January 2025 • Volume 18, No. #1
From the Editor
Lately my sweetie and I have been watching the science fiction / psychological thriller “Severance” on Apple TV+. In it, a mysterious corporation implants devices in its employees’ brains to completely sever their “at work” memories from their “outside world” memories. Chaos ensues.
Now, that’s science fiction (and creepy). But many medical news stories of today could well be the science fiction of a few decades ago.
This week, the Associated Press reported that the only person in the world with a functioning pig organ is thriving after a record two months. This and other remarkable scientific developments are coming down the pike in response to an aging population and a severe shortage of human donor organs. With this issue, we bring you updates on some of those developments.
Our Student in the Spotlight is Haley Conchieri, NP, APRN, of Billings, MT.
And scroll down for NIFA’s favorite links, including our awesome RNFA job board, NIFAJobs.
Take care,
Julie Lancaster, Editor
Photo By Lazy_Bear on Adobe Stock
Xenotransplantation
Xenotransplantation refers to the transplantation, implantation, or infusion of live cells, tissues, or organs from one species into another. The term is most commonly associated with medical procedures in which animal organs, tissues, or cells are used to replace or support failing human organs or functions.
Xenotransplantation holds the potential to address the severe shortage of human donor organs, offering hope to thousands of patients on transplant waiting lists. It could also pave the way for innovative treatments for chronic diseases and conditions.
Creating the First Implantable Bioartificial Kidney
William H. Fissell, M.D., a nephrologist and associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Shuvo Roy, Ph.D., a professor of bioengineering at the University of California San Francisco, are working together to spearhead development of the first implantable bioartificial kidney.
“Our end goal is a bioengineered, mass-produced, universal-donor kidney to overcome the scarcity problem in kidney transplant. Full stop,” Fissell said. “We want to rescue people from dialysis or death while waiting for transplantation.”
- This series of articles from Vanderbilt Health looks at the project from concept to preclinical trials.
- Update on the kidney project from the University of California San Francisco, as of February 2024. It includes a video summarizing their recent progress.
In The Spotlight: Haley Conchieri
Credentials
NP, APRN
Student Status
SutureStar student
City & State
Billings, MT
Current Position
NP in gynecologic oncology
Where did you get your RN degree?
I got my RN degree from Troy University, Troy, AL, and did my NP training at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA.
Why did you choose nursing in the first place?
I always knew I would be a nurse. My mom told me I was good at caring for people and I had that compassionate nature in me, and I knew that it would be a good career path because I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to do but I knew that there were a lot of different things I could do in nursing.
How did you come to choose perioperative nursing?
I was a nurse in the cancer center where I worked as an RN while I was going through NP school, and they had a position open up in gyno. They asked me if I wanted to work there, and so I shadowed in the OR and in clinic. I didn’t seek it out; the opportunity just opened up. It turned out I like it.
What is a particularly interesting or scary moment you’ve seen at the table?
In oncology there are a lot of really large masses that we take out — they can be huge. In a case I worked on the other day, we had one the size of a large basketball. We actually had to call in another surgeon for assistance. It can get crazy.
What is one technique or RNFA trick you’ve learned from NIFA that you will use for life?
The running locking suture. In a case last week, the surgeon was using the running locking and I wasn’t very good at it. And now, after having worked on it in this workshop, I think I have it down!
How do you feel having your RNFA will impact your life/career?
??????I think it’ll set me apart because a lot of NPs are not trained surgically. Knowing that I actually do have surgical training outside of just on-the-job training, I believe that will help me as an NP to be more marketable.
NIFA – Office Hours
Monday-Thursday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm
Practice Resources
Here are several of the most-in-demand sites for our students, prospective students and grads:
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are strictly those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NIFA. NIFA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of statements made by our contributors and does not accept any liability for error or omission. It is the responsibility of all perioperative personnel to work within and adhere to their facility bylaws and individual scope of practice.
