University of New England

Nurse Anesthesia Program Director Nina Turcato honored by AANA

PORTLAND - Nina Turcato, CRNA, MSNA, director of the University of New England's School of Nurse Anesthesia, was recently named a 2007 Doctoral Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).

Turcato will be presented with the award at the AANA's Friends for Life and Recognition Dinner being held on August 4, 2007 in Denver, Colorado.

The prestigious fellowship is accompanied by $20,000 to fund recipients' doctoral research. Turcato's research focuses on developing lab experiences using UNE's Clinical Simulation Program. The labs involve using high tech patient simulators to enact realistic anesthesia experiences in order to positively impact and support the education of student registered nurse anesthetists, nurse anesthetist faculty, certified registered nurse anesthetists and regional schools of nurse anesthesia in the New England Area.

AANA
Founded in 1931, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional association for more than 35,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student nurse anesthetists.  CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who are the hands-on providers of approximately 65 percent of all anesthesia given in the United States each year.  They administer every type of anesthetic, work in every type of practice setting and provide care for every type of surgery or procedure, from open heart to cataract to pain management.

The AANA Foundation, founded in 1981, is the research, development and charitable affiliate of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. The Foundation's mission is to promote the health and prosperity of the public by championing advances in CRNA research and development. More than 1,000 CRNAs have participated in AANA Foundation programs and services.

The AANA Foundation Doctoral Fellowship is designed to cultivate the development of leaders with the nurse anesthesia specialty, currently engaged in doctoral studies. This is the second year that the AANA Foundation has awarded Doctoral Fellowships.

(Press release posted July 30, 2007)