Policy priorities to improve access to advanced practice nursing care for mental health and substance use problems: An American Academy of Nursing manuscript.

Nearly 50% of the U.S. population struggles with a mental health or substance use disorder in their lifetime, yet a substantial number are unable to receive treatment or are undertreated due to significant shortages and disparities in the mental health workforce.

Implementation of a Perioperative Lung Protective Ventilation Protocol for Robotic-Assisted Surgeries.

This project sought to educate providers on the benefits of lung protective ventilation (LPV), implement a LPV protocol in robotic surgery, and evaluate adherence to the protocol in the adult (≥ 18 years) robotic-assisted surgery population. This project used a pre/post quality improvement design with a retrospective chart review and periodic knowledge, attitude, and practice surveys over the course of 6 months. This project retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records to assess adherence to the LPV protocol.

The Development and Validation of an Objective Assessment Tool for Performing Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks.

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a regional anesthesia technique used as part of a multimodal pain management plan in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. There are numerous approaches and techniques described in the literature, resulting in a lack of consistency in block performance. This potentially reduces efficacy while increasing risk to the patient.

Ketamine Use for Palliative Care in the Austere Environment: Is Ketamine the Path Forward for Palliative Care.

The goal of palliative care is to focus on the holistic needs of the patient and their family versus the pathology of the patient's diagnosis to reduce the stress of illness. U.S.

Improving Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists' Adherence to a Standardized Intraoperative Lung Protective Ventilation Protocol.

Purpose: The use of lung protective ventilation (LPV) during general anesthesia is an effective strategy among certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to reduce and prevent the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. The purpose of this project was to implement a LPV protocol, assess CRNA provider adherence, and investigate differences in ventilation parameters and postoperative oxygen requirements.

Design: This quality improvement project was conducted using a pre- and postimplementation design.

Improved Technical Skill and Procedure Time With Central Venous Catheter Simulation.

Simulation manikins provide anesthetists a training modality to practice ultrasound-guided central venous catheter (CVC) insertion safely without the risk of patient harm. The goals of this quality improvement (QI) project were to increase technical skills and reduce procedure time among anesthesia providers during CVC placement by implementing an ultrasoundguided, simulated CVC insertion workshop. A primary benefit of simulation-based education is the provision of a safe learning environment-one in which learners and providers may practice and increase skillsets.

Three-Dimensionally Printed Simulated Tracheas to Improve Cricothyrotomy Skills Among Anesthesia Providers.

Cricothyrotomy proficiency is imperative for anesthesia providers; however, opportunities to perform this skill are infrequent making skill maintenance essential. Increased accessibility of three-dimensional (3D) printing allows for production of low-cost simulation models. The models used for simulation-based teaching and deliberate practice facilitate skill development and refinement.

Improving Anesthesia Providers' Needle Cricothyrotomy Success With Ultrasound-Guidance: A Cadave Quality Improvement Project.

Difficult and failed airway management remains a significant cause of anesthesia-related morbidity and mortality. Failed airway management guidelines include performing a cricothyrotomy as a final step. Correct identification of the cricothyroid membrane (CTM) is essential for safe and accurate cricothyrotomy execution.

Preoperative Preparation and Guidelines for Cannabis-Using Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery.

Purpose: Appropriate preoperative screening techniques are needed to safely provide anesthesia to increasing numbers of cannabis using surgical patients.

Design: This was a quasi-experimental quality improvement project.

Methods: Preoperative identification of cannabis users by registered nurses (RNs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) was compared to baseline identification rates.

Mobile Cricothyrotomy Simulation Cart Improves Anesthesia Providers' Confidence, Technical Skills, and Procedure Time.

Cricothyrotomy is an invasive airway used in "cannot intubate, cannot ventilate" events and can be taught using simulation. A mobile cricothyrotomy simulation for 66 anesthesia providers included an initial cricothyrotomy attempt (pretest), education, practice and feedback, and a second cricothyrotomy attempt (posttest). Provider confidence, skills, and procedure time were measured.

A protocol implementation to determine aspiration risk in patients with multiple risk factors for gastroparesis.

Patients with risk factors for gastroparesis are at increased risk for aspiration into the tracheobronchial tree. Current American Society of Anesthesiologists fasting guidelines use subjective measures to determine aspiration risk. A gastric ultrasound protocol can identify patients with risk factors for gastroparesis and determine the need to perform a point-of-care gastric ultrasound to objectively assess gastric antral contents.

