Texas Wesleyan Symposium Equips Future Nurse Anesthetists
Texas Wesleyan University recently hosted its annual Simulation Symposium, a five-day event designed to enhance the skills of upcoming nurse anesthetists. The symposium focused on real-world medical scenarios, such as managing complications during C-section births and intubating patients who have vomited. This hands-on experience aims to prepare second-year nurse anesthesia residents for their upcoming clinical placements starting in January.
Kylee Holden, a third-year student who attended the symposium last year, served as an instructor this time around. She emphasized the importance of the event for easing students’ transition into clinical practice. “It was really valuable to make it even just a tiniest bit more comfortable going into starting our clinicals,” Holden stated.
Texas Wesleyan is notable for having the largest graduate nursing anesthesia program in the United States. Brian Cornelius, the director of the nurse anesthesia simulation center, highlighted that the symposium, which began in 2015, allows students to practice in a controlled environment. “When they leave there, it won’t be a controlled setting,” Cornelius explained. “When you get to the operating room, the next time they see it, it may be totally uncontrolled.”
The event featured more than a dozen simulation stations equipped with state-of-the-art mannequins and advanced ultrasound technology. Students practiced intricate procedures, including detailed simulated needle injections, and had opportunities to work with cadavers that simulate artificial pulses. This technology was developed by Maverick Medical Education, a health education initiative founded by Texas Wesleyan graduates.
In previous years, the symposium was held in a smaller format, often leading to crowded conditions. The expansion across four buildings this year facilitated improved instruction and enhanced the connection between classroom learning and clinical practice. “Now they really are getting the latest, greatest and best education we can offer them,” Cornelius noted.
Participants received guidance from certified registered nurse anesthetists, many of whom are alumni of Texas Wesleyan. Third-year students like Holden, who have already begun their clinical placements, also contributed by mentoring their peers. Cornelius remarked that this peer guidance is instrumental in preparing students for their future roles.
The symposium also attracted around 20 industry sponsors, providing an invaluable networking opportunity for nursing students. Representatives from various companies noted the preparedness of graduates from Texas Wesleyan’s nursing anesthesia program. Cornelius expressed appreciation for the sponsors’ commitment: “That they would take their time and pay money to come here and meet these people face-to-face early on is a huge difference and a big deal to us.”
The Simulation Symposium has emerged as a critical event in shaping the future of nursing anesthetists, bridging the gap between education and clinical practice. As the program continues to evolve, it underscores Texas Wesleyan’s commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for its students.
