The Office of Advanced Practice hosted its 14th annual APP Critical Care Boot Camp, welcoming over 120 advanced practice providers (APPs) from 40 states for a nationally recognized four-day event in early September designed to elevate critical care expertise and foster collaboration.
“This camp has earned a reputation for being an intentional experience that you can take what you learned and immediately implement it in your practice, whether you’ve just started your clinical practice career or you’re a seasoned professional,” said Buffy Krauser Lupear, DNP, APRN, CRNA, interim associate nurse executive for Advanced Practice.
With a curriculum shaped by leading nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physician educators, the boot camp is a one-of-a-kind experience combining hands-on simulation, interdisciplinary panels and specialized expertise tailored to the evolving demands of critical care.
This year’s didactic sessions included: “Top Papers in Critical Care Medicine,” “Ventilator Liberation and Extubation Practices,” “Incorporating POCUS in Daily ICU Practice,” and “Managing Refractory Shock.” In addition to these topics, participants engaged in roundtable discussions centered on clinician well-being and professional advancement, followed by networking opportunities to build their professional community.
A cornerstone of the boot camp’s success is its responsiveness to attendee feedback. Each year, organizers analyze post-event evaluations to refine the curriculum for evolving clinical practices and the needs of participants.
“Every year, we ask, ‘What can we do better?’ And our attendees provide incredible input to help us enhance the experience,” said Janna Landsperger, MSN, APRN, ACNP, senior associate in Medicine.
“Listening to your audience and giving them control of the content matter is what helps to create a truly engaging environment.”
Additions such as small group hands-on simulation courses provide one-on-one direction and are direct results of this collaborative approach.
Speaker and attendee Brandon Oto, PA-C, UConn Health, emphasized the boot camp’s unique value: “There are a lot of people in the field looking for this kind of learning. This offers opportunities and insight specifically targeted to critical care that other general education events don’t.”
As APPs increasingly expand their role in front-line care, Vanderbilt Health Advanced Practice stands as a national leader in preparing them for the highest levels of clinical excellence and impact.
