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Inside this PulselineeRNie Edits Pulseline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

ASPAN District 1 Director’s Report . . . . . . . . .3

Chicago Attracts ASPAN Conference . . . . . . . .3

New ASPAN Standards on Sale Now . . . . . . . .3

Ventura Forms new Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Celebrating PANAC at Costa Mesa Meeting . .4

Linda Sparks New Membership Chair . . . . . . .5

NAPAN President Wins Rose Parade Seats . . .5

Meet the Chapter Leaders: Star Yager . . . . . . .5

Nurse Float Raffle Raises Funds . . . . . . . . . . . .5

PANAC Committee Chairs 2012-2013 . . . . . . .5

Capturing CPAN CAPA Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Director’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

President’s Message: Cultivating Counts Shay Glevy, RN, BSN, CPAN, CAPA

Growing your own takes more than sun, soil and water. Nothing comes to fruition without the cultivators. Wikipedia describes cultivators as, “they stir and pulverize the soil; either before planting to aerate the soil and prepare a smooth loose seedbed, or after the crop begins to grow.”

Cultivators carefully “disturb the soil in patterns that spare the plants, but disrupt the weeds.” I see our members as cultivators when they come to PANAC educational offerings. These members care enough about their professional practice to spend their precious time and energy to attend meetings and network with colleagues; learning and asking questions that disturb the soil, but spare the crop. More than just sparing the crop, these cultivators share the crop as they return to work with new ideas, thoughts, and energy. Their pride in who they are and what they do best, also disrupts the weeds—the negativity or apathy in the workplace that I mentioned in my last message. PANAC members like you are the true cultivators of perianesthesia nursing.

The dictionary defines cultivators as a person who grows, tends, or improves plants or crops; someone concerned with the science or art or business of cultivating the soil. This reminds me of the PANAC Board, nurses that I consider as the cultivators of PANAC.

At the October Annual Meeting and Conference in Costa Mesa, I installed the 2012-2013 PANAC Board with the oath, “While serving PANAC, do each of you accept the responsibilities of your office and promise to uphold the duties for your elected term?” As they responded “yes,” I thought, each one is here with purpose, to grow, to tend and improve PANAC as an organization. They are concerned with the business of cultivating PANAC and its members. How honored and proud I am to serve alongside of them and to serve you, our members.

Linda Callahan Booked for Burbank in 2013PANAC Packs February 9 Seminar Program

Newsletter of the PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association of California Winter 2012 Vol. 32 No. 4

By Lori Silva, RN, CCRN, CPAN, PANAC Education Chair

The Marriott Los Angeles Burbank Airport Hotel is set for the PANAC Winter Seminar, February 9, 2013. The featured speaker, Linda Callahan, PhD, CRNA, PMHNP, is a national and popular PANAC speaker, author, and consultant on anesthesia and perianesthesia topics. Dr. Callahan is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Nursing, California State University Long Beach and a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Beautiful Downtown Burbank, next door to Hollywood, is home to Universal, Warner Brothers, Disney, and NBC Studios. With unique shopping and fine dining restaurants, Burbank’s main street and Mall offer great places to share fun (or meet) with friends. But the real star attraction at the February Conference is Dr. Callahan’s program:

The Recognition and Management of Postoperative •DeliriumAnaphylaxis during the Perioperative Period•Genomics and Your Practice•Drug Interactions in the Perioperative Period – •Can We Predict?Post-operative Pulmonary Embolus – Concern •for the OutpatientPsychotropic Drugs – A Growing Perioperative •ConcernPolypharmacy in the Older Patient•Sedation Update – Questions and Answers•

Dr. Callahan began her nursing career in North Carolina; then went on to become a Nurse Anesthetist. As a CRNA, she served as President of the American A s s o c i a t ion o f Nu r s e Anesthetists, 1993-1994. Dr. Callahan earned her PhD in Educational Research a n d E v a lu a t i o n f r om Florida State University. At California State University, Long Beach, Dr. Callahan received a post graduate certificate as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and achieved her MA in Education-Instructional Media and an MS in Nursing.

