The Laryngeal Mask Airway and Laryngeal Mask Airway Fastrach®: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination for Nurse Anesthesia

Patient safety is the primary factor that guides the clinical practice of anesthesia. To optimize patient safety and outcomes, the use of supraglottic airway devices (SAD), like the Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) and Laryngeal Mask Airway Fastrach® (LMA Fastrach®), may be necessary to implement within the clinical setting. The utilization of SADs would be appropriate in the following scenarios: a failed attempt to bag-mask ventilate, inability to maintain a patent airway, or use as a bridge for airway management during encounters of difficult airway situations. At the time the study was conducted, The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) had no consistent method to educate, practice, and evaluate via check-off for the LMA and LMA Fastrach® airway management techniques. Creation of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) aims to provide an educational pathway and uniform evaluation for USM Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNA) on the application of the difficult airway algorithm and implementation of proper treatment methods through the use of the LMA or LMA Fastrach®. With regards to evidence-based practice guidelines, a major goal of the OSCE doctoral project is to encourage proficient practice that enhances clinical knowledge and skill, ultimately improving patient safety and overall patient outcomes. The OSCE along with a survey were sent to first and second-year USM NAP SRNAs for review and evaluation. The purpose of the survey was to determine the effectiveness, accuracy, and clarity of the proposed OSCE. Survey feedback indicated that the OSCE was of high quality and was well accepted by the SRNAs and CRNA faculty of the USM NAP