Eight Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs) who trained alongside Department of Anesthesiology CRNAs recently completed their program’s clinical requirements and were awarded Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degrees from Bryan College of Health Sciences.
Bryan’s 36-month DNAP program features clinical experience early on and throughout the program. Students rotate through multiple community hospitals but have a designated "home hospital" in Lincoln, Kearney or Omaha.
“I called many of these SRNA's friends prior to their start into the anesthesia program at Bryan,” said Becky VanWinkle, a CRNA who joined the Department of Anesthesiology in September of 2020 after completing the SRNA program at Bryan earlier that year. “This hospital, that I am now lucky enough to call home, prepares their SRNAs for anything and everything. Our anesthesiology team goes above and beyond to ensure that students have the best education and experience.
We will soon be lucky enough to call two of these students our co-workers, but to all the other students going outside of Nebraska Medicine, those other hospitals have found true gems and they are so blessed to have you all.”
The graduates and their immediate plans are:
Stephen Allen, United States Army, location TBD
Madison Cooper, Columbus Community Hospital, Columbus
Bryant Gaudreau, Methodist Hospital in Omaha
Caressa Kiichler, Nebraska Medicine in Omaha
Jason McClaren, Kearney/Grand Island
Cayce McMains, Nebraska Medicine in Omaha
Zach Roth, Nebraska Orthopedic Hospital in Omaha
Katie Twomey, Methodist Hospital in Omaha
“I had a great experience and feel so fortunate to have trained with so many knowledgeable and skilled CRNAs,” said Stephen Allen. “During my time in school, I accepted the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) through the Army. After graduation I will be working as a CRNA for the Army and providing anesthesia to our military men and women and their families. I am excited for this next phase in the journey!”
Two of the eight students who completed their program’s clinical requirements at Nebraska Medicine will soon join the Department of Anesthesiology as CRNAs.
“I enjoyed my clinical time at Nebraska Medicine and learned something new every single day that I was there,” said Caressa Kiichler. “The patient population and cases were often very complex, which helped to challenge me to think outside of the box. I gained so much knowledge from all of the wonderful CRNAs and anesthesiologists that I worked with, and I appreciate the time and patience they put in to help educate the SRNAs in clinicals there. I am very excited to continue my career as a CRNA at Nebraska Medicine and join this amazing anesthesia team!”
Congratulations, SRNA grads!
