UPMC CRNAs simulate operating room scenarios with Surgical Sciences students

Please join us in thanking UPMC St. Margaret CRNAs Kelly Cannon and April Hassler who visited our Surgical Sciences program to engage students in a discussion about working in anesthesia related careers and to do simulated operating room scenarios with students.

"Kelly and I, since we are on the anesthesia side, are giving insight on the track it takes to be a nurse anesthetist," April Hassler said. "What school is like is a big component. If it interests them, it's good to know what it takes from high school through college. And we are here to answer any questions that they may have. We hope our visit attracts some students to what we do."

“When many people think of anesthesia care, they assume it's being given by an anesthesiologist,” Kelly Cannon added. “CRNAs are not as well known, in the public, but we are often the hands-on providers.”

A CRNA, they said, has been around since the Civil War, though the practices of the profession have evolved with each technological advancement in medical care. A CRNA's main function is to ensure patient comfort and safety.

"Every patient brings a unique problem to us with their individual health needs," April Hassler said. "Some patients can be very difficult to take care of. I just had one patient who had an allergy to our two most basic means of anesthesia. We had to think of other ways to ensure that they would not feel pain, not remember anything and be safe. I had to think creatively."

Their work is also gratifying.

"The rewarding part for us is meeting a new patient, taking them through the procedure safely and then they wake up feeling cared for," Kelly Cannon said. "Being a nurse first, it's important to us to maintain patient care."

They each said they would have benefited from a Surgical Sciences program in high school.

"I remember what it was like being in their seat, being scared and then realizing this is what I wanted to do," Kelly Cannon said. "I saw they were a little nervous at first but when you start to get hands-on and interactive I think they realize this was another day to enjoy what they're learning. I want them to know they can enjoy their work."

"All of these students are going to have such a one-up and so many more skills than other people, which they will need in this field," April Hassler added. "This is invaluable. What Mrs. Olszewski is doing here is invaluable. I wish this would have been available to me when I was younger... If I had something like this offered to me, it would have made a huge difference."

A.W. Beattie Surgical Sciences instructor Mrs. Vincenzina Olszewski said visits from experts in the Surgical Sciences field leads to students buying into the program even more.

"I think the biggest benefit to students, which I did not realize when I first began to bring in other professionals and experts, is the investment our students show," Mrs. Olszewski said. "When they come in and work with students as a team students realize that what Kelly and April are doing is exactly what they are learning and practicing."

Students in the Surgical Sciences program also recently observed an open heart surgery.

"Watching an open-heart surgery and knowing what they were seeing is important," Mrs. Olszewski said. "They know what instruments are being used. They know what different people are doing in the operating room. Their buy-in into what they're learning becomes deeper because they realize the benefit of what they're learning."

A.W. Beattie Career Center principal Dr. Jason Watkins said exposing students to professionals is critical to their education.

"Partnerships such as this are vital to bringing subject matter experts into programs to share their in-depth knowledge and experience in this particular field of study," Dr. Watkins added. "We are grateful for all of our business, industry and healthcare partners who work with us every day to equip students with 21^st century skills, knowledge and career experience to best prepare students for their futures beyond Beattie.”