Implementation of contextualized, emergency management cognitive aids in a periodontics clinic.

Background: Emergencies in outpatient clinics are rare. However, potentially catastrophic events can be challenging to manage due to a variety of factors, including limited equipment and staff. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve the staff knowledge and familiarity with critical performance elements for emergencies encountered in the setting of a periodontics clinic.

Implementation of a Postoperative Electronic Health Record Alert for Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Patients.

Purpose: Approximately 2% of surgical patients have an existing cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). Perioperative device reprogramming requires postoperative care to ensure that device settings are restored. Electronic health record (EHR) alerts have been shown to improve communication between providers and decrease time to necessary interventions in other areas of medicine.

Improving Emergency Cricothyroidotomies: Simulation-Based Training for Critical Care Providers.

This article discusses skill proficiency of providers related to emergency cricothyroidotomies. Various techniques to improve procedural skills were studied. Accurate identification of the cricothyroid membrane via palpation remained consistently inadequate.

Optimizing Intraoperative Fluid Replacement for Patients Receiving Mannitol During Neurosurgical Procedures: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Patients undergoing craniotomy are at increased risk of intravascular volume changes due to the use of mannitol. This quality improvement project was conducted to implement a standardized goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) protocol using a dynamic physiologic measure in an attempt to maintain euvolemia in patients undergoing craniotomy with mannitol administration. An evidence-based GDFT protocol was integrated into an existing neurosurgical protocol.

Maximizing Use of Social Media to Improve Member Engagement in a Professional Organization.

The North Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists recognized concerns surrounding decreased member engagement and communication. Member engagement and communication is the lifeblood of an organization and is directly related to the success of an organization's outcomes and goals. Revamping of social media is a cost-effective method to help increase membership engagement and communication.

Preoperative Cognitive Assessment Recommendations for the Older Adult.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to identify the need for and to improve the preoperative cognitive assessment of the older adult.

Design: A retrospective chart review was used to explore the incidence of postoperative delirium (PD) and characteristics associated with it.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was used to identify the incidence of PD in a community hospital.

Integrating the STOP-Bang Questionnaire Into the Preanesthetic Assessment at a Military Hospital.

Purpose: This quality improvement project integrated the STOP-Bang (Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, Age, Neck circumference, male Gender) questionnaire into the preanesthetic assessment to identify patients at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), decrease postanesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS), and decrease unanticipated admissions.

Design: This is an observational pre/post design and retrospective chart review.

Methods: Registered nurses assessed STOP-Bang scores among patients seen in the preanesthesia clinic and documented scores in the electronic health record.

Does Ultrasonographic Measurement of Gastric Content Influence Airway Management Decisions?

The presence of gastric content before induction of general anesthesia is the primary modifiable risk factor in the prevention of pulmonary aspiration. The purpose of this project was to determine if ultrasonography could be routinely used to measure gastric content and assign aspiration risk in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Preoperative gastric ultrasonography was performed in a convenience sample of 100 patients.

Transgender Simulation Scenario Pilot Project.

Background: Transgender people often experience inequities, discrimination, and violence within health care environments by ill-informed health care professionals. Simulation has been beneficial in increasing students' knowledge about transgender health issues.

Methods: A transgender simulation scenario was piloted with pairs of students completing an anesthesia preoperative interview with a transgender patient who presents for an emergent surgery.

Evaluating the Implementation of a Preemptive, Multimodal Analgesia Protocol in a Plastic Surgery Office.

Many patients undergoing plastic surgery experience significant pain postoperatively. The use of preemptive, multimodal analgesia techniques to reduce postoperative pain has been widely described in the literature. This quality improvement project evaluated the implementation of a preemptive, multimodal analgesia protocol in an office-based plastic surgery facility to decrease postoperative pain, decrease postoperative opioid consumption, decrease postanesthesia care time, and increase patient satisfaction.

Asthma: an anesthetic update. Part 3.

The effective management of the patient with asthma continues to represent a significant challenge in modern anesthesia practice. The prevalence of asthma is increasing worldwide and is the most common chronic disorder among children. Classification and treatment strategies continue to evolve as new therapies emerge.