Gilbert first responders save a life after completing DNP students’ airway training

Training created by a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student at the University of Arizona College of Nursing helped prepare emergency responders with the skills and confidence needed to perform a rare, life-saving procedure — an intervention that was recently used in the field to save a patient’s life!

Kaitlynn Eslinger, a DNP Nurse Anesthesiology student, partnered with the Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department to deliver advanced airway management training for paramedics and emergency medical technicians. Her project centered on surgical cricothyrotomy, a rare but essential emergency procedure where a neck incision is made to secure a lifesaving airway when a patient cannot be intubated or ventilated through standard methods.

Soon after completing the training, a Gilbert Fire and Rescue crew responded to a call for a critically injured patient. When they realized the patient could not be ventilated through conventional methods, they performed an emergency cricothyrotomy in the field, a decisive action that helped save the patient’s life. Although Eslinger was not on scene, the responders who performed the procedure had just finished the training she developed for her DNP project.

Recently, the Gilbert Fire Department crew was officially recognized by hospital partners for their exceptional patient care, with emergency room doctors praising them for consistently making excellent decisions and demonstrating advanced clinical skills in the field. 

“The main lesson from this experience is the community impact that DNP projects can have,” Eslinger said. “Graduate nursing students have the opportunity to apply advanced knowledge in ways that strengthen healthcare teams and ultimately improve patient outcomes.”

Eslinger’s project, Increasing Self-Efficacy When Performing Emergency Invasive Airway with Medical Emergency Personnel, aims to increase first responders’ confidence in performing surgical cricothyrotomy, a last-resort airway intervention for a “cannot intubate, cannot ventilate” emergency. Since these situations are rare, providers may hesitate to perform the procedure even when it’s needed, and research shows that low confidence, rather than lack of knowledge, is often the main barrier.

To address this challenge, Eslinger created a training program that includes a 30-minute lecture on airway emergencies and a hands-on simulation. She designed anatomically accurate trachea models using a 3D printer and guided participants through simulated procedures. Over two days, 75 paramedics and emergency medical technicians from Gilbert Fire and Rescue completed the training.

Eslinger evaluated the training using a retrospective post-pre survey that measured participants’ confidence in recognizing airway emergencies and performing surgical cricothyrotomy. Analysis of 45 surveys revealed significant increases in confidence, including recognizing procedure indications, identifying anatomical landmarks, and making quick decisions under pressure.

The results suggest that combining structured education with hands-on simulation can significantly enhance emergency responders’ readiness,” Eslinger said. “Confidence can be crucial in deciding whether or not a life-saving intervention is performed quickly.”

Eslinger’s interest in airway management started during her first year in the DNP program after attending a difficult airway workshop hosted by the Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. The experience motivated her to create a project that brought advanced airway training directly to first responders. Working with faculty mentors and leaders at Gilbert Fire and Rescue, she organized training sessions that simulated the real-world challenges faced by emergency crews.

“Training for low-frequency, high-risk events is essential for the successful treatment of our patients, and Kaitlynn's outstanding presentation and hands-on lab provided exactly that,” said Bob Badgett, executive assistant chief at Gilbert Fire and Rescue. “Her instruction gave Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department crews refined skills and increased confidence needed to successfully perform cricothyrotomies, a procedure that demands precision even in the most challenging conditions, including poor lighting, confined spaces within moving vehicles, and the pressure of emotionally charged scenes.”

Badgett noted that Eslinger’s training has strengthened the department’s preparedness. “Kaitlynn's ability to prepare our crews for these real-world challenges has made a significant difference,” he said. “Thanks to her training, our team is performing at a consistently high level, and most importantly, our patients are seeing better outcomes. We appreciate her expertise, dedication, and commitment to improving our department's capabilities.”

Faculty leaders at the College of Nursing state that the project exemplifies the goal of doctoral-level nursing education: using evidence-based practices to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

“This is exactly the kind of impact we hope to see from our doctoral students,” said Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing. “Through projects like Kaitlynn’s, our students support healthcare teams, improve patient outcomes, and build partnerships that benefit communities across Arizona.”

Kaitlynn’s project shows how DNP students apply research to practice, according to Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA, MS, FAANA, program administrator of the DNP Nurse Anesthesiology program. “By combining research, education, and simulation-based training, she created an intervention that increased confidence among first responders and improved collaboration among healthcare professionals in our community.”

Eslinger hopes the project will continue to grow. A second-year DNP student plans to monitor Gilbert Fire and Rescue’s airway management data, assessing long-term retention of the training, with results that could support a scalable training model for other fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and military personnel.

Reflecting on her project’s real-world impact, Eslinger said, “Knowing that the training I developed directly helped someone survive is the most powerful reminder of why nurses do this work. Every life we help save reinforces the importance of preparing healthcare teams for the unexpected.” After graduating in May 2026, Eslinger plans to start her career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, continuing her work of applying advanced nursing skills to save lives in the community.