Charles Andrew Vacchiano

Charles Andrew Vacchiano
Professor in the School of Nursing

Dr. Vacchiano joined the faculty at the School of Nursing in 2008. He earned a BSN at Wright State University (OH) in 1979, a Bachelor of Science in Anesthesia from George Washington University in 1984, and a PhD in Physiology from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1995. He spent 26 years in the U.S. Navy as a practicing nurse anesthetist, educator, and researcher. During this time, he provided anesthesia care at stateside and overseas hospitals and aboard naval combat vessels, taught and performed clinical research in the Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program, and was the Director of Biomedical Sciences Division at the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory.

Following his retirement from the U.S. Navy, Dr. Vacchiano became Director of the Gooding Institute, Bay Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program. He has published in multiple journals (including American Journal of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research, Shock, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Journal, and serves as a reviewer for several agencies and journals. He has been elected President of the Board of Directors for the National Board for Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), and is a member of the NBCRNA task force developing recommendations for new CRNA recertification requirements. Dr. Vacchiano is the author of a chapter on regional anesthesia in the only anesthesia textbook written by nurse anesthetists. He was named the American Association of Nurse Anesthetist Researcher of the Year in 2007.

Dr. Vacchiano's research has been funded by several government and private agencies. His research interests include extremes of oxygen exposure in cell, animal and human models, and clinical studies in anesthesia and critical care.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor in the School of Nursing, School of Nursing, Duke University 2008
Associate Professor - Track V of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology, Clinical Science Departments 2009

Contact Information

School Of Nursing, Box_3322, Durham, NC 27710
charles.vacchiano@duke.edu (919) 681-3261

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Medical University of South Carolina School of Medicine 1995
- B.S., George Washington University 1984
Duke Appointment History
- Instructor, Temporary in the School of Nursing, School of Nursing, Duke University 2008
Recognition
In the News
- MAR 25, 2016
  
  Brain Injury Awareness: Nursing Faculty on Life after Diagnosis
- OCT 28, 2014
  
  Five Nursing Faculty Members Named American Academy of Nursing Fellows
- JUN 25, 2014
  
  Five Duke School of Nursing Faculty Selected for Induction in American Academy of Nursing
- JAN 21, 2014
  
