Public Relations Recognition Awards - 2019 Entries

Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists (TxANA)
WINNER – Best Overall Public Relations Effort for the Past Year

Texas used a multi-faceted approach to reach out to leadership throughout the state along with developing methods to educate and engage the public on the role of the CRNA. The TxANA recently developed and launched a new video campaign “Get to Know CRNAs,” an animated explainer video. This video series was strategically and artistically designed to educate the Texas State House and Senate leaders and reach a wider audience across the state.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations Effort for the Past Year, Overall National CRNA Week.

Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists (LANA)
WINNER - Best Promotional Effort for National CRNA Week

Louisiana’s objective of the CRNA Week Campaign this year was to promote awareness of CRNAs across the state of Louisiana.  Louisiana accomplished that goal using several methods including billboards, press releases, local television appearances, proclamations through governors and mayors, and face-to-face outreach.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations for the Past Year and Best Promotional Effort of National CRNA Week.

Wake Forest School of Medicine, Nurse Anesthesia Program, Class of 2019
WINNER: Best Overall Public Relations Effort by an Individual, Small Group, Organization, or Company not Affiliated with a State Association.

The Wake Forest nurse anesthesia program, class of 2019, set out to strengthen its reach via social media, promote the CRNA profession to millennial and younger groups, improve diversity among the nurse anesthesia profession, and increase student activism. These goals were accomplished by broadening social media reach through the production of a Facebook live video. Students at their nurse anesthesia program presented to over 10,000 attendees at more than 10 events since October of 2018.

Submitted for Best Public Relations Effort by an Individual, Small Group, Organization, or Company not affiliated with a State Association.

Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists (FANA)

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) partnered with the Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses (FLCAPN) in order to implement the APRN Consensus Model in Florida. Florida was one of three states chosen by the NCSBN to receive funding, support, and resources for this initiative. The strategic plan for this initiative is a two-year plan, with the first year aimed at changing the foundational language in the Florida Statute to the required terminology needed to implement the APRN Consensus Model. The FANA also was the creator and sponsor of a bill that addressed the opioid crisis in Florida. The Nonopioid Directive Bill obliges healthcare providers to educate patients about non-opioid alternatives during their care. These legislative initiatives were the catalyst for the PR campaign.

The PR campaign was created to increase awareness that Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, to include CRNAs, already are practicing to the full extent of their training and education in many practice locations across the state of Florida.

The PR campaign was a huge success as FANA was able to educate lawmakers, the public, and stakeholders about CRNA education, training, and scope of practice.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations for the Past Year.

Johns Hopkins Bayview CRNAs

Johns Hopkins Bayview CRNAs promoted the profession to middle school students at St. Francis of Assisi of Baltimore, and ICU nurses at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.  They also were involved with the community by helping to feed the homeless. They continue to strengthen the relationship among members of the multidisciplinary team.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations for the Past Year; Best Promotional Effort for National CRNA Week; Best Public Relations Effort by an Individual, Small Group, Organization or State Association and Best Use of “CRNAs: The Future of Anesthesia Care Today” Campaign.

Memphis Student Nurse Anesthetist Foundation (MSNAF)

The Memphis Student Nurse Anesthetist Foundation (MSNAF) promoted the nurse anesthesia profession through scholarship, community service and the congregation of anesthesia professionals while offering students the opportunity to broaden their scope of professional engagement.  MSNAF introduced the profession of nurse anesthesia and the CRNA’s role in healthcare to over 200 nursing students and 200 high school and middle school students in the Memphis area.  They continue to award a scholarship to two eligible SRNAs at their annual Ether Ball.  In addition, more than 100 soft-shell jackets and sweatshirts were purchased by CRNAs and SRNAs in the Memphis and surrounding areas to raise money for the SRNA scholarship endowment.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations for the Past Year and Best Public Relations Effort by an Individual, Small Group, Organization or State Association.

Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MNANA)

The Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists implemented a series of public relations campaigns that aimed to establish strong, positive connections between CRNAs, MANA, and the communities where they work; show that MANA members are united in the fight for independence; and tell stories that demonstrate the value of MANA to engage and retain current members and attract new members.  They used digital channels and earned media opportunities to advance their messages and promote MANA to members, SRNAs, lawmakers, stakeholders, and the general public while reaching thousands of people through social media posts and member emails.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations for the Past Year and Best Public Relations Effort for CRNA Week.

Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA)

The Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA) increased awareness of the presence and role of CRNAs in our local communities and state through social media, print and digital billboard media.

MANA purchased billboard advertisements and ran six different, strategically placed billboards throughout the Jackson metro area. The daily effective circulation views ranged from 21,000 - 46,000 per pay, resulting in an average daily impression of 128,000 and a two-week total of 1,367,978 impressions.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations for the Past Year and Best Promotional Effort for National CRNA Week.

New Jersey Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NJANA)

New Jersey’s initiative was to support communities, initiatives, and organizations in the greater New Jersey Area that targets improving outcomes in healthcare and wellness and to create an avenue of micro volunteerism for NJANA members. The first charitable donation was given to Children's Dyslexia Center serving underserved and at-risk youths.  A subsequent result from the initial donation has opened opportunities and conversations between NJANA and the local Shriners Hospital.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations Effort for the Past Year.

Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA)

PANA’s public relations strategy was to ensure that language being prepared and submitted by the Department of Health to update Pennsylvania’s hospital regulations is favorable to CRNAs and in the best interest of patients in need of anesthesia care. Over a longer term, PANA worked to secure passage of legislation that formally recognizes CRNAs in Pennsylvania. PANA helped raise the profile of CRNAs in the media, in the community and among lawmakers, especially in Harrisburg, where legislative turnover in the Pennsylvania General Assembly reached historic proportions, creating new opportunities. PANA secured a 10-minute segment on “Pennsylvania Newsmakers,” one of the state’s premier politics and public policy television talk shows. The program ran statewide and aired on broadcast and cable TV stations across the commonwealth for more than a week during National CRNA Week in March. They also went on radio across the commonwealth as part of National CRNA Week.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations Effort for the Past Year and Best Overall National CRNA Week.

Puerto Rico Association of Nurse Anesthetists

Puerto Rico’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) population remains heavily underrepresented among certified registered nurse anesthesia providers, leaving the bulk of nurse anesthesia care with Registered Nurse Anesthetists (RNAs), many of whom graduated from one of three Council on Accreditation (COA)-recognized programs in Puerto Rico (PR). Puerto Rico proposed a Bridge Program that would establish a formal curriculum for a comprehensive refresher course for Puerto Rico’s RNA population active in the PR Healthcare System who graduated from a COA-accredited Nurse Anesthesia program between 1993-present, but that are not currently eligible to take the NCE. The Bridge Program will provide an opportunity for intense study of the required COA content and eligibility for the NCE.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations Effort for the Past Year.

Jodie Szlachta, PhD, CRNA

Jodie Szlachta PhD, CRNA, was appointed by the Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf, to the Pennsylvania Health Policy Board.  She was subsequently confirmed by the unanimous decision of the Pennsylvania Senate for a three-year term in this position. She is the first nurse or advanced practice nurse or certified registered nurse anesthetist to be appointed to a Government Board in Pennsylvania. 

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations for the Past Year and Best Public Relations Effort by an Individual, Small Group, Organization or State Association.

Gregory Spindler, MSA, CRNA

An educational slideshow was developed to introduce general audiences to nurse anesthesia.  It was specifically developed for use with high school students.

Submitted for Best Overall Public Relations for the Past Year and Best Public Relations Effort by an Individual, Small Group, Organization, or Company not affiliated with a State Association.