Join PANAC to celebrate PANAW, PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week, in Burbank. For more information contact me at notgoquietly@clearwire.net; or for a brochure to this star-studded seminar, go to www.panac.org.

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eRNie Edits PulselineErnestine Nunes, RN, CPAN, CNOR

PulselineA Publication of the

PeriAnesthesia NursesAssociation of California

Winner 2011, 2008 ASPANComponent Newsletter 1-8 Pages

ASPAN National ConferencePeople’s Choice Award

2012, 2011, 2010, 2007, 2002, 2000, & 1999

2012-2013 Executive Officers

PresidentShay Glevy, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA

President-elect Tess Mazloomian, MS, RN, CCRN, CPAN, CAPA

Secretary Anatita Invina, BSN, RN, CPAN

TreasurerRubymae Bishop, BSN, RN, CPAN

Education ChairLori Silva, RN, CCRN, CPAN

Education Chair-ElectVacant

District DirectorsDistrict 1 – Angelique WeathersbyDistrict 2 – Kevin MacVaneDistrict 3 – Gloria LuuDistrict 4 – Helen Fong District 5 – Denise DeFendis

Pulseline Editorial StaffPublication Chairperson/EditorErnestine Nunes, RN, CPAN, CNOR

CONTRIBUTING EDITORSDebbie Bickford Helen BussSusan Carter Denise DeFendis Susan Fossum Helen FongMary Frazier Wendy Lee Tess Mazloomian Karen MachadoAgnes McGurr Sheryl MichelsonSue O’Day Judy Ontiveros Kathy Sim Terry Trautloff

Send letters/comments to:Ernestine Nunes

216 Westwood Drive, Visalia, CA 93277Email: enunesca@aol.com

The PANAC Web site is www.panac.orgWebmaster: Kathy Sim, BSN, RN, CPAN

Pulseline is published Quarterly.

Deadlines for inclusion in Pulseline:Deadline IssueFebruary 1 MarchMay 1 JuneAugust 1 SeptemberNovember 1 December

PANAC P.O. Box 10841

Westminster, CA 92685-0842

Printed by Carmichael PrintingCarmichael, CA

© 2012 Pulseline All rights reserved.

Letters to the Editor Hello Ernestine, I attended the PANAC conference in Costa Mesa October 5 & 6, 2012. This was my first

conference even though I have been a PACU nurse since 1995. Far too long to wait! I enjoyed the conference immensely. The most enjoyable part was getting to meet fellow PACU nurses in the region and network with them. The information provided in the lectures was also first rate and I am looking forward to attending again. I am from Redlands in the Inland Empire and enjoy going to Orange County. Costa Mesa was a treat, what a beautiful hotel the Westin is! I especially found Susan Dragoo’s presentation on Caring for the Perplexing Pregnant Patient very helpful and spoke to her afterward.

She volunteered to come and speak at my hospital and I hope to make that happen for my co-workers. We often deal with pregnant patients in our PACU who come in for appendectomies or cholecystectomies as well as the “crashing” patients. Last year we had 2 accreta patients in a 2 week period. They were first brought to our PACU for Rapid Blood transfusion and then to OR for hysterectomy and I am happy to see we performed well and both patients did very well.

Thank you to all who govern PANAC and provide these opportunities.Sincerely,Steven Potjer, RN, BSN, CCRN

Holidays are for GivingThis holiday, PANAC is giving Recognition. PANAC awarded the first

RN Student Scholarship; is planning a Leadership Workshop, Growing our Own for February 8, and approved a $25 honorarium for future clinical or full feature articles published in Pulseline.

True to PANAC’s Mission statement, to promote the specialty of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, PANAC Chapter Coordinators and District Directors hold regular meetings and create local educational programs that improve our practice. To recognize and support these leaders, President Shay Glevy and Education Chair Lori Silva are inviting Chapter

Coordinators to come to the February 8 PANAC Leadership Workshop in Burbank. Anyone interested in being a Chapter leader may attend on a first come basis by contacting Shay or Lori at www.panac.org. Space is limited.

If you have an idea for a clinical or feature article about your practice, yours or a colleagues’ accomplishment, let me know at enunesca@aol.com.

Linda Callahan answers questions on genetics and pain

medication from Hanford nurses, Dora Faulk and Susan Morris

during the 2010 Visalia PANAC Winter Seminar.

In Costa Mesa, Angie Weathersby and Steve Potjer, Redlands, discuss ideas for upcoming Inland Empire Chapter meetings.

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ASPAN Region 1 Director’s Fall/Winter UpdateBy Deborah Bickford, BSN, CPAN

This has been a VERY busy fall for me. It was a pleasure to attend almost all of the Region 1 Fall Component Meetings and get to meet so many members. I missed going to the New Mexico and Rocky Mountain Components and offer a special thank you to Connie Tabet-Hardy for representing ASPAN at New Mexico’s Annual Meeting and to Sue Carter for attending Rocky

Mountain’s. Traveling, meeting ASPAN component members, and hearing how our practice varies throughout the country is fascinating. It’s been a learning curve, getting to all the meetings, experiencing the dynamics of each component; and hearing your challenges and successes was so enlightening. I want to thank everyone I met, new friends and old, for all the warmth and hospitality you shared with me.

Sharing Stories, Same PassionI was struck by how passionate those I met are about their specialty

and in providing the best patient care. At each seminar, members shared their clinical stories as we learned new practice information and often had current practices validated. As Dr. Pellit mentioned in Hawaii, it is unusual for a perianesthesia nurse to be a sole practitioner, since we have an impact on all phases of the surgical experience. We share common goals, which is to provide the best perianesthesia patient care based on our knowledge of best practices. Collaboration is invaluable and I encourage you to share your stories.

From Colleagues to FriendsEqually important as the clinical knowledge gained at a conference

is the personal relationships we develop. We may only see these colleagues once or twice a year, but friendships develop and flourish. From these friendships and frequent meetings, we see the component and ASPAN leaders emerge to become the next Up and Comers. I have such an acquaintance. We met at a conference when she came up to me and we started sharing life stories and then we would catch up at the next component conference. Over the years, I learned she sat for one certification exam and then a second one. Now she’s studying for her nursing degree. It’s amazing to watch her growth over the years. I don’t know her beyond these meetings, but I am so proud of her professional progress and filled with a sense of warm pride to see a colleague grow.

Professional Growth takes PlanningPreparations are underway for the Chicago 2013 National Conference

next April—it’s a little like preparing for the holidays—you have to plan ahead and it’s all in the details. ASPAN spends a year organizing the

speakers and sessions, meetings, and social events that bring everyone together. Our professional life takes that much planning as well. We should nurture it by attending educational events like the National Conference and state meetings, participating on committees and seeking certifications. ASPAN is there to help us cultivate our professional growth. Members garner that support by attending component and national conferences. Sure, you can receive CEs on-line; but you can’t get the professional and emotional support sitting at a computer.

Make the Most of ASPANGo to meetings, start talking with the person next to you and before

you know it, a friendship starts to emerge and at the next conference, it is someone you’ll recognize. I want you all to feel as excited as I am when attending a meeting. To learn more about ASPAN’s professional opportunities, browse the ASPAN web-site at www.aspan.org and explore the various tabs. You’ll discover all the amazing resources, educational events and possibilities available to you—there is a wealth of information just waiting for you.

For more information on ASPAN or developing your professional life, contact me at dbickford@aspan.org.

All Aboard for Chicago ASPAN President Susan Carter, BSN, RN,

CPAN, Oceanside, CA opens the ASPAN National Conference, April 14-18, 2013 in the Windy City, Chicago IL. The Chicago Hilton on Michigan Avenue overlooks Grants Park and Lake Michigan and is just blocks or short mile from Chicago landmarks like the Art Institute, Wrigley Field, and the fabulous Magnificent Mile shopping and dining venues.

