Student Ambassador Update
Now in its third iteration, VANA’s Student Ambassador program continues to grow, and the results speak for themselves.
What began as a pilot in 2024 has become a permanent fixture for VANA’s outreach strategy, with Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs) recruited each year to serve as influential voices for the profession. The program aimed to draw students into the VANA community while highlighting the value of CRNAs to other student nurses.
In 2025, three ambassadors, one from Virginia Commonwealth University and two from Old Dominion University, spent the year sharing their journeys on Instagram and Facebook. Across the year, their content generated 68,500 video plays, nearly 8,700 story views, and more than 3,500 reactions from social media users. A few posts stood out amongst the rest; a September reel from one ODU ambassador drew over 8,000 plays alone, and an October post from the same school earned more than 650 story views in a single week.
The SRNA student ambassadors connect with their SRNA community by sharing study tips, day-in-the-life content, and general appreciation posts for the CRNA field. As a result, student ambassadors build a genuine following of young professionals.
This year, VANA has one ambassador from Old Dominion University who is a returning member from the 2025 cohort. She frequently posts day-in-the-life content, giving a glimpse into her pediatric rotation as a second year nurse anesthesia student. So far this year, her content has generated more than 13,000 video plays and over 2,000 story views.
With this program, VANA is able to build a growing cohort of SRNAs who understand the association from the inside out. For students, this program builds early career connections while inspiring future generations to enter the field.
Applications for the next cohort are on the horizon. If you know an SRNA who would thrive in this role, encourage them to get involved. The VANA community is only strengthened with younger generations at the table.
