Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Strategies for Nurse Anesthesiologists to Consider in Future Health Crises (1 Class A CE)

This session will offer a brief presentation of currently recognized infection control guidelines and updates recognized by the AANA; inclusive of a brief review of questions raised by CRNAs regarding prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and Monkeypox in the clinical setting at the AANA Congress in 2022. Following the presentation, an open forum will allow for members to share inquiries, experiences, and suggestions based on lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and Monkeypox outbreak. The moderators will lead the audience through an interactive and informative session, employing topic-saturation as a method to measure and guide audience focus as our profession responds to the need to prepare for future pandemics and outbreaks. This forum will contribute to existing knowledge of viral infection prevention and control, focusing on lessons learned from recent experience from the COVID-19 pandemic and Monkeypox outbreak. Some examples include rapid sequence intubation for patients with active COVID-19 infection, double-gloving and sheathing during intubation, and initiating contact precautions to prevent Monkeypox transmission via direct contact. The audience discussion will center around shared strategies to avoid transmission during anesthesia care; all questions will be addressed, and responses recorded, to assure dissemination of updated guidelines for infection control and prevention.