Back in 2006, the AANA Board of Directors appointed a Doctoral Task Force to explore the future direction in nurse anesthesia education. Sandy Ouellette was chosen to co-chair the task force and help lead those discussions that would shape the future for CRNAs. Today she joins us to provide an inside look at how it was composed, the original purpose and process, and all of the options were on the table.
Click the timestamps below to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
On This Episode:
A major goal for the AANA since its inception has been to advance quality education as a means to ensure CRNAs are best prepared when they enter the field. Many of the leaders that came before us made this a priority and spent countless time working to get this right.
Sandy and her fishing team’s big catch
Part of that process recently has included the Doctoral Task Force, which was organized more than 15 years ago to help set the standards for education. Our good friend Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, was appointed to be a co-chair and spearhead the efforts. Being in that position, she can uniquely share her insight about the entire process and how all of the discussions around the different options all unfolded.
Very few people know the history of the AANA like Sandy does so it’s always a treat to hear her stories and learn the major milestones that brought us to where we are today. This episode will serve as another installment of her historical contributions to the CRNA community and we hope you enjoy.  Â
As you get started on the episode, keep an ear out for these topics:
- The history of the AANA that led to the task force
- The evolution of educational standards for CRNAs
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) adopted a position statement in 2004
- How the Doctoral Task Force was created in 2005/06
- The first steps for the Task Force, which included developing a position statement
- Everyone that was pointed to the Task Force at the start
- What they were tasked with over the first couple of years and the options they came up with
- The thought process behind the options they were discussing early on.
- Detailed discussion on all the options
Check it out the interview at the top of the page and use the timestamps to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
2:07 – Welcome back Sandy Â
4:37 – Events that led to the task force
6:59 – Move to university-based graduate programs
9:00 – What happened in 2004 Â
11:56 – Summit meeting in 2005 to create the Task Force
13:27 – Start of the Task Force
16:33 – Who was appointed to the Task Force? Â
20:06 – Responsibilities given to the task force
21:49 –  The options they had to decide on
23:59 – Board adopts a position
25:51 – Thoughts behind the options the discussing
32:17 – Option 2 discussed Â
35:58 – Option 3
38:30 – Option 4 Â
43:36 – Cautionary tales she would share with other directors
49:39 – Lightning Round
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“There was always concern of dilution of the curriculum and the content. I’ve always said we can prepare people at a PhD level, but if they don’t know how to maintain an airway, they’re not going to be employed past 8 o’clock on Monday morning. Bottomline.”
-Sandy Ouellette, CRNA
