Kayla Gehring named VP of the Nebraska Association of Perianesthesia Nurses

Kayla Gehring, manager of Columbus Community Hospital’s perianesthesia services, was recently named vice president of the Nebraska Association of Perianesthesia Nurses (NAPAN). She will represent Nebraska on a state and national level through the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses (ASPAN).

“Kayla’s involvement with NAPAN and ASPAN demonstrates her commitment to perianesthesia nursing by promoting education, research, clinical expertise and exceptional standards of care,” said Kathy Decker, interim director for surgical services at the hospital. “Being the vice president of NAPAN allows her the opportunity to network and advocate for the practice of perianesthesia nursing. Kayla will be able to share her knowledge base at CCH to develop standards and best practices, update policies that impact the profession, and enhance the learning of our staff. This involvement represents a true professional who wants to make a difference!”

Gehring has worked at Columbus Community Hospital since May 2012, and she accepted the position as the perianesthesia manager in October 2023. In this role, she oversees surgery scheduling, preadmission testing, same-day surgery, endoscopy, and the post-anesthesia care unit.

“We are so proud of the hard work Kayla puts in every day as a leader,” said Dr. Jeremy Albin, a general surgeon with Columbus General Surgery. “She has distinguished herself amongst her peers and is well deserving of this honor. We are pleased that other individuals recognize her skills, which we benefit from every day.”

As a leader, Gehring’s vision is to continue promoting a patient- and family-focused care environment by supporting staff cohesion and development.