Preliminary Investigation: Pilot Study of Program Directors' Perceptions of Wellness and Suicide Prevention for Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate wellness and student suicidality in nurse anesthesia programs. Graduate students such as student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) are at increased risk of suicide from environmental and educational stressors. Wellness interventions may help. An observational, anonymous online survey of all program directors (PDs) was conducted. Identical responses on a simultaneous pilot SRNA study were compared. Quantitative data were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum and Fisher's exact tests. Three PDs reported student suicides. Anxiety, depression, and emotional lability were warning signs. Student and PD responses to wellness program assessments were varied, with PD responses more positive and students more negative. PDs were as stressed as students and struggled to meet their own wellness needs. Most PDs reported no or insufficient training in suicide risk and prevention. Suggestions for improving wellness initiatives included to improve and standardize activities and make initiatives more accessible and seek innovative solutions to fit more content into an overcrowded curriculum. PDs and SRNAs need suicide prevention training and improved wellness efforts at local and national levels. Approaches are needed to counter stigma and reluctance to discuss mental health challenges. Suicide is multidimensional, but with proactive awareness, it may be preventable.

Preliminary Investigation: Pilot Study of Wellness and Suicide Prevention for Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

This pilot study investigated wellness and causes and prevention of suicide in student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs). A cross-sectional anonymous survey study was conducted of a sample of randomly chosen SRNAs. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Responses to open-ended questions were summarized and presented. Results demonstrated elevated SRNA stress levels. There was an association between suicidal ideation in SRNAs and depression, lack of perceived agency, and elevated anxiety in the classroom. SRNAs reported mental health challenges, depression, and anxiety. Sixteen percent of SRNAs felt that classmates were at risk of suicide, and two SRNAs had lost a classmate to suicide. Twenty-nine percent of SRNAs reported suicidal thoughts prior to matriculation, and 35% reported suicidal thoughts during training. Students with suicidal ideation asked for help from friends and family, but not faculty, and some did not ask for help. Students gave existing wellness initiatives low ratings, and many felt faculty did not promote wellness. Involving student group leaders and appointing a student lead wellness point person may encourage students to ask for help. Faculty should continually prioritize, check-in on, and monitor student wellness. Wellness is a never-ending, essential, and continually evolving effort. Suicide is preventable with compassionate intervention.

COVID-19 Preprocedure Testing Considerations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant patient and provider safety concerns, notably for clinicians involved in aerosol-generating procedures. Healthcare systems established new and innovative ways to function safely and maintain operations, including mandatory preoperative testing, changes to patient scheduling, infection control practices, staffing, surgical prioritization, environmental cleaning, and operating room processing. This article provides practice and policy considerations for preprocedure COVID-19 testing, taking into consideration the available evidence and variability in community prevalence, rate of vaccinations, and new COVID-19 variants.

The Opioid Crisis and the CRNA: Providing Emergency Care for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) care for patients with opioid use disorder frequently. Goals are to support recovery, prevent relapse, and effectively and safely treat perioperative pain. During emergencies, care may be urgent to prevent patient harm, potentially interfering with helpful interventions. This article discusses care principles that CRNAs should follow to assure that the anesthetic care goals are achieved during emergent care of patients with opioid use disorder.

Wearable Fetal Monitoring Solution for Improved Mobility During Labor & Delivery.

Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) is used widely during labor & delivery, but existing solutions limit patient mobility, are uncomfortable, and do not consistently capture fetal heart rate (FHR) and uterine activity (UA) signals. A wireless EFM system was developed that features wearable US and tocodynamometer devices that conform to the body and do not require cables or belts. Benchtop testing demonstrated that the devices can accurately and consistently measure simulated FHRs and UAs over clinically meaningful ranges and body curvatures. The wearable EFM devices are expected to provide more reliable signal capture independent of maternal movement and repositioning, while also significantly improving patient comfort and mobility.