VANA Leadership Elections – 2024
Vice President: Christopher Simons, CRNA, DNAP District 1 Director: Jonathan Cotton, DHA, CRNA District 2 Leadership Development Committee: Jen McPherson, DNP, CRNA, CHSE District 5 Director: Adrienne Wass, DNP, CRNA Derek Owens, DrAP, CRNA who has served as President-Elect for the 2023-2024 term, assumed the role of President effective October 1, 2024, at which [...]
VANA Members Recognized as Fellows of the AANA
Fellows of the AANA are recognized in their field for being outstanding practitioners, educators, researchers and advocates. CRNAs and nurse anesthesiologists who are active or emeritus members of the AANA may earn the Fellow of the AANA (FAANA) designation. This major career achievement indicates a commitment to excellence in the [...]
VANA By The Numbers – Fall 2024
Thank you to everyone who attended VANA’s Annual Fall Conference on October 12th and 13th in Virginia Beach! Here are a few quick stats on this year’s meeting: 191 people attended this year’s Annual Fall Conference, including 101 SRNAs! There were 95 first-time participants at the 2024 Annual Fall Conference! [...]
Leading with Leadership: A Conversation with Debra Diaz, CRNA, DNP, APRN, FAANA, AANA Region 2 Director
This month, VANA spoke with Debra Diaz, CRNA, DNP, APRN, FAANA, and an AANA Region 2 Director about her leadership journey, the importance of leadership skills and continuous learning, as well as advocacy within practice. As a CRNA since 1994, as well as a proud member of the Navy, I’ve [...]
VANA Needs A PAC Chair!
Are you motivated to help advance your profession? Do you want to have an impact on the policy decisions being made by Virginia legislators? Can you spare a few hours to volunteer with VANA to help us achieve our legislative goals? Then you might be a perfect fit to get [...]
Delegate Sickles Receives Legislative Hero Award
VANA was proud to present Delegate Mark Sickles of the Virginia House of Delegates with their inaugural Legislative Hero Award at their Annual Fall Conference on [...]
Mary Baldwin University Legislative Visit
Mary Baldwin University nurse anesthesiology program hosts Delegate Chris Runion and legislative staff to learn more about CRNAs In late July, the nurse anesthesiology program at the Mary Baldwin University Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences hosted Del. Chris Runion and legislative staff to learn about the education required to [...]
Legislator Interview: Senator Emily Jordan
The VANA Communications Committee was excited to hear from State Senator Emily Jordan. Virginia legislators are critical for accomplishing VANA’s legislative goals and it’s important that we engage in ongoing conversations, community events, and meetings to share our stories. Continue reading to learn more about Senator Jordan’s background and experience [...]
Debbie Barber: Access to Care
This month, VANA spoke with Debbie Barber, CRNA from Kentucky about her experience as a CRNA for over 30 years in Kentucky, an opt-out state since 2012. Debbie was elected president of the Kentucky board in 2012 and served on the AANA board from 2014-2016 as Region 2 Director. During [...]
CRNAs vs. Anesthesiologists
CRNAs and Anesthesiologists: What’s the difference? Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesiologists both play critical roles in the delivery of anesthesia. While CRNAs and anesthesiologists specialize in anesthesia care, they come from different educational and professional backgrounds. Here are a few of the advantages of using CRNAs for anesthesia [...]