safety category, to honor nurses focused on creating a culture of safety and quality patient care throughout their facility.

Proceeds from the program and awards gala benefit the Cameos of Caring Endowed Nursing Scholarship Fund, established in 2000 to offer financial support so that practicing nurses may advance their education. Since the program’s inception, more than 250 scholarships have been awarded and over $1.3 million has been raised for the scholarship fund.

The 2016 honorees represent a variety of health systems, hospitals and schools of nursing. They also span a great number of specialty areas including: anesthesia, oncology, education, intensive care and emergency nursing.

This year, Chad Artman, CRNA, and Lynnette Sikora, CRNA, were honored to be selected as recipients of this prestigious award. The Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists congratulates them on being recognized for their hard work and dedication, and for providing outstanding patient care on a daily basis.

Learn more about these two deserving honorees:

Chad Artman:

As an anesthetist, Chad has saved lives countless times. But what makes Chad special is his insistence on going out of his way to help others. Family and friends can tell many stories about Chad rescuing strangers from life-or-death situations. One day, Chad was driving on an on-ramp when he noticed a car sitting on the shoulder. A man was dragging an unconscious woman from the car. Without hesitation, Chad pulled over to help. He performed CPR for 20 minutes before paramedics arrived. The woman eventually awoke and made a full recovery.

This was not the only time Chad’s quick thinking has saved a life outside the hospital. One day, Chads 15-month-old son started to breathe irregularly and became unresponsive. Chad kept his composure and performed CPR while his wife called for help. Thanks to Chad, his son lived.

Chads ability to perform under pressure has not gone unnoticed among his peers. Staff has requested him to care for their family members or critical patients. They know that with Chad on the case, the patient and their family will be safe and feel comforted.

In addition to his clinical work, Chad teaches multiple courses at the Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research (WISER). He is also adjunct faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh Nurse Anesthesia Department.

Chad is a strong proponent of education: “Education to eliminate fear empowers nurses,” he said. He believes that nurses not only can advance their careers but also their nursing profession by continuing to learn. “His actions speak for themselves.” says one colleague. “He exemplifies the essence of the Cameos of Caring Award.”

Lynn Sikora:

Lynn has always been fascinated by the human body. Her choice of toy as a child was an anatomically correct model of the human body. It had removable plastic organs and even a heart that would pump red and blue water. This interest paired with Lynn’s caring personality made the decision to become a nurse simple.

“It has been one of the easiest and most personally rewarding choices I’ve made.” Lynn said. “I chose this profession to give back to humanity and to make a difference in another’s life.”

Lynn gives back to others in more ways than one. As an anesthetist, she is constantly trying to make sure the patient feels safe and comfortable. Lynn also recognizes that often patients’ families need special attention, and she makes sure she takes the time to build relationships with them.

Lynn’s compassion extends outside the hospital setting, too. She supports local nonprofits like Family House, which provides affordable housing to families of patients. Lynn also attends many award ceremonies that honor her colleagues and does outreach to recruit more people to become CRNAs.

To Lynn, all this giving is part of the job: “We are a patient’s advocate profession, and our holistic approach embraces the family and the community,” she says. Lynn also prides herself on helping to advance her career through attending national conferences and other continuing education presentations. But, in the end, what Lynn truly cares about is caring for people. “What better way to give back to humanity than to be part of a profession that enjoys a past, present and very important future of helping others,” she said.

Meet Your PANA Board Members - Dana Rodgers

“We should not be intimidated to meet with our local legislators to educate them about our profession so that they can better represent our interests.”

Dana Rodgers, a Pennsylvania native who currently lives in Wilmington, Del., is a student representative on the board of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA), which represents more than 3,000 certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and students (SRNAs) across the commonwealth. She’s a senior in the nurse anesthesia program at Villanova University/Crozer-Chester Medical Center, graduating this November.

We took time to get to know Dana a little bit more. Among the many interesting things we learned: She was inspired to become a CRNA by Larry Heredia, CRNA, DNP, JD, when she was a nursing student. As she nears her graduation date, Dana has plenty of words of wisdom for SRNAs. (Read the Q&A to get her sage advice!) And, when she’s not studying or advocating on behalf of CRNAs, Dana enjoys traveling, spending time with her family --- including the four-legged kind --- and reading the occasional non-anesthesia-related book. (She’s looking for a good book suggestion right now!)

Meet Dana Rodgers, your 2015-16 student trustee on PANA’s board:

Q: What is your position on the board?

A: I am the Student Board Representative, which is a position I’ve held since October 2015.

Q: Why did you choose to serve as a PANA Trustee?

