Tuesday, July 29, 2025

6:15 a.m. — Breakfast with Exhibitors & NAFA Welcome Desk

7:00 a.m. — Legal Principles in Action: Case Presentations of Res Ipsa Loquitur | Jodi Carlsen, DNAP, CRNA – 1 CE

Objective: Describe the importance of proper anesthesia charting documentation to protect against potential legal action.

8:00 a.m. —  Non-Opioid Agents as Sole Anesthesia: A New Paradigm in Anesthetic Management | Jodi Carlsen, DNAP, CRNA – 1 CE - 1 Pain CE

Objective: Describe the different non-narcotic pharmacological agents for pain control in a patient undergoing anesthesia.

9:00 a.m. — Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

9:15 a.m. — Update: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonists  | Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA – 1 CE

Objectives:

1. 1. Describe the mechanism of action of GLP-1 agonists and assess the latest data on the efficacy and safety of GLP-1 agonists in managing type 2 diabetes and obesity.
   2. Discuss emerging GLP-1 agonist therapies, including combination treatments and novel delivery methods, and their potential impact on anesthesia assessment and practice.

10:15 a.m. — The Value of Gastric Ultrasound | Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA – 1 CE

Objectives:

1. 1. Explain the basic principles of gastric ultrasound, including the techniques used to visualize and assess the stomach.
   2. Identify the various clinical applications of gastric ultrasound, such as its role in assessing gastric emptying, evaluating patients at risk of aspiration, and guiding clinical decision-making in perioperative and critical care settings.

11:15 a.m. — Question & Answer Session – 1 CE

Objective: Further discuss legal principles, non-opiate agents, GLP-1 Agonists and the value of gastric ultrasound.

12:30 p.m. — Lunch and Learn: Gastric Ultrasound (US) Scanning Techniques Lecture & Practice (Part I) | Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA and Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA – 1 CE - Separate workshop fee

Objective: Identify key anatomical structures of the stomach and surrounding areas on ultrasound images, distinguishing between normal and pathological findings.

1:30 p.m. — Gastric US Scanning Techniques: Demonstration and Practice Stations (Part II)  Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA and Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA – 2 CE

Objectives:

1. 1. Apply ultrasound skills to various clinical scenarios, such as assessing gastric content and volume in preoperative patients and making informed decisions based on their ultrasound findings
   2. Interpret common gastric ultrasound findings and understand their implications for patient management, including recognizing normal versus abnormal gastric content and volume.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

6:15 a.m. — Breakfast with Exhibitors & NAFA Welcome Desk

7:00 a.m. — Developing a Peer Support Program | Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA  – 1 CE

Objective: Identify two key components critical to the success of a peer support program.

8:00 a.m. —  CRNA Wellness: from training to end-of-career | Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA – 1 CE

Objective: Identify key wellness strategies tailored to each stage of a CRNA's career, from the demands of education through professional practice to retirement.

9:00 a.m. — Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

9:15 a.m. — Difficult Airway Management: Current Recommendations | Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA – 1 CE

Objective: Evaluate current evidence-based guidelines for difficult airway management. 

10:15 a.m. — Difficult Airway Management: Case Studies | Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA and Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA  – 1 CE

Objective: Apply current recommendations for difficult airway management to hypothetical clinical scenarios.

11:15 a.m. — Question & Answer Session – 1 CE

Objective: Further discuss peer support programs, CRNA wellness and difficult airway management recommendations and case studies.

12:30 p.m. — Lunch and Learn: Preparation for FOB-assisted Intubation - Lecture (Part I) | Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA, Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA, and Jodi Carlsen, DNAP, CRNA – 1 CE and .50 CE Credits in pharmacology/therapeutics  - Separate workshop fee

Objective: Discuss pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions to facilitate awake, fiberoptic-assisted intubation in adult patients.

1:30 p.m. — Advanced Airway Techniques: Demonstration and Practice Stations (Part II) | Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA, Rebekah Carmel, PhD, CRNA, and Jodi Carlsen, DNAP, CRNA – 2 CE

Objectives:

1. 1. Demonstrate proper use of advanced airway techniques on task trainers.
   2. Demonstrate strategies for the administration of supplemental oxygen during the performance of complex airway management.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

6:15 a.m. — Breakfast with Exhibitors & NAFA Welcome Desk

7:00 a.m. — “Fat & blood & air, oh my!”: A closer look at embolic physiology and management under anesthesia  | Crystal O'Guin, DNP, CRNA – 1 CE

Objectives:

1. 1. Describe the symptoms and underlying physiology of fat, air, gas, and venous/ arterial embolisms occurring in the perioperative period.
   2. Develop a plan to manage a suspected acute embolic event during general anesthesia. 

8:00 a.m. — Highs and Lows: Evaluating the current evidence for titrating inspired oxygen concentrations in the perioperative setting | Crystal O'Guin, DNP, CRNA – 1 CE

Objective: Describe the current recommendations for the titration of inspired oxygen concentrations during anesthesia. 

9:00 a.m. — Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

9:15 a.m. — Augmented Intelligence: Using AI to Work with You, Not Instead of You | Jiale (Gary) Hu, PhD, RN, FAAN – 1 CE

Objective: Describe the basic foundations of artificial intelligence (AI) and professional, ethical, and legal principles of integrating AI technologies in anesthesia practice.

10:15 a.m. — Anesthesia meets AI: generative artificial intelligence prompt engineering for CRNAs  | Jiale (Gary) Hu, PhD, RN, FAAN – 1 CE

Objective: Apply prompt engineering techniques and different types of prompts to effectively work with generative artificial intelligence to empower anesthesia practice.

11:15 a.m. — Question & Answer Session – 1 CE

Objective: Further discuss embolic physiology and management, titrating oxygen, and augmented AI in anesthesia practice.