Tower ing Oppor t uni t ie s , Endless Possibilities is the perfect theme for this 32nd National Conference. Chicago’s landmark skyscrapers, famous deep dish pizza and city tours entice Californians to explore the Windy City while earning a possible 25-30 contact hours. Come join Sue Carter and PANAC friends in that Toddlin’ Town.

At the LA/Burbank’s September seminar, Ventura nurses Elvie Camilon, Rhonda Smith, Sheila Whalen, and Shamekia Copeland, spoke with District

2 Director Kevin MacVane about the possibility of creating a Coastal Chapter in Ventura.

New ASPAN Standards on Sale NowThe 2012-2014 ASPAN Standards, Perianesthesia Nursing

Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements go into effect December 2012. Besides a new title and text format, there is a new Practice Recommendation for the Adult Patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), based on evidence-based practice. ASPAN Director of Research, Kim Noble, PhD, RN, CPAN reports that ASPAN’s OSA practice recommendation was read by the American Society of Anesthesiolgists (ASA) and strongly supported by Dr. Francis Chung, an OSA expert.

This edition also features principles of safe perianesthesia practice, a revised practice recommendation for family visitation in perianesthesia care unit, and a position statement on substance abuse in the perianesthesia setting. It is on sale on the ASPAN website, www.aspan.org at $60.00 for members and $149.00 for nonmembers.

Susan Carter, BSN, RN, CPAN

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Celebrating PANAC at Costa Mesa Annual Meeting

PANAC Past Presidents Helen Buss, Sue Carter, Debbie Bickford and Cherie Sloan at lunch here, joined Sheryl Michelson, Ernie Nunes, and Kathy Sim in welcoming President Shay Glevy and President-elect Tess Mazloomian to their Annual Past President’s Dinner.

Teri Herman from the Santa Clarita Valley starts the day with a fruit selection from the wonderful breakfast buffet at the Westin South Coast Plaza.

Denise DeFendis presents a Recognition Certificate to Fresno Chapter Coordinator Kathy Nichols as Beverly Edwardsen offers congratulations.

Letty Fajardo, RN, CPAN asks Cheryl Coleman, BSN, RN, CPAN, ABPANC Region 1 Representative for information on how to become a Certification Coach

In Halloween mode, Promotions Chair Terry Trautloff welcomes new District 4 Director Helen Fong, Sacramento, to the PANAC Board of Directors.

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NAPAN President Wins Rose Parade Seats

Bernie Larson, RN, CAPA, won the LA/Burbank Rose Parade Raffle for 2 grandstand seats, but she isn’t a PANAC member or even from California. Bernie is President of the Nebraska Association of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (NAPAN) and bought the winning ticket in St. Louis, MO at the September ASPAN Component Development Institute (CDI) from PANAC District 2 Director Kevin MacVane.

The drawing was at the PANAC Annual Meeting and Seminar in Costa Mesa, October 7. When Promotions Chair Terry Trautloff notified Bernie, she said, “I was so excited. I never thought I would be going to the Rose Bowl Parade. Here in Omaha, NE, that is something you watch on TV with a cup of coffee.”

The NAPAN President is a Periop/PACU nurse at Alegent Creighton Health, Immanuel Hospital, in Omaha. She joined NAPAN when her employer suggested she attend the 2007 Disneyland ASPAN National Conference in Anaheim, CA because “it was cheaper to send me if I was a member. I knew nothing of ASPAN or NAPAN, but the trip sounded wonderful and now I am NAPAN President.”

Bernie remembers a PANAC member selling the raffle tickets and a flyer for the Nurses’ Float in their hospital lounge reminded her that she “bought a few raffle tickets at the CDI Conference.” What did she think about winning? Bernie says “I was so surprised when my phone rang Saturday night, right before the Nebraska-Ohio game started. I don’t think Nebraska will be attending the Rose Bowl this year, BUT I WILL BE! Thank you, PANAC, I can’t wait to go.”

Note: The Nurses’ Rose Parade seats were donated by Sindee Brown Riboli, President of Sharp Seating www.sharpseating.com.

