CRNAs in Military Medicine Education

By Heather Danke APRN, CRNA, DNAP and Alliene Olson APRN, CRNA, DNAP

Mayo Clinic in Arizona began offering Special Operations Tactical Medicine (SOTM) courses in 2012 and has hosted more than 1,200 United States Military learners from around the world. SOTM courses are benefactor-funded programs that develop treatment protocols and deliver hands-on training specialized for the continuously evolving Special Operations community.

In 2020, CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists at Mayo Clinic in Arizona expanded their practice by assisting in the intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, new relationships were formed, and CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists were invited to become faculty within the Mayo Clinic Military Medicine program. For the past two years, Mayo Clinic CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists have become a staple in the program, providing a unique vantage point of education for the Special Operations community and White House Medical Unit.

The courses provide active-duty military personnel with instruction on patient management through an intense didactic and hands-on approach over a five-day period. The primary focus of these courses is to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to evaluate, stabilize, hand off, or maintain critically ill casualties of trauma within remote, resource-limited settings.

CRNAs/Nurse anesthesiologists contribute to the program by providing:

• Lecture-based education
• Hands-on skills training
• Facilitation in high-fidelity simulations

These training sessions allow participants to apply their knowledge in a team-based setting, utilizing task trainers, cadavers, and tissue models to demonstrate and practice diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Training includes:

• Ultrasound-guided venous access
• Arterial blood gas drawing
• Indications and placement of nerve blocks

CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists also provide valuable insight on:

• Pharmacology and surgical anesthesia techniques
• Compounding medications
• Hanging medication infusions
• The use of narcotics and anesthetics
• Ventilator management

The SOTM course emphasizes training in:

• Ultrasound applications
• Point-of-care lab testing
• Airway and ventilation management
• Anesthesia and analgesia
• Emergency surgical procedures

High-fidelity trauma simulations blend knowledge and hands-on skills in scenarios that focus on planning, resource and time management, teamwork, and situational awareness. The clinical expertise, technical skills, and critical care knowledge of CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists provide up-to-date and evidence-based training to Military personnel.

If you are interested in learning more about being a CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, click here.