James Thomas Papesca, DNP, APRN, CRNA

Dr. Papesca is an accomplished nurse with more than 25 years of experience in the field. He began his career as a critical care nurse with a specialty in the surgical/trauma ICU. His career path led him to explore different areas of nursing and he has been a practicing nurse anesthesiologist for over 17 years. Throughout his career, Dr. Papesca had a passion for working with students and he has dedicated his career to both clinical practice and education. He has taught as both on campus and online adjunct faculty for several universities since 2017. Dr. Papesca joined Regis College in 2020 as an online adjunct faculty member and became an assistant professor in 2023.

Dr. Papesca has research interests in pharmacological simulation, nursing education, regional anesthesia, and opioid free pain management. In addition to his life in academia, Dr. Papesca is a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA) and serves as the Chief of Anesthesia at Reeves Regional Medical Center.

DNP Scholarly Practice Project:

• Papesca, J. (2020). Effects of Neuraxial Anesthesia on Readiness for Ambulation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Education:

• DNP – Regis College; Weston, MA
• MSNA – Texas Christian University; Fort Worth, TX
• BSN – The Catholic University of America; Washington, DC

Memberships:

• American Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists
• Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• American Nurses Association
• Texas Nurses Association
• Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Alpha Chi-at Large (Kerrville, TX)

Awards:

• Critical Care & Trauma Nurse Fellow, Parkland Health & Hospital System, 1997-1998

Presentations:

• Rapid Recovery in Total Knee Arthroplasty; Hill Country Orthopedic Associates, Kerrville, Texas
• Poster: The Mega Code-Encompassing the Curriculum Across the Lifespan, Sigma’s 30th International Nursing Research Congress, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Poster: Effects of Neuraxial Anesthesia on the Readiness for Ambulation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Annual Congress, San Diego, California
• From student to faculty chat: Online MSN to DNP in nurse education. [Video]. Regis College.
• It’s Getting Hot in Here: Management of Malignant Hyperthermia in the Operating Room, Reeves Regional Medical Center, Peocs, TX

Peer Reviewed Publications:

• Lindsay, J., Pautler, M., & Papesca, J. (January 2023). The circle of life: A senior nursing student summative capstone simulation. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing.