Simulation is an essential component of the curriculum of the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia at Texas Wesleyan University. Students spend nearly 50 hours in realistic simulated operating rooms gaining critical hands-on experience before they begin their clinical residency. Anesthesia preparation, airway management, the anesthesia induction sequence, neuraxial anesthesia, and surgical positioning are areas of focus in the year-long curriculum.

To bridge the gap between the end of simulation instruction and the start of their clinical residency, our 96 second-year student registered nurse anesthetists filled the halls, auditorium, and simulation center of the GPNA Building Nov. 4-7 for the 2022 Simulation Symposium. A team of students rotate through multiple stations that teach critical skills, including central line and arterial line placement, gowning/gloving and suturing, and case presentation. Refreshing mask ventilation and intubation skills in the airway station is a must for each of the future CRNAs. The maintenance of and emergence from the anesthesia station is another important station that students engage in. Hands-on instruction with ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks is one of the many highlights of the annual symposium!

The GPNA faculty and staff spent countless hours preparing for the 4-day event that brought CRNAs from California, New Mexico, Kansas, Houston, and around the DFW area to participate in the 50+ hours of instruction. Nearly 40 RRNAs volunteered to take time away from the OR to guide and mentor their future colleagues. Not just anesthesia providers share their talents, a physician assistant with expertise in orthopedic surgery teaches the SRNAs how to suture. Dr. Brian Koonce, director of simulation, shared, “an event of this magnitude wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers who so graciously give of their time to join us on the journey to prepare our students.”

A record number of 15 anesthesia groups sponsored the event in November by providing catered lunches. One generous sponsor gifted each SRNA with a peripheral nerve stimulator. Main Street Anesthesia and Hendrick Health were new sponsors with representatives to visit with the students.

Dr. Terri Kane, program director, said, “the event keeps getting better and better each year with new stations, incredible CRNAs who help teach, and amazing sponsors. Thank you to everyone who made the 2022 Simulation Symposium so successful.”

Preparation for the 2023 symposium is already underway! Pediatric anesthesia and high-risk, low-incidence scenario stations will be added to the already action-packed curriculum. We look forward to inviting more sponsors and CRNAs to make the next symposium the best yet.