Chris Erlichman, BSN, RN and Yanet Segura, BSN, RN receive the 2022 Goldie Brangman Award

Goldie Brangman, CRNA, MEd, MBA was an accomplished CRNA and exceptional mentor. Goldie served as the first and only African American President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and President of NYSANA from 1960 - 1961. She famously treated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., after a near-fatal assassination attempt in 1958.

Every year at the Annual Fall Meeting the Goldie Brangman Award winner is announced. This year, two nurse anesthesia residents were named for their outstanding research and demonstrated work.

Chris Erlichman, BSN, RN and Yanet Segura, BSN, RN (Albany Medical College of Nurse Anesthesia) were recognized for their presentation on Evaluating Analgesic and Pulmonary Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Fascial Plane Blocks as an Early Intervention in Multiple-Rib Fractures.

Read below to learn more about Chris and Yanet, their research and what it means to be named recipients.

Why is it important to be NYSANA members?

Yanet: Being NYSANA members can only solidify our induction into the profession that has provided anesthesia in the United States for over 150 years. As residents of New York State (the ONLY state remaining without a CRNA scope of practice bill), it is so imperative that we are part of this professional organization. As we fight for recognition, we aim to communicate how vital [CRNAs] are to patients and the country's healthcare system. We owe it to the future of nurse anesthesiology, a career we vigorously fought to join.  

Why does evaluating Analgesic and Pulmonary Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Fascial Plane Blocks as an Early Intervention in Multiple-Rib Fractures interest or excite you?

Chris: As Trauma ICU nurses, we saw patients with multiple-rib fractures that could have benefited tremendously from regional anesthesia and analgesia. Implementing the latest techniques to combat pain, especially in those with chest trauma, is crucial to improving patient outcomes. We firmly believe many patients go without these services because of a lack of familiarity among those taking care of them daily. There should be a more diligent push to include anesthesia experts’ input wherever there is a conversation about pain management. Thus, as highly trained and skillful anesthesia providers, CRNAs should step up to the call. 

As we currently complete our education to become nurse anesthetists, we strive to practice to the full extent of our training, including using regional anesthesia for pain management across a broad patient population. Acknowledging this early on in our new career allows us to advance the profession, open the door for more jobs, and, most importantly, improve access to care for our patients.

What does it mean to you both to be awarded this recognition?

Yanet: As minority students who are both first-generation college graduates, we have a unique appreciation for this award. Ms. Brangman made considerable contributions to our profession, and we only hope to one day fill a small portion of her shoes. Here's to her providing the foundation while we stand on the shoulders of giants and try to contribute our piece to the history of nurse anesthesia.

What do you hope to gain from being members of NYSANA?

Chris: As students, we experienced and interacted with members of national and state organizations and saw firsthand how vital it is to the advancement of CRNAs. NYSANA provides the infrastructure needed for nurse anesthetists in New York to unite and protect this profession. We hope that with our active membership, we can tackle the challenges we face on our home turf.

We are pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the 2022 - 2023 Board of Directors! The candidates were announced at the NYSANA Business Meeting on May 1, 2022. Learn more about each candidate here. 

Electronic voting will open on Monday, July 11 at 9:00 AM and close at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, July 26.

Inside Edition goes in-depth on healthcare worker burnout in their latest article, "Plagued With COVID-Related PTSD and Burnout, the Healthcare Worker's Vocation to Help Endures Even 2 Years On". Yana Krmic, NYSANA Immediate Past President, and Dina Velocci, AANA President, share their experiences on worker burnout and the impact COVID-19 has had on healthcare workers.

The AANA offers support, information, and helpful resources through their Peer Assistance program. Learn more here or call their helpline at 800-654-5167. 

“You’re used to providing anesthesia care and saying to patients in the pre-op area, ‘I’ll give you something to go to sleep. You’re going to wake up, I’ll see you in the recovery room,’” nurse anesthetist Yana Krmic told Inside Edition Digital. Krmic was also the previous president of the New York State Association of Nurse Anesthetists. “Now, [you're] giving them the same anesthetics and realizing that you don’t know if they’re going to wake up.”

