Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Nurse Anesthesia
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Evan Harris
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Anesthetic management of pheochromocytoma presents challenges to experienced nurse anesthetists and recent graduates alike due to the rarity and complex pathophysiology. The purpose of this DNP project was to provide information and education informed by an extensive literature review regarding the anesthetic management of pheochromocytoma for the benefit of future nurse anesthesia practice. The project was accomplished through an educational presentation and novel clinical care flow chart focused on perioperative anesthetic care of pheochromocytoma excision to an audience of practicing certified registered anesthetists (CRNA’s) in two rural Kentucky hospitals. The findings of this project demonstrated that student nurse anesthesia students (SRNA’s) can be an effective means of educating practicing CRNA’s on current evidence-based practices related to perioperative pheochromocytoma management. The results showed a statistically significant increase in both participant knowledge and confidence to provide anesthesia care for pheochromocytoma cases. The implications of these findings are that SRNA’s can potentially serve as an additional way to disseminate current evidence-based practice regarding complex anesthesia care to the working anesthesia environment during their formal education process. DNP prepared advanced practice nurses are charged with a mandate to translate research and current evidence into practice. The results of this project supports the idea that this objective can begin while the DNP student is in formal training.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Nurse Anesthesia DNP Project Presentations
Improving Anesthetic Management of Pheochromocytoma: An Educational Initiative Led by Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists
Anesthetic management of pheochromocytoma presents challenges to experienced nurse anesthetists and recent graduates alike due to the rarity and complex pathophysiology. The purpose of this DNP project was to provide information and education informed by an extensive literature review regarding the anesthetic management of pheochromocytoma for the benefit of future nurse anesthesia practice. The project was accomplished through an educational presentation and novel clinical care flow chart focused on perioperative anesthetic care of pheochromocytoma excision to an audience of practicing certified registered anesthetists (CRNA’s) in two rural Kentucky hospitals. The findings of this project demonstrated that student nurse anesthesia students (SRNA’s) can be an effective means of educating practicing CRNA’s on current evidence-based practices related to perioperative pheochromocytoma management. The results showed a statistically significant increase in both participant knowledge and confidence to provide anesthesia care for pheochromocytoma cases. The implications of these findings are that SRNA’s can potentially serve as an additional way to disseminate current evidence-based practice regarding complex anesthesia care to the working anesthesia environment during their formal education process. DNP prepared advanced practice nurses are charged with a mandate to translate research and current evidence into practice. The results of this project supports the idea that this objective can begin while the DNP student is in formal training.