Commencement Exercises Held for Class of 2012
.Commencement exercises for the 69-member Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Class of 2011 were held Thursday, November 29, 2012 at the Madison Campus Seventh-day Adventist Church. Graduate Masters Degree hoods, alumni pins, in addition to specific special recognitions and awards were presented.
MTSA Dean Emerita Mary Elizabeth “Ikey” DeVasher, (‘69/’94) CRNA, PhD, APN led the procession of MTSA board of trustees, administration, faculty, and graduates while carrying the MTSA mace. A welcome was given by MTSA President Ken Schwab, EdD followed by the invocation by Class of 2012 graduate Stacey Such. Daniel E. Dawes, JD, Morehouse School of Medicine, delivered the commencement address. He was introduced by graduate Melissa Eudailey. A homily was given by Madison Campus Seventh-day Adventist Church Interim Pastor LeClare Litchfield reflecting MTSA’s spiritual values and roots. He was introduced by graduate Elise Warren. MTSA President Ken Schwab, EdD, presented the diplomas.
Each year MTSA graduates well-exceed requirements of the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthesia Programs (CCNA) regarding the number of cases and procedures for clinical experiences in order for the candidate to be eligible to take the National Certification Examination.
CCNA sets the required numbers of cases and procedures for clinical experiences in order for the candidate to be eligible to take the National Certification Examination.
The following statistics are derived from the information provided to the CCNA for certification requirements for the graduates as of November 1, 2012. CCNA requires a minimum number of 550 cases. The average number of cases performed by members of the class of 2012 was 1,025 cases. The graduate with the highest number of cases performed was John Presley who had 1,503 cases.
CCNA requires a minimum of 850 hours of clinical time. The average number of hours spent actually doing anesthesia by the members of the class of 2012 was 1,890 hours. The graduate with the most hours of anesthesia time was Molly Goglia with 2,880 hours.
CCNA requires each graduate to have administered anesthesia to at least 35 pediatric patients. Members of the class of 2012 performed an average of 181 anesthetics for pediatric patients. The graduate with the highest number was Jason Hollander with 281 pediatric cases.
CCNA requires each graduate to have provided anesthesia for at least 30 obstetrical patients. The average number of anesthetics in this category for members of the class of 2012 was 125. The graduate with the highest number was Melissa James with 264 obstetrical patients.
Since 2000, graduates from all programs across the United States are required to perform a minimum of at least 25 regional anesthetics. These 25 can be from a combination of all categories of regional anesthesia. The members of this graduating class administered an average of 153 regional anesthetics. Epidural and spinal anesthesia are techniques of regional anesthesia. The members of this class performed an average of 43 spinal anesthetics, and the graduate performing the highest number was Chris Jones who performed 111 spinals. The members of this class performed an average of 60 epidurals. The graduate performing the highest number was Melissa James who placed 151 epidurals.
In 2006, CCNA mandated that graduates would need to have learned a specific method of securing a patient’s airway using fiberoptic intubations. Each student must perform at least five of these fiberoptic intubations. The members of this graduating class each performed at least five fiberoptic intubations in the simulation skills center, and then an average of seven fiberoptic intubations for surgical patients. Two graduates tied for performing the most fiberoptic intubations including Jason Hollender and Kristina Widdifield each performing 48 fiberoptic intubations.
CCNA has also recently mandated that graduates will need to have placed at least five Central Venous Catheters (CVPs) for invasively monitoring patients’ hemodynamic function. The members of this class placed an average of 11 CVPs. Two graduates tied for performing the most the most CVP placements including was Jessica Embry and Eileen O’Donnel who each placed 25 CVPs.
Additionally, we are pleased to announce that two Class of 2012 graduates have been accepted for publication in a future upcoming issue of the International Student Journal of Nurse Anesthesia. Theresa January-Butler wrote an article entitled Delayed Onset of Malignant Hyperthermia During Third Exposure to Volatile Agents; and Eileen O’Donnell wrote an article entitled Combined General and Regional Anesthesia for Ex-micropremature Infant. Although not a requirement for graduation, we are honored to recognize the initiative of these two graduates.
During the graduation ceremony, awards were presented to the following graduates (see accompanying photos):
*The Team Spirit Award was presented to graduate William Lee Howardby MTSA Faculty Member Yvette Riker (’02) CRNA, DNP, APN.
*The Bernard V. Bowen Award was presented to graduate Heidi Ann Blake by MTSA Assistant Program Administrator for Student Relations Lewis McCarver (‘85/’07) CRNA, DNP, APN.
*The Agatha Hodgins Award was presented to graduate Emily Megan McDonald by MTSA Assistant Program Administrator Rachel Brown (‘97) CRNA, DNP, APN.
*The Mary Elizabeth Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dean Emerita Mary Elizabeth “Ikey” DeVasher by Presdient-elect of the MTSA Alumni Association Jon Burks (’00) CRNA, MS, APN. Dr. DeVasher is the first recipient of this annual award named in her honor.
Closing remarks at the ceremony were shared by MTSA President Schwab preceded the benediction which was delivered by graduate Samantha Dawson.