Watch the video and read the full article from Inside Edition here.

Our very own NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, was named to @City and State NY 2022 New York State Labor Power 100 List. This recognition highlights local leaders who are waging battles on behalf of the state’s workers.

This nomination recognizes Giovanna and the role NYSANA plays in pushing the state Legislature to broaden the responsibilities of CRNAs by passing scope of practice for CRNAs. Giovanna continues to advocate for CRNAs to operate without physician supervision by law – which we’ve been able to do during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the executive orders.

View Giovanna's tribute and see who else made the list!

Dentistry Today, the Nations Leading Clinical News Magazine for Dentists, published NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar's op-ed piece on "The Importance of Safe Anesthesia During Dental Care".

"Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life. During February, National Children’s Dental Health Month, it is important to know how to keep your child’s teeth healthy and that they have access to safe dental care in New York. As president of the New York State Association of Nurse Anesthetists and a mother of 4, I encourage parents to not only teach their children good dental habits, but also work with their dental team to help ensure the delivery of sedation or safe anesthesia care is provided by a qualified, licensed anesthesia professional such as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)."

Read the full article.

Last Wednesday, November 17, 2021, NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, took to the court room to testify in a Committee Hearing at the New York State Assembly about "Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic." The Committee was interested in assessing the lessons learned during the pandemic, including the appropriateness of Executive Orders issued by the Governor during the declared emergency period as it relates to access to health care and training requirements of health care workers. Giovanna speaks upon the unnecessary restrictions placed on CRNAs and the significance of Executive Order 4, originally issued during the height of the pandemic by former Governor Cuomo. The order suspends the health code to remove the supervision requirements for advanced practice registered nurses with a doctorate or master’s degree specializing in the administration of anesthesia. This allows for CRNAs to have full scope of practice utilization and assists in patient care and staffing workload. Giovanna continues on to discuss the important role of CRNAs and the need for a formal scope of practice in New York State.

Watch Giovanna's full testimony here.

As we take the time this month to honor the more than 892,000 veterans who live in New York State, it is important to remember that we owe America’s veterans far more than words of gratitude. They have earned the best, most timely healthcare—without long waits and red tape—through the Veterans Administration (VA). As President of the New York State Association of Nurse Anesthetists I urge the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to create national standards of practice that will allow Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice at the full extent of their training, education, and licensure. Removing barriers so that advanced practice providers, including CRNAs, can practice to the top of the education and licensure is the right policy and honors those who have served our country.

This move will not only expand access to care for veterans but decrease wait times so that care can be delivered when they need it most, while decreasing the cost of that care for the VA.  In addition, it would allow the VA needed flexibility with rural facilities and providers working across state lines.

During the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the unique skills and expertise of CRNAs have allowed us to step forward in a way few others can, to treat veterans and others, leading the way in terms of advanced airway and ventilation management, which have been essential in addressing the deadliest part of this unforgiving virus.

To help meet the needs of veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA issued Directive 1899 in April 2020, which encouraged VA medical facilities to utilize VA healthcare professionals to practice and operate within the full scope of their license, registration or certification to increase veterans’ access to healthcare. It is now time to make that action permanent.

National standards of practice will allow all healthcare professionals working in the VA system to have consistent scope and requirements of practice, notwithstanding any state license, registration or other requirements. Since nearly one-third of all VA medical facilities have one or more sites of care in another state, and 14 percent of licensed healthcare professionals employed by the VA have a state license, registration or certification in another state than their main VA medical facility, having national standards of practice would allow these providers to care for veterans where and when they need it most.

In 2016, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reviewed a proposed rule to remove physician supervision requirements for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including CRNAs. The FTC praised the proposed rule as a way to increase the VA’s “ability to provide timely, efficient, and effective” care for our nation’s veterans and increase their access to needed healthcare and decrease wait times for patient appointments. The FTC noted theses changes in the VA would also benefit healthcare consumers in private markets.