A: I wanted to become involved in the political aspects of our profession, and I also wanted to work with and support SRNAs in Pennsylvania. I have enjoyed learning ways to advocate for and promote our profession.

Q: Where do you currently work?

A: For the last five years, I have been working in the CICU at Nemours A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., and I continue to work there per diem. After graduating, I will be working at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa., with Associates in Anesthesia.

Q: Where are you going to school?

A: I am a senior in Villanova University/Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s Nurse Anesthesia Program, and I will be graduating this November.

Q: What made you choose being a CRNA as a profession?

A: As a nursing student, I was shadowing in the operating room (O.R.) when I started talking to the CRNA who was in the case. He was so intelligent, technically sound and passionate about his career that I decided to further investigate the field. After becoming an SRNA, I also had the opportunity to work with him again in the O.R. on several occasions, but I never told him that he inspired me to become a CRNA. Thank you, Larry Heredia, CRNA, DNP, JD, for inspiring me to become a CRNA and for being such a great educator and mentor!

Q: What made you choose the school you’re attending?

A: Villanova has a great reputation for producing intelligent and successful CRNAs. A few of my friends went through the program and had positive experiences. They spoke highly of the diversity of clinical sites, supportive administrators and teacher, and the well-rounded education they received. It is also located near my home; it’s nationally recognized for being a top graduate program, offering online programs; and it’s reasonably priced.

Q: The PANA board notes say you live in Delaware. Do you still live there or are you now living in Pennsylvania somewhere?

A: I currently live in Wilmington, Del., with my husband, Eric; dog, Winnie; and cats, Izzie and Riley. I grew up in Wallingford, Pa., and lived there for 25 years before moving to Delaware. I hope to move back to Pennsylvania one day soon!

Q: What are your hopes for post-graduation?

A: I look forward to working full time as a CRNA with Associates in Anesthesia starting in December. I also hope to continue my education and obtain my PhD. I would love to educate future CRNAs and hopefully become a program director of a nurse anesthesia program.

Q: As you look to become a CRNA, what do you feel is one of the most important issues that currently is affecting the field?

A: It’s hard to pick the most important issues as there are several issues currently affecting our field. However, I think engaging CRNAs in political and social issues that impact our profession is extremely important. Membership in state and national organizations is imperative to the growth, advancement and advocacy of our profession. With over 3,000 CRNAs and 12 nurse anesthetist programs in Pennsylvania, we could make a large impact at the state and national level by working together. We should not be intimidated to meet with our local legislators to educate them about our profession so that they can better represent our interests. I have found that many of our legislators are very approachable, easy to talk to and willing to learn. Many legislators do not even know what a CRNA is and do not know about our scope of practice or education. We cannot expect our legislators to support our interests if they do not even know what we do!

Q: Do you have any recommendations for student CRNAs who only recently started in a CRNA program?

A: I have several recommendations for new SRNAs. One is to be supportive of your classmates. Although most of us are competitive by nature, it is not always about who gets the best grades or the most intubations. Adopting a “team” mentality by sharing notes, forming study groups, sharing clinical experiences or going out together socially will help you succeed during your program. It is difficult for those who are not enrolled as a SRNA to understand what you are going through both academically and emotionally, so it is crucial that you have at least one person in your program that you can lean on when needed. Also, take time for yourself to do non-academic activities such as working out, doing out to dinner with friends/family, etc. It is important to find a school-life balance, otherwise you will burn out. The last bit of advice is to be humble throughout your program. We have all been successful ICU nurses, so it may be hard to take criticism (constructive or not) from the people we interact with in the OR. The best thing you can do is to be gracious instead of defensive in those situations.

Q: What do you do in your free time (when not studying)?

A: I like to spend time with my sister and niece in North Carolina. They live 10 minutes from the beach, so it’s always fun and relaxing when I am there. I also enjoy traveling and working out with my husband. I hope to go out West on a ski trip with him next year. I am also very busy with my four-month-old puppy Golden Retriever, Winnie. She has a TON of energy so I like to take her on long walks and have her play with my mom’s 2-year-old Chocolate Lab, CoCo. I try and read one non-anesthesia book a year. Last year, I read “Go Set a Watchman,” the sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I am looking for recommendations for a book for this year, so if anyone has any recommendations, feel free to contact me!

Q: Give us one interesting fact about you that no one would guess in a million years?

A: I played tennis with Martina Hingis, a former top ranked tennis player. She was in the Philadelphia area for a tournament, so my coach arranged for me to hit with her during one of her practice sessions. It was such an amazing experience and she was very down to earth.