Preoperative cardiac evaluation. Assessing risk before noncardiac surgery.

Primary care physicians are often asked to evaluate a surgical candidate's cardiovascular and general health status. In some patients, history taking and physical examination provide enough information to assess risk for the proposed procedure. In others--especially those with cardiac risk factors--more extensive testing is required, such as electrocardiography, stress testing, or angiography. Once clearance for surgery has been given, primary care physicians can suggest risk-reduction strategies that may help to minimize perioperative morbidity or mortality.

Student nurse anesthetist organizations: needs assessment study.

The AANA Education Committee conducted this study to assess nurse anesthesia program director and student interest in the development of regional student nurse anesthetist organizations. It was the assumption of the investigators that this information would assist nurse anesthesia educators in determining the perceived need for and the feasibility to develop student organizations. A total of 77 program directors and 154 students were queried via a mail response survey tailored to each group. Program director participation was 70% (n = 54); student participation was 41% (n = 63). Students (85%) and program directors (80%) reported that a student organization would enhance nurse anesthesia education. Students had great interest in participating in an established organization but were less willing to develop a new organization. Several students reported a desire to serve as a program representative. Program directors (94%) overwhelmingly welcomed student interest and were willing to allocate time for student participation. Lastly, the majority of program directors (69%) offered to serve as a faculty advisor to a student organization.