Linda Sparks New Membership Chair

By Ruby Bishop, PANAC Treasurer, Past Membership Chair

PANAC membership is growing exponentially! We have 1,430 PANAC members, 5 Districts and 11 Chapters. New Membership Chair Linda Sparks and I credit PANAC Chapter Coordinators for promoting PANAC membership with local meetings and free educational events. As members share meeting and seminar flyers with coworkers and invite them to attend local, state and national seminars, our membership grows.

Cynthia Galarpe, RN, BSN is PANAC’s Recruiter of the Year for the third year. The

top recruiters were: Cynthia Galarpe with 7, Maria Teresa Fraley 5, and Diane Ewoldt 4. Cynthia, you are a star in promoting ASPAN and PANAC and you challenge each of us to become a Member-Get-a-Member, Recruiter of the Year.

Meet the Chapter Leaders Star Yager Heads Modesto Chapter

A ten-year ASPAN/PANAC member, Star Yager, RN, CCRN succeeds PANAC Education Chair, Lori Silva as Modesto Chapter Coordinator. Both are founding members of the Chapter.

Star, a nurse at Memorial Medical Center since 1989, has held various staff posit ions in ICU, Cath Lab/Angio Lab Recovery and Nursing Supervision. For the past 12 years, she was the Surgical Serv ices Manager for PACU, Same Day Surgery, and GI. A graduate of Modesto Junior College, Star says she prefers direct patient care, and last June returned to a PACU staff position.

As Coordinator, Star hopes that the Chapter will continue to have nurses from area facilities participate and enlist speakers for our future events. I love learning new things, and I hope that I can share this love of learning with others.

Living in the San Joaquin Valley, Star enjoys going to the ocean, where she finds peace when things are stressful—like recently studying for PALS. She has 4 sons, ages 33, 28, 26 and 21 and 2 grandchildren, ages 9 and 5 and says she is trying to learn how to quilt, something her mom loved to do.

PANAC Committee Chairs 2012-2013Membership Linda Sparks, BSN, CPAN Webmaster Kathy Sim, BSN, RN, CPAN, CNOREducation Lori Silva, RN, CPAN, CNOREducation Chair-Elect Open Publication/Pulseline Ernestine Nunes, RN, CPAN, CNORMarketing Esther Sang, BSN, CPAN John Kuykendall, RN, CPANPromotions/Gold Leaf Terry Trautloff, RN, CAPAGovernmental Affairs Beverly Edwardsen, BSNH, RN, CPNResearch Rubymae Bishop, BSN, RN, CPANMeeting Contractor Carol Bowen, RN

Linda Sparks, BSN, RN, CPAN

Star Yager and Lori Silva in Costa Mesa

PANAC Awards RN Student Scholarship By Judy Ontiveros, MSN, RN, PANAC Past President

This fall, PANAC introduced the RN Student Nurse Scholarship to benefit a nursing student who worked previously or is actively employed in the perianesthesia setting. Shay Glevy, PANAC President, announced the results December 1.

The 2012 recipient of the PANAC $500 RN Student Scholarship is Kayce Ashcraft, who is a 5th semester student in the BSN Program at Fresno State University and maintains a 3.83 GPA. Since January, Kayce has worked as a Pediatric Nurse Extern in Day Surgery at Children’s Hospital Central California, Madera. After graduating in May, 2013, she hopes to return as an RN to the Day Surgery unit where she will “continue to build on a solid foundation in skills, critical thinking and caring for patients.” The scholarship will help her finish her education and continue to volunteer in the community and at the hospital.

Nurses’ Float Raffle Raises FundsPromotion’s Chair Terry Trautloff reported the PANAC LA/Burbank

Rose Parade raffle raised a total $2,020 for the Nurses Float, A Healing Place. PANAC added $250 to the $1,770 in tickets and donations for the non-profit, Bare Root Inc., “to create interest in nursing, provide nursing scholarships, and to Celebrate-Honor-Thank Nurses around the world.” Rose Parade President, Sally Bixby, RN is an OR nurse from the Pasadena area. When she announced the 2013 Parade theme, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, Bixby said it was with Jane Goodall in mind as Grand Marshall.

