University of Iowa Nursing Student Sarah Rohde Providing Crucial Ventilator Training

Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs) play a significant role in our nation's health care system, particularly in rural settings where they work alongside Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and often serve as the community's only option for administering anesthesia during medical procedures. In Iowa, for example, CRNAs are the sole provider of all anesthesia services in 88 of 117 community hospitals in the state.

Current University of Iowa SRNAs Rachel Westernik and Sarah Rohde are working on a clinical rotation at Spencer Hospital in Spencer, Iowa, where, in addition to their regular workload, they are actively preparing for any COVID-19 cases that may enter their facility. The two were recently given the daunting task of teaching ICU nurses and respiratory therapists how to convert and utilize anesthesia devices for ICU ventilation.