And scroll down for NIFA’s collection of RNFA job openings and our other favorite links.
Bladder Surgery News
First Human Bladder Transplant
On May 4, surgeons at UCLA performed the first human bladder transplant in a procedure that took years of preparation. The patient had lost most of his bladder during a tumor removal, leaving the remainder too compromised to work, and his kidneys had also been removed due to renal cancer. He had been on dialysis for seven years.
In a procedure that lasted approximately eight hours, the surgeons transplanted a donated kidney and bladder, then connected the kidney to the new bladder using the technique the surgeons had pioneered. “The kidney immediately made a large volume of urine, and the patient’s kidney function improved immediately,” the surgeon said. “There was no need for any dialysis after surgery, and the urine drained properly into the new bladder.” Read the full report from UCLA . . .
Farmer Inspires New Potential Bladder Cancer Treatment
Craig Smith, 66, a farmer and welding teacher in Mankato, MN, was diagnosed in 2023 with bladder cancer that had spread to his spine. In 2023, Smith took a hiatus from work to focus on cancer treatments at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, MN: chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. “Metastatic urothelial cancer that has spread beyond the bladder usually is considered incurable and inoperable,” wrote Alison Satake on the Mayo Clinic website this month. “However, Smith had responded well to chemotherapy and radiation, which made his oncologist, Jacob Orme, MD, PhD, and urologist, Paras Shah, MD, consider Smith for a new, surgical approach to treatment. Smith proceeded with the proposed surgery and had his bladder, prostate and 36 lymph nodes removed.
“‘In Mr. Smith’s bladder, we found viable cancer cells that would have led to a relapse. Now, however, he is nearly two years from diagnosis and remains disease-free,’ says Dr. Shah.” Read more . . .
World’s First Robotic-assisted En Bloc Resection of Bladder Tumor
En bloc resection of a tumor is removal of the tumor in one piece, versus standard resection, in which a tumor is resected in a piecemeal approach. On May 22, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) and Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering reported that they had performed the world’s first robot-assisted en bloc resection of bladder tumor (ERBT) in December 2024 using a locally developed endoscopic surgical robotic system. As of the May 22 report, the team had completed eight clinical trials, which have shown promising outcomes, removing bladder tumors in a single piece with greater precision than traditional ERBT and with enhanced safety. Read more . . .
Current Laser Application in En Bloc Resection of Bladder Tumor – a narrative literature review
April 26, 2025, from World Journal of Surgical Oncology – At present, laser en bloc resection of bladder tumor (ERBT) has attracted great interest with potential superiority to transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). It has several advantages, including complete resection, intact specimen for accurate histologic assessment, avoiding fragmentation and tumor seeding, preventing obturator nerve reflex, and reduction of inflammatory response. Several types of lasers have been studied in the application of ERBT . . . . This paper reviews current literature . . . aiming to display the status quo of these techniques in clinical practice. Read the survey . . .
Bladder Surgery – General Resources
Types of Bladder Cancer Surgery
From the American Cancer Society. This web page includes info on transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), the most common treatment for superficial, or non-muscle invasive, bladder cancer; and cystectomy, removal of all or part of the bladder. Reconstructive surgery, risks and side effects of cystectomy, including effects on urination and sexual activity. Read more . . .
Types of Bladder Cancer Surgery
From the Mayo Clinic. An overview of cystectomy, including drawings, description, why it’s done, risks, urinary diversion procedures, and more. Read more . . .
Cystoplasty (Bladder Augmentation)
From the Cleveland Clinic. An illustrated explanation of the procedure used to make the bladder’s capacity larger, used in certain cases of congenital spinal problems, spinal cord injuries, or conditions like multiple sclerosis. Read more . . .
Photo by mybox on Adobe Stock
Videos
Robot-Assisted Cystectomy.
From the European Association of Urology – This animation shows how a Robot-Assisted Cystectomy procedure is performed.
Watch video. . .
Trans Urethral Resection of a Bladder Tumor (TURBT)
From Cancer Research UK – TURBT stands for trans urethral resection of a bladder tumor. It’s an operation to remove an early cancer in the bladder.
Watch video. . .
Female Cystectomy
From UCLA Urology – Radical cystectomy may be the optimal treatment for bladder cancer for aggressive or recurrent disease. This technically demanding and complex surgery can now be performed using a minimally invasive, robot-assisted laparoscopic technique for many patients.
Watch video. . .
Thulium Fiber Laser En Bloc Resection for Bladder Tumor
From American Urological Association – This video addresses different aspects of the en bloc technique and provides step-by-step guidance. It also offers advice on how to successfully perform en bloc in case of tumor larger than 3 cm, or tumor invading the ureteric orifice.
Watch video. . .
Staff Spotlight: John Russell
Credentials
DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, CRNFA
Position Titles
NIFA APRN RNFA Program Director, College Division
Founder and CEO of SkillsOnPoint.com
Assistant Professor and Program Director for the Acute Care NP Track, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL
City & State
Rockford, IL
Where did you get your degree?
Associate in Nursing at Parkland College in Champlain, IL; Bachelor of Nursing at Chamberlain University in Chicago, IL; Master as FNP and DNP at Mennonite College of Nursing in Normal, IL; and post-masters Acute Care certificate at University of Pennsylvania.
When did you take NIFA’s RNFA Program?
I went through NIFA in September 2015.
How did you start working for NIFA?
I started working with NIFA after graduating from NIFA’s RNFA program. I started by grading clinical logs, then assisted teaching the SutureStar suturing workshops with Dean, and then became program director for the APRN program.
You started the Skills on Point training program in 2019. How does that work complement your NIFA work, and vice versa, today?
Skills on Point was started as a complimentary product to support NPs looking for skills they needed outside of the first assisting role and works very closely with NIFA to promote NIFA’s mission. I strongly believe that the influence of NIFA is one of the specific door-opening events in my career that led me, one, through the OR doors and, two, into my full-time role as a program director for an acute care program at Rosalind Franklin University. It is my goal to help other APRNs have the opportunities I had to propel their careers forward like mine was. Students who go through school-based training with SOP can later benefit from the opportunity for NIFA and when I can answer their questions about what my experience was, many students realize it is an achievable goal.
Do you even have time for a home life?
Yes! I am married to an amazing first assistant and am the father of four amazing daughters and, after many years, my wife and I are excited to add a fifth to the family, which is our first boy, due in July 2025! Even my dog and cat are girls, so I was pretty outnumbered, so I am pretty excited to add some balance to the equation!
Curious about John and his career path? We’ve featured him twice before in this newsletter. Check out his Student Spotlight from March 2016, when he was a student in the RNFA program, and our announcement in July 2019, when he was named NIFA’s APRN Program Director. Again, congratulations to John for his recent selection as a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP)!
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.
In this issue we take a look at that story and other bladder surgery news, plus some general background on the topic and a few procedural videos.