Yet today, while all other types of APNs can practice to the full extent of their training, education, and licensure, CRNAs cannot. In fact, CRNAs are the only advanced practice nurses without full practice authority in the VA healthcare system.

This is despite the fact that the ability of CRNAs to provide high-quality care, even under the most difficult circumstances, has been recognized by every branch of the U.S. military. CRNAs have full practice authority in the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force and are the predominant provider of anesthesia on forward surgical teams and in combat support hospitals, where 90 percent of forward surgical teams are staffed by CRNAs.

The current barrier to CRNA in the VA health system is an anti-competitive action recognized by the FTC, AMVETS, one of the largest veterans’ service organizations in the United States, and others. It is time to bust the healthcare monopoly within the VA and ensure our veterans have the care they need and deserve for their sacrifice and services.

Visit anesthesiafacts.com to ask New York State Congressional leaders to contact U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough in support of the VA’s effort to establish National Standards of Practice for Healthcare Professionals, and to support allowing CRNAs to practice to the full extent of their education and training.

 

CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care to U.S military personnel and our nation’s veterans. We thank these CRNAs for their critical service.

Nurses first provided anesthesia on the battlefields of the American Civil War. During World War I, nurse anesthetists became the predominant providers of anesthesia care to wounded soldiers on the front lines. Today, CRNAs have full practice authority in every branch of the military and are the primary providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on front lines, navy ships, and aircraft evacuation teams around the globe.

Learn more here.

Katherine Marina Grosner, DNP, CRNA

Every year at the Annual Fall Meeting the Goldie Brangman Award is given to a deserving SRNA. Goldie Brangman, CRNA, MEd, MBA was an accomplished CRNA and exceptional mentor. She served as the first and only African American President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and President of NYSANA from 1960 - 1961. Goldie famously treated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., after a near-fatal assassination attempt in 1958.  

This year's Goldie Brangman Award recipient is Katherine M. Grosner (University of Buffalo Nurse Anesthesia Program), Evaluating the Barriers to Opioid-Free Anesthesia for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in Diverse Practice Settings through the Creation of a Survey Tool. Read below to learn more about Katherine, her research into opioid alternatives, what it means to her to be awarded the Goldie Brangman Award and why being a member of NYSANA is important

Why is it important to you to be a NYSANA member?
I learned the importance of being a NYSANA member as an SRNA, where I valued the opportunities to attend association meetings, such as the fall meetings in New York and Syracuse, and Advocacy day in Albany. I plan to continue my active membership as a CRNA and hope to attend more meetings in the future.  The future of healthcare is tenuous, especially in these current times, and I believe more than ever that we must stay involved and be vocal about protecting our practice, which includes staying a NYSANA member. 

Read More

The life-saving work performed by CRNA’s during the pandemic and the game-changing impact of UltraCare’s innovative COVID-19 Emergency Response and Vaccine Teams was highlighted in the most recent segment of the educational television show "Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid."

The segment “Med-Tech Series: Managing & Administering the COVID-19 Vaccine” tells the story of how UltraCare quickly developed and deployed teams of CRNAs and other medical professionals from around the country to fill critical care gaps in hospital ICUs and to provide life protecting vaccinations to more than 200,000 seniors at elder care facilities in several states.

NYSANA President, Yana Krmic, featured in the segment, was working at Hoboken Medical Center during the height of the pandemic as the sole APRN provider. In Yana's words, "This is a great example of how extensive CRNA practice truly is. Our knowledge, our expertise and our value have been praised by Hospital administrators, MD Intensivists, Pulmonologists, Cardiologists and other critical care professionals all across healthcare. We are no longer a secret! We are sought after professionals who have much more to offer than just giving anesthesia inside the operating room."

