From January 21-27, 2024, we celebrated National CRNA Week—an annual event dedicated to honoring the teamwork, dedication, and exceptional care provided by our department’s ~400 nurse anesthetists. Per tradition, our CRNAs spent the week celebrating, helping the community, educating the public about their profession, and expressing gratitude for the remarkable work of their colleagues.
Our UPMC Presbyterian CRNAs orchestrated a week filled with engaging activities, including a Peer Appreciation Donut Day for all perioperative services staff, an appreciation lunch, gift drawings, treats, and an educational station outside of the cafeteria where CRNAs and SRNAs shared giveaways and information about what they do with patients, families, and staff. A notable highlight was the first ever UPMC Presbyterian Family Day, which was attended by 25 Presbyterian CRNAs, anesthesiologists, SRNAs, residents, and anesthesia technicians and their families. Families visited four stations, where they were able to explore the anesthesia gas machine, fiberoptic bronchoscope, and ultrasound equipment, as well as practice mask ventilation and airway management skills on training mannequins. They even enjoyed a medication administration experience (with coffee creamer and Kool-Aid medications). Thanks to Julia Dixon-Ernst, MSN, CRNA, (who served as UPMC Presbyterian CRNA week chair) and Anna Gombar, MS, CRNA, for planning the event and for sharing a video of Family Day highlights.
At UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital, CRNAs marked the week with a cake from the anesthesia technicians, a breakfast celebration, a lunch celebrating both CRNA week and Physician Anesthesiologists Week (January 28 - February 3, 2024), and a potluck lunch organized by the Magee CRNAs’ Recruitment, Retention, and Wellness Committee. Each day featured "CRNA Spotlight" articles highlighting different Magee CRNAs and their contributions. A group of Magee CRNAs made a positive impact at a local Women's Shelter by preparing and serving a taco/Mexican dinner and donating essential items from the shelter's needs list. The dinner fed approximately 35 women and children staying at the shelter, some of whom the CRNAs had the opportunity to meet and interact with.
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At UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Yvonne A. Shedlock, MSN, CRNA; Melissa A. Dupilka, MSN, CRNA; Jennifer R. Kundick, MSN, CRNA; Michael DiTommaso, DNAP, CRNA; Susan M. Kelly, MSN, CRNA; Donna M. Heiter, MSN, CRNA; and Katherine M. Pyros, MSN, CRNA, hosted a pasta dinner for the families at Ronald McDonald House, which is adjacent to the hospital and provides housing to families with critically ill children.
UPMC Mercy CRNAs celebrated the week with daily treats, including bagels, cakes, cookies, and AANA mugs filled with sweets. They ended the week with a luncheon for the whole Mercy Anesthesiology Department to celebrate both the CRNAs and physician anesthesiologists. They also organized a project to give back to the community and support one of their own CRNAs. Amanda D'Amico, MHS, CRNA, and Kirsten Radaker, MSN, CRNA, organized a collection of monetary donations from Mercy CRNAs, anesthesia technicians, and faculty to purchase as many copies as possible of the book “Looking for Kindness,” written by Stephanie A. Waters, MSN, CRNA, and her mother in honor of her brother Kevin who suddenly passed way last year. They donated 100 books, along with get well soon cards created by Hosack Elementary School students, to pediatric patients in need of extra kindness in the Mercy trauma/burn unit.
The CRNAs at UPMC Digestive Health and Endoscopy Center (DHEC) kicked things off with sweets and a hot chocolate bar and finished off the week with a "Drinks after DHEC" Happy Hour.
UPMC Passavant CRNAs enjoyed a week filled with appreciation activities organized by Mandy Crankovic, MHS, CRNA, including free Starbucks, cookies, popcorn, chair massages, gift card drawings, sponsored lunches, and a "Pie Face Fundraiser" benefiting the Passavant Hospital Foundation. They capped off the week with a happy hour at Barry’s Pub.
UPMC Shadyside CRNAs volunteered for the 12th consecutive year to host a gourmet breakfast for Family House, an organization that provides affordable and accessible housing for patients and families of patients who are seeking medical treatment in Pittsburgh. The CRNAs donated funds to purchase catering and additional cooking supplies, drinks, and dinnerware. They also purchased some Family House wish list items using CRNA donations. Volunteer chefs cooked egg
casseroles, sausage gravy and biscuits, pancakes, waffles, sausage, and bacon. Jillianne Oster, MSN, CRNA, played impromptu music on the piano, creating a fun atmosphere for the evening.
For the second year, Patrick Matkozich, manager of the UPMC EPIC Anesthesia and OpTime Team and his wife Jayme, owners of J. A. Rutter Landscaping in Monroeville, expressed their appreciation with signage at their business.
CRNA week concluded with a virtual Weekend In-Service Program Virtual CRNA Conference planned our system educator Marc A. Wicker, MSN, CRNA, and our department’s Senior CRNA Director Toni Orsino, MBA, CRNA. The conference featured insightful presentations from Francis X. Feld, DNP, LAT, NRP, CRNA; Liliana Berezhna, MHS, CRNA; Cara J. Fleischman, MHS, CRNA; and Lt. Col. Laura Lee Wiggins, DNP, CRNA, enriching the experience for the 141 attendees, including academic partners and anesthesia technician colleagues.