  Finding Hidden Damage in the Brain
Research
Selected Grants
- Planning and Discovery NBCRNA Collaboration Activities awarded by National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists 2017
- Post Doctoral Fellowship in Health Services Research awarded by American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 2015 - 2017
- Nurse Anesthesia Program Rural CRNA Initiative awarded by Health Resources and Service Administration 2009 - 2012
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Journal Articles
  - Heyes, ME, Schnitzen, L, Starr, DG, Vacchiano, C, Muckler, VC, Thiemann, L, and Frank Titch, J. "Recertification and Reentry to Practice for Nurse Anesthetists: Determining Core Competencies and Evaluating Performance via High-Fidelity Simulation Technology." Journal of Nursing Regulation 8, no. 4 (January 2018): 43-55. Full Text
  - Vacchiano, C, and Silva, S. "Characterization of bilateral frontal lobe cerebral oxygen saturation in patients with mild traumatic brain injury." Nursing outlook 65, no. 5S (September 2017): S36-S43. Full Text
  - Eliasdottir, TS, Bragason, D, Hardarson, SH, Vacchiano, C, Gislason, T, Kristjansdottir, JV, Kristjansdottir, G, and Stefánsson, E. "Retinal oximetry measures systemic hypoxia in central nervous system vessels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." PloS one 12, no. 3 (January 2017): e0174026-. Full Text
  - Stone, L, Tyrey, S, Muckler, VC, and Vacchiano, CA. "Point-of-contact assessment of nurse anesthetists' knowledge and perceptions of management of anesthesia-related critical incidents." AANA Journal 85, no. 1 (January 1, 2017): 55-60.
  - D'Angelo, M, Hodgen, RK, Wofford, K, and Vacchiano, C. "A Theoretical Mathematical Model to Estimate Blood Volume in Clinical Practice." Biological research for nursing 17, no. 5 (October 2015): 478-486. Full Text
  - Rice, AN, and Vacchiano, CA. "Response to Letter to the Editor." Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses 30, no. 4 (August 2015): 268-269. (Letter) Full Text
  - Hawkins, R, Wooden, S, Waters, E, and Vacchiano, C. "NBCRNA response to Zambricki et al Guest Editorial." AANA journal 83, no. 2 (April 2015): 86-89. (Letter)
  - Rice, AN, Muckler, VC, Miller, WR, and Vacchiano, CA. "Fast-tracking ambulatory surgery patients following anesthesia." Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses 30, no. 2 (April 2015): 124-133. Full Text
  - Titch, JF, and Vacchiano, C. "Pre-ictal bispectral index values; are they accurate?." British journal of anaesthesia 114, no. 3 (March 2015): 529-530. (Letter) Full Text
  - Ikeda, K, MacLeod, DB, Grocott, HP, Moretti, EW, Ames, W, and Vacchiano, C. "The accuracy of a near-infrared spectroscopy cerebral oximetry device and its potential value for estimating jugular venous oxygen saturation." Anesthesia and Analgesia 119, no. 6 (December 2014): 1381-1392. Full Text
  - Gill, M, Natoli, MJ, Vacchiano, C, MacLeod, DB, Ikeda, K, Qin, M, Pollock, NW, Moon, RE, Pieper, C, and Vann, RD. "Effects of elevated oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures on respiratory function and cognitive performance." Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 117, no. 4 (August 2014): 406-412. Full Text
  - Wofford, K, Hertzberg, M, Silva, S, and Vacchiano, C. "Effect of elective surgery on subjective health in veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder." AANA journal 82, no. 4 (August 2014): 285-292.
  - Gallagher, K, and Vacchiano, C. "Reexamining traditional intraoperative fluid administration: evolving views in the age of goal-directed therapy." AANA journal 82, no. 3 (June 2014): 235-242.
  - Vacchiano, CA, Wofford, KA, and Titch, JF. "Chapter 1 posttraumatic stress disorder: a view from the operating theater." Annual review of nursing research 32 (January 2014): 1-23. (Review) Full Text
  - Wooden, S, Docherty, S, Plaus, K, Kusek, A, and Vacchiano, C. "Exploration of specialty certification for nurse anesthetists: Nonsurgical pain management as a test case." Pain Management Nursing 15, no. 4 (2014): 789-797. Full Text
  - Wooden, S, Docherty, S, Plaus, K, Kusek, A, and Vacchiano, C. "Exploration of Specialty Certification for Nurse Anesthetists: Nonsurgical Pain Management as a Test Case." Pain Management Nursing (2013). Full Text
  - MacLeod, DB, Ikeda, K, Vacchiano, C, Lobbestael, A, Wahr, JA, and Shaw, AD. "Development and validation of a cerebral oximeter capable of absolute accuracy." Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia 26, no. 6 (December 2012): 1007-1014. Full Text
  - Muckler, VC, Vacchiano, CA, Sanders, EG, Wilson, JP, and Champagne, MT. "Focused anesthesia interview resource to improve efficiency and quality." J Perianesth Nurs 27, no. 6 (December 2012): 376-384. Full Text Link to Item
  - Wofford, K, Hertzberg, M, and Vacchiano, C. "The perioperative implications of posttraumatic stress disorder." AANA Journal 80, no. 6 (2012): 463-470.
  - Bushey, BA, Auld, VH, Volk, JE, and Vacchiano, CA. "Combined lipid emulsion and ACLS resuscitation following bupivacaine- and hypoxia-induced cardiovascular collapse in unanesthetized swine." AANA J 79, no. 2 (April 2011): 129-138. Link to Item