Reference: Bare Root Inc. Available at www.flowers4thefloat.org. Accessed November 20, 2012

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Director’s CornerDistrict 1 Angelique Weathersby, MB, BSN, RNangiewpanac@gmail.comThe Counties of: Imperial, Orange, Riverside,

San Bernardino, and San Diego Happy holidays! I’m honored to serve

as your District 1 Director and know 2013 will be another great year of educational and networking opportunities. So that I may serve you best, please contact me with your thoughts

and ideas at angiewpanac@gmail.com. The October Annual Seminar was fantastic. Education Chair Lori

Silva and the Committee did a wonderful job! I’m looking forward to the Burbank Conference, February 9.

The Inland Empire Chapter met November 14 to hear Divina Apolinario, RN, BSN, MS present VTE Prevention; many thanks to Covidien-Vascular Therapies for sponsoring the event. The Chapter meets again on January 9 to discuss Competency-based Orientation of new Perianesthesia Nurses.

At the Orange County Chapter’s November Saturday meeting, Sue Kussro presented, Special Kids--Special Parents in the World of Autism. Their next meeting is in January.

On January 5, the San Diego Chapter will review the new ASPAN OSA Guidelines at Rady Children’s Hospital. Thanks to Edna Culp and Patty Hirst for hosting meetings while SD Chapter Coordinator Rebecca Reynolds is on maternity leave. SD Chapter nurses will again volunteer to assist Fresh Start in providing free surgeries at Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego on January 12.

It’s not too soon to plan for the April 2013 ASPAN National Conference in Chicago—invite a friend to go with you. Interested in hosting a meeting or starting a Chapter? Please contact me. Happy New Year!

District 2 Kevin MacVane, BSN, RN, CAPAmacvak33@aol.comThe counties of: Los Angeles, San Luis

Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura

It’s official, District 2 is now Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties! As your new District Director, I dream of us growing and creating new Chapters. Right now we have one active

Chapter in LA/ Burbank area and hope to see at least one Chapter in each county and another in the LA area. Congratulations to Linda Dominguez-McDonald, the new LA/Burbank Chapter Coordinator.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! This is a call to action! I challenge each one of you to step up and start a chapter. All it takes is one or two and YOU CAN DO IT! I am here to help—all of PANAC will help you! Before starting the Burbank/LA/Valley Chapter, I was told, Build It and They Will Come... and you did. Now it is your turn—together we can make it happen. Contact me with your ideas or for more information on starting a Chapter. I am ready to assist you.

In September, the LA Chapter held their first mini seminar featuring Cardiac Preop Assessment, Bariatric Surgery, and Diabetes with four amazing speakers: Sachin Navare, MD, Miranda Boeh,

Capturing CPAN CAPA Stories

Patty Hirst, RN, CPAN, CAPA, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA

I wish everyone could know how truly wonderful it felt to pass both the CPAN and CAPA exams in spring 2012.

For a long time, I did not even consider taking the exams. I went to PANAC Seminars, attended Chapter classes in San Diego and Orange County, and an ASPAN Certification Review in 18 months; just to increase my knowledge base.

Along the way I discovered how interesting and satisfying our specialty is. Our patients depend on our vigilant care to keep them safe and to meet their needs and of their family’s throughout their perioperative stay. At the San Diego Chapter, the classes were nurse affirming and Chapter Coordinator Rebecca Reynolds exuded enthusiasm, and encouraged everyone to become certified.

To prepare for the exams, I studied the Core Curriculum, ASPAN Standards, and Drain’s Perianesthesia Nursing and added a Certification Review class. Using practice exams, I studied the rationales for answers, and then reviewed the concepts that I needed more time to get the finer points. I divided my study between what needed memorizing and what meant understanding concepts.

