Laura Palmer, MNEd, CRNA
Assistant Director and Instructor
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Department of Acute/Tertiary Care

Clinical Expertise:
Although I teach many areas within the nurse anesthesia curriculum, my focus areas are in professional / legislative / legal issues, 12 lead EKG interpretation, renal physiology and transplantation, safety and HIV/AIDS. I have presented at local and regional anesthesia meetings and co-authored an article on the use of human simulators in Nurse Anesthesia education. I have many years of experience in clinical anesthesia, primarily in high acuity acute care management and coordination of student and CRNA education in those settings. I currently maintain my faculty practice in an outpatient surgicenter and a local community hospital.

Teaching:
I have been involved with anesthesia education for many years and have been full-time faculty for 7 years. My academic responsibilities include coordination of 3 courses: Basic Principles of Anesthesia, Applied Physiology and Pathophysiology, and CRNA Role Seminar. I lecture in most of the courses in the anesthesia curriculum. I was a recipient of the Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2000 and the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists Didactic Instructor of the Year award in 1997. I participate in our Human Simulation programs that are integrated throughout the curriculum. I have worked with numerous students in independent study courses, primarily for educational advancement in areas such as website design and web-based education models.

Service:
As Assistant Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program my primary responsibilities include database and record management, coordination of all aspects of the evaluation program, and website design and maintenance for the Program. I am actively involved in the admission interview process for the Nurse Anesthesia Program and have served on numerous committees in the School of Nursing, including Curriculum and Policy.