Check out the episode here: https://bit.ly/3j05Il8

• Pharmaco-Who? Pharmacogenomics in Anesthesia Care & Preoperative risk stratification: What do we need to know now? with Dru Riddle, Texas Christian University, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, School of Nurse Anesthesia. North Star Anesthesia.  Region Director, AANA PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAAN 
• Anesthesia Reimbursement and Compliance & Cost Effective Analysis - Best Practices with Dr. Juan Quintana, COO, Sleepy Anesthesia Associates, LLC, Past President AANA, DNP, MHS, CRNA
• NYSANA Update to the Membership with Yana Krmic, President, NYSANA, CRNA, MSN
• Effective Member Advocacy to Drive Change with Ralph Kohl, Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs, AANA 
• AANA Update to Membership & Caring for the Parturient with Co-Morbidities with Dina Velocci, President, AANA , DNP, CRNA
• Sleeping with Mary Jane: Cannabis Considerations for the CRNA with Daniel D. King, DNP, CRNA, CPPS

Learn more about the Fall Meeting speakers here!

Advocates say that every day a piece of legislation awaits Governor Cuomo signature, lives could be at risk. Legislation that would allow medical helicopters to carry blood and perform transfusions passed the Senate and Assembly last month but needs Cuomo’s approval to become law. The story of Binghamton resident Travis Flanagan inspired many lawmakers who worked on the bill. Flanagan was in a horrific farming accident in March that lead to both of his legs being amputated. Flanagan, who works as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, believes the blood Guthrie Air had on board saved his life. Flanagan has enlisted the assistance of his colleagues in the New York State Association of Nurse Anesthetists in raising awareness of the issue and lobbying the Governor to sign the legislation.

Meanwhile, Flanagan has been fitted for prosthetic legs with a goal of being able to stand for the birth of his third child who is due on July 15th.

Watch the Interview Here

We are pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the 2021/2022 board! The following candidates were announced at the NYSANA Business Meeting on May 15, 2021. Learn more about each candidate here. 

Electronic voting will open on Tuesday, July 6 at 9:00 AM and conclude on Tuesday, July 20.

NYSANA continues to fight for our CRNA’s to get both a license and autonomy in our work. At the height of the pandemic, Governor Cuomo allowed CRNA’s to practice without being supervised by a physician as we performed countless intubations in life and death situations for Covid-19 patients. Now, we want that executive order to be made permanent.  New York State is the only state in the nation that does not recognize the certified registered nurse anesthetist in this way. Check out President, Yana Krmic on CBS6 fighting for our CRNAs https://bit.ly/3iFH0qz

NYSANA President, Yana Krmic was featured on Spectrum News’ Capital Tonight, calling on lawmakers to make permanent the provision approved by Gov. Andrew Cuomo during the pandemic that allowed nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia without the supervision of a physician or a surgeon. Removing the supervision requirement would have a huge impact on patient care and access and ease budgetary pressure for health care workers. Check it out: https://bit.ly/2TVpioR

A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) works as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who administers anesthesia to patients, typically during surgical, diagnostic, obstetric or other medical procedures. CRNAs complete advanced nursing degrees either at the master’s or doctoral levels. In addition to their advanced nursing degrees, CRNA candidates must obtain national certification in their field. Here’s a look at the extensive education CRNAs receive.

NYSANA Members:

On the heels of the 2021 National Nurses Week celebration, we again want to say THANK YOU for all that you do.

Please click on the video here that showcases some of our NYSANA member CRNAs in action.

Nurses Week provides the opportunity to recognize our nurse anesthetists for all your hard work and efforts. You have dedicated your lives to the medical field and helping others. Over the past year, nurse anesthetists have selflessly entered unknown territory and risked their lives for our health and the greater good. We are extremely grateful to you for making that choice and we can't thank you enough.

NYSANA sees you and the hard work and passion you continue to pour into your work each and every day. This past year we stood united and proved that together we are resilient and stronger. Thank you for the way you've selflessly stepped up to the frontlines and performed essential roles throughout your communities and across the state. We're in this together. We are stronger together. 

Thank you!

Yana Krmic,
President, NYSANA

Being a CRNA is extremely rewarding, but can also be incredibly stressful and even traumatic at times. This past year was especially trying. Now more than ever it is time to check your mental health or reach out to a colleague who may be showing signs that they are struggling. Psychologist Dr. Drew Anderson points out things to look for in someone who may be in crisis or on the verge and how you can help.

Watch the Video Here