At the Orange County Certification class, Tess Mazloomian said, “It’s about what we do everyday.” During the exam, I would look at each question and imagine myself as the RN in the scenario. “What would I do?” This helped me throughout the tests to moderate my nervousness. I passed the CPAN test and the next week passed the CAPA exam to become Dual Certified. I believe certification advances the standards of our profession and promotes evidence-based, knowledgeable care of our patients.

Geryll Hill Rusich, BS, BSN, RN, CPAN, Children’s Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA

After taking the CPAN exam, I realized how much I enjoyed the certification experience. It is hard to explain the satisfaction I felt from months of exam preparation or the professional boost it gave me. Besides the pride I felt in my accomplishment, I gained more respect for my colleagues who practice adult perianesthesia nursing. As a pediatric nurse, I found myself learning more about adult surgeries that we rarely see, like prostate, gynecological, gastric, and more. My body of knowledge expanded ten-fold

and I loved the process of learning and reaffirming my practice.Last year, a colleague announced she was going to “take the test” and

at the last minute signed-up for the spring exam. While I was happy that another nurse in my department was interested in certification, I worried that she wouldn’t have time to prepare. My certification preparation began in December before the May exam; included a wonderful ASPAN Certification Review course and two on-line practice tests. I poured over my perianesthesia books and made flash cards. My sun-room’s ping pong table was covered with study materials for at least five months! What was she thinking? She hardly had time to study.

My colleague was on a fast track, where to me it was a journey—carefully plotted out. I realized that we each have our own learning style. Quick or plodding, we all increase our knowledge and professionalism through the certification process. I worried, but needn’t have. She passed the test easily and I’m proud to celebrate certification with my colleague, Judith Williams, RN, CPAN.

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ready for Burbank Winter Seminar, February 9. At the Santa Rosa/North Bay Chapter meeting, November

27, Rich Golub, CRNA presented Laryngospasm and Anesthesia Concerns. Thank you to Karen Woods who continues as Santa Rosa Chapter Coordinator and her invaluable service as District IV Director.

In November, Sacramento Chapter Coordinator Marcie Wolfe invited Cheryl Kenner, RN, MSN to speak on Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Surgical Patient. Heads up for the ASPAN Seminar, PeriAnesthesia Pathophysiology and Assessment in Sacramento, January 26; go to www.aspan.org to register.

Chapter meeting flyers are emailed to members and posted at www.panac.org. Please share these announcements with your non-member colleagues. Anyone interested in creating a chapter or holding a meeting, please contact me to find out how!

District 5Denise DeFendis denisedefendis@yahoo.com The Counties of Fresno, Inyo, Kern,

Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, and Tulare

Happy Holidays to everyone. Hope you are all doing well this busy season. It’s hard to believe that the PANAC’s Annual

seminar in Costa Mesa was already months ago. Seeing familiar faces and new ones always makes attending seminars a lot of fun, along with learning from great speakers. Congratulations to Kathy Nichols and Joan Smith who were recognized by PANAC for their work as Coordinators for their Fresno and Bakersfield Chapters.

Hope to see you February 9 in Burbank to hear Linda Callahan, PhD, CRNA. If you are from the counties of Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, and Tulare, please come see me and say hello. I want to learn more about you and your perianesthesia world.

The Central Valley/Fresno Chapter is busy preparing for their Spring Seminar, March 9, 2013 with Lois Schick. This dynamic speaker will be coming to Children’s Hospital Central California in Madera. Save the date as you won’t want to miss this great opportunity.

Interested in local meetings? Contact me for information and assistance in planning something near you.

MSN, NP, Sharon Sperling, MS, RD, and Elaine Robak, RN. We had an amazing turnout—including nurses from Ventura. Thanks to all for helping, especially Elenita Yap at Providence for her support. I will keep you posted for our next mini-seminar. Happy Holidays to All.

District 3Gloria Luu, MSN, RN, CPANGloriaLPanac@yahoo.comThe Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa,

Marin, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and San Mateo

The October PANAC Meet ing and Conference in Costa Mesa was full of learning,

networking and seeing new products. Kudos to Lori Silva, PANAC Education Chair and the Committee for all the hard work! Can’t wait for the Burbank February 9 Seminar with Dr. Linda Callahan!

