Christy Kicklighter, UTC nursing student, was selected to participate in the Sponsor a Student at the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Assembly of School Faculty program.
“This program serves to promote educational awareness to students who show an interest in the educational activities associated with nurse anesthesia,” according to Linda Hill, CRNA, DNSc, APN, Associate Professor. “I am very excited that Christy represented our University at this national meeting of nurse anesthesia educators.”
Support was provided for Kicklighter to attend the entire three-day conference, which was held in Orlando, Florida.
Kicklighter is interested in pursuing an educational path in nurse anesthesia. She submitted an essay addressing the reason she is interested in becoming a nurse anesthesia educator, what she hoped to learn from the experience of attending the national meeting and a brief description of long-term career plans.
“Nurse anesthesia programs can only submit one student’s name and the AANA Education Committee selects only twenty applicants per year to participate in this event. It is a competitive process,” Hill said.
Another first year student, C.K. Miller, was able to attend the meeting. She received support from the U.S. Army Reserves.
“Founded in 1931, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional association representing more than 39,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) nationwide. The AANA promulgates education, and practice standards and guidelines, and affords consultation to both private and governmental entities regarding nurse anesthetists and their practice. The AANA Foundation supports the profession by awarding education and research grants to students, faculty and practicing CRNAs,” according to the AANA website.
