USF Nurse Anesthesia Student to Present at AVANA Annual National Meeting

University of South Florida College of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Master’s Program student, Kelle Logan, RN, BSN, SRNA, has been invited to present at the Veteran Affairs for Nurse Anesthetists (AVANA) Annual National Meeting in Portland, Ore. on April 23 through 26, 2013. Logan will present a  lecture on Anesthetic Implications for Ventricular Assist Device Patients.

“I recognized this meeting as an excellent opportunity to inform VA anesthesia personnel of the anesthetic implications of ventricular assist device patients,” Logan said. “Several VA centers across the nation are ventricular assist device centers and the number of implanting hospitals continues to increase. Due to the improvement of technology, and increase in the number of patients with VADs, it is imperative for the anesthesia provider to maintain a general knowledge base on how to care for this patient population.”

Logan has presented at other conferences and workshops including Pan-American Ventricular Assist Device and Transplant Workshop, Tides American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Annual Conference, and Tampa General Hospital (TGH).

“Caring for ventricular assist device patients has had a profound impact on my nursing career,” Logan said. “Although my dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist will soon be met, I will never forget what I learned from these patients. Facing advanced heart failure, these patients exude bravery and compassion.  I feel informing anesthesia professionals about ventricular assist devices is my commitment as an advocate for this specialized population of patients.”

Logan is currently on clinical rotation at the James A. Haley VA and expects to graduate in Dec. 2013.

To see Logan’s full citation click here.