By the way, just a hint—the Education Chair-Elect position is open for anyone interested in beginning a journey packed with opportunities to use your organizational skills to create PANAC education programs.

As I begin my third year as your District Director, I was glad to team up with Santa Clara Chapter Coordinator, Liz Glatt for our December 1 Seminar, Anesthesia Potpourri & Mega Code Simulations at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. It was outstanding, Liz. I am confident that we will have more opportunities to work together in the near future. Anyone interested in information about growing with PANAC as District Director, Chapter or Seminar Coordinator or volunteering in a Chapter, please contact me so we can talk. Please check the PANAC website frequently for future education meetings in the Bay area.

District 3 has two ASPAN Winter/Spring Seminars coming in 2013, Oakland, March 9 and Santa Clara on June 15. Please go to www.ASPAN.org, for details or contact me or the Chapter Coordinators: Liz Glatt at LizPANAC@gmail.com or Sharlyn Navarro at Sharlyn.Navarro@hotmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you, your ideas, and your suggestions.

District 4 Helen Fong, MSN, RNhelen.f.panac@gmail.comThe Counties of Alpine, Amador, Butte,

Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehema, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba

What a privilege to join the ranks of committed professionals who volunteer their time for PANAC! It was very insightful and eye opening to see the lively nitty-gritty dynamic detailed discussions during my first PANAC Board meeting. I see why our professional organization is so robust and adroit in meeting the needs of its members.

District 4 consists of 31 counties and three local Chapters: Santa Rosa, Sacramento, and Modesto. In Modesto, Chapter Coordinator Lori Silva announced Star Yager is taking over as Coordinator. For their November meeting, Dr. Nyguen lectured on DaVinci Robotic Surgery. Congratulations Star and thank you Lori. As PANAC Education Chair, Lori coordinated the wonderful Costa Mesa Conference and is getting

Director’s Corner

PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week

February 4-10, 2013

Pulseline 8

First Class PresortUS Postage

PAIDPermit #1297

Sacramento, CA

PulselineP.O. Box 10841Westminster, CA 92685-0841

• C a l e n d a r o f e v e n t s •

Pulseline

PANAC’s Mission: In collaboration with ASPAN, we promote

the specialty of PeriAnesthesia

Nursing.

For local Chapter events,

please go to www.panac.org

October 15 – December 15, 2012PANAC Alice Wise Scholarship Application Period

Information and application at www.panac.org

January 1 – April 30, 2013CPAN/CAPA Spring Online Recertification

January 14 – March 11, 2013CPAN/CAPA Spring Exam Online Registration

www.cpancapa.org

January 26, 2013ASPAN Perianesthesia Pathophysiology and Assessment:

A Systems ApproachSacramento, CA www.aspan.org

February 4 – 10, 2013Perianesthesia Nurse Awareness Week (PANAW)

www.aspan.org

February 9, 2013PANAC’s Winter Conference

Linda Callahan, PhD, CRNA, PMHNPMarriott Los Angeles Burbank Airport Hotel

818-843-6000 Burbank, CA www.panac.org

April 8 – May 18, 2013 CPAN /CAPA Spring Exam Administration

April 14 – 18, 2013ASPAN’s 32nd National Conference

Towering Opportunities, Endless PossibilitiesHilton Chicago, Chicago, IL www.aspan.org

March 9, 2013ASPAN Perianesthesia Pathophysiology and Assessment:

A Systems Approach Oakland, CA

May 18, 2013New ASPAN Refreshing your Perianesthesia Practice

Sacramento, CA

July 15 – September 9, 2013CPAN/CAPA Fall Exam Online Registration

October 7 – November 16, 2013CPAN/CAPA Fall Exam Administration

September 19 – 22 , 2013International Conference for Periaenesthesia Nurses

Citywest Hotel, Dublin Dublin, Ireland www.icpanconference.com

October 5 – 6, 2013PANAC’s 34th Annual Meeting/Conference

Crowne Plaza SacramentoSacramento, CA