  - Wofford, K, and Vacchiano, C. "Sorting through the confusion: Adverse cognitive change after surgery in adults." AANA Journal 79, no. 4 (2011): 335-342.
  - Jr, ARA, Folga, RV, and Vacchiano, C. "Normobaric hypoxia training: The effects of breathing-gas flow rate on symptoms." Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 80, no. 6 (2009): 547-552. Full Text
  - Vacchiano, C, Moore, J, Rice, GM, and Crawley, G. "Fexofenadine effects on cognitive performance in aviators at ground level and simulated altitude." Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 79, no. 8 (August 2008): 754-760. Full Text
  - English, LA, Holmes, JM, Burkard, JF, Vacchiano, CA, Shin, A, Pellegrini, J, and Maye, JP. "Effect of needle size on success of transarterial axillary block." AANA J 72, no. 1 (February 2004): 57-60. Link to Item
  - Winston, AW, Rinehart, RS, Riley, GP, Vacchiano, CA, and Pellegrini, JE. "Comparison of inhaled isopropyl alcohol and intravenous ondansetron for treatment of postoperative nausea." AANA J 71, no. 2 (April 2003): 127-132. Link to Item
  - Coolong, KJ, McGough, E, Vacchiano, C, and Pellegrini, JE. "Comparison of the effects of propofol versus thiopental induction on postoperative outcomes following surgical procedures longer than 2 hours." Journal of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 71, no. 3 (2003): 215-222.
  - Rice, GM, Vacchiano, CA, Moore, JL, and Anderson, DW. "Incidence of decompression sickness in hypoxia training with and without 30-min O2 prebreathe." Aviat Space Environ Med 74, no. 1 (January 2003): 56-61. Link to Item
  - Oakes, CL, Ellington, KJ, Oakes, KJ, Olson, RL, Neill, KM, and Vacchiano, CA. "Assessment of postanesthesia short-term quality of life: a pilot study." AANA J 70, no. 4 (August 2002): 267-273. Link to Item
  - Gibbs, RD, Movinsky, BA, Pellegrini, J, and Vacchiano, CA. "The morphine-sparing effect of metoclopramide on postoperative laparoscopic tubal ligation patients." AANA J 70, no. 1 (February 2002): 27-32. Link to Item
  - Ward, RC, Lawrence, RL, Hawkins, RJ, DiChiara, SE, Biegner, AR, and Vacchiano, CA. "The use of nalmefene for intrathecal opioid-associated nausea in postpartum patients." AANA J 70, no. 1 (February 2002): 57-60. Link to Item
  - Brooks, RR, Oudekerk, C, Olson, RL, Daniel, C, Vacchiano, C, and Maye, J. "The effect of spinal introducer needle use on postoperative back pain." Journal of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 70, no. 6 (2002): 449-452.
  - Davis, R, Keenan, J, Meza, A, Danaher, P, Vacchiano, C, Olson, RL, and Maye, J. "Use of a simple forearm tourniquet as an adjunct to an intravenous regional block." AANA journal 70, no. 4 (2002): 295-298.
  - Spence, D, Domen-Herbert, R, Boulette, E, Olson, RL, Vacchiano, C, and Maye, J. "A comparison of rocuronium and lidocaine for the prevention of postoperative myalgia after succinylcholine administration." Journal of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 70, no. 5 (2002): 367-372.
  - Todd, G, John, A, Vacchiano, C, and Pellegrini, J. "Intradermal ketorolac for reduction of epidural back pain." International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia 11, no. 2 (2002): 100-104. Full Text
  - Gohl, MR, Moeller, RK, Olson, RL, and Vacchiano, CA. "The addition of interscalene block to general anesthesia for patients undergoing open shoulder procedures." AANA J 69, no. 2 (April 2001): 105-109. Link to Item
  - Kelly, JA, Doughty, JK, Hasselbeck, AN, and Vacchiano, CA. "The effect of arthroscopic irrigation fluid warming on body temperature." J Perianesth Nurs 15, no. 4 (August 2000): 245-252. Full Text Link to Item
  - Biegner, AR, Anderson, D, Olson, RL, and Vacchiano, CA. "Quantification of insensible water loss associated with insufflation of nonhumidified CO2 in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery." Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques. Part A 9, no. 4 (August 1999): 325-329. Full Text
  - Celeski, DC, Heindel, L, Haas, J, and Vacchiano, CA. "Effect of intrathecal fentanyl dose on the duration of labor analgesia." AANA J 67, no. 3 (June 1999): 239-244. Link to Item
  - Vacchiano, CA, Osborne, GR, and Tempel, GE. "8-ISO-PGF2alpha production by alveolar macrophages exposed to hyperoxia." Shock 9, no. 4 (April 1998): 266-273. Link to Item
  - Vacchiano, CA, and Tempel, GE. "Role of nonenzymatically generated prostanoid, 8-iso-PGF2 alpha, in pulmonary oxygen toxicity." Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 77, no. 6 (December 1994): 2912-2917. Full Text
  - Spinale, FG, Tempel, GE, Mukherjee, R, Eble, DM, Brown, R, Vacchiano, CA, and Zile, MR. "Cellular and molecular alterations in the beta adrenergic system with cardiomyopathy induced by tachycardia." Cardiovasc Res 28, no. 8 (August 1994): 1243-1250. Link to Item
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

In the News

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

Recent Courses