Overview
Mission
The Mission of the USU Nurse Anesthesia Program is to graduate safe, competent Nurse Anesthetists for the uniformed services who are able to practice independently to meet the anesthesia needs of the nation’s uniformed members and their beneficiaries. The unique curriculum emphasizes the role of Federal health agencies in response to worldwide missions.
Philosophy
The Nurse Anesthesia Program is dedicated to the graduate education of nurse anesthetists in the uniformed services. The uniformed services require that graduates independently provide quality anesthesia care in diverse settings throughout the world. The rigorous curriculum is designed to integrate scientific principles with anesthesia theory and practice, stressing unique aspects of the Federal health care system. An emphasis is placed on statistics and research methodology enabling the student to critically analyze anesthesia literature and evaluate potential problems in anesthesia. 46 The primary goal of the program is to produce safe, competent, adaptable anesthetists who can meet the challenges of today's Federal health care needs.
Design
The 36-month DNP front-loaded, regionalized program consists of two phases. The Phase I didactic component, is a 15 month program of study conducted on the campus of USU that provides the student with the academic and professional education necessary for entrance into the clinical arena. All content areas identified in the Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs are introduced during Phase I. The 21-month Phase II clinical component focuses on the application of science and research to clinical anesthesia. Students are assigned to a Federal medical treatment facility as their principal clinical training site. Phase II assignments are made during the first year of phase I and may change (although rarely) if required for optimal student experience. Students also rotate to other clinical sites that may require travel outside of the local area. Travel is funded through TAD/TDY orders. Individual clinical training sites may be eliminated or added as needed to assure quality clinical education. The clinical phase is designed to guide graduate students toward the goal of functional autonomy by demanding that students care for patients in a manner reflecting comprehensive integration of scientific principle and, anesthesia theory, as well as, maximal independent decision-making appropriate to each student’s level of experience.
Licensure
All nurse anesthesia students are required to obtain and maintain a valid, unrestricted nursing license. Licensure may be required in the state where out-rotations are completed. The cost of obtaining and maintaining licensure is the responsibility of the student. The student must provide the Program Director and Clinical Site Director/Coordinator with a copy of the current license and a copy of each renewal. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in immediate suspension and possible dismissal from the program.
Outcomes
The GSN CRNA terminal outcome competencies/expected outcomes are in accordance with those set by the Standards of Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs.
Biological Systems, Homeostasis and Pathogenesis
- Analyze best practice models for nurse anesthesia patient care management through integration of knowledge acquired from arts and sciences within the context of the scope and standards of nurse anesthesia practice.
- Use a systematic outcomes analysis approach in the translation of research evidence and data in the arts and sciences to demonstrate they will have the expected effects on nurse anesthesia practice.
Professional Role
- Demonstrate ability to undertake complex leadership roles in nurse anesthesia.
- Demonstrate ability to provide leadership that facilitates intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration.
- Integrate critical and reflective thinking in leadership style.
- Demonstrate ability to utilize a variety of leadership principles in the management of situations.
Healthcare Improvement
- Use evidence based practice to inform clinical decision making in nurse anesthesia.
- Evaluate how public processes impact the financing and delivery of healthcare.
- Develop and assess strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of care. Practice Inquiry
- Demonstrate the ability to assess and evaluate health outcomes in a variety of populations, clinical settings, and systems.
- Demonstrate ability to disseminate research evidence.
- Complete a scholarly work that demonstrates knowledge within the area of academic focus.
Technology and Informatics
- Use information systems/technology to support and improve patient care and healthcare systems.
- Critically evaluate clinical and research databases used as clinical decision support resources.
Public and Social Policy
- Advocate for health policy change to improve patient care and advance the specialty of nurse anesthesia.
Health Systems Management
- Analyze the structure, function and outcomes of healthcare delivery systems and organizations.
- Analyze business practices typically encountered in nurse anesthesia delivery settings.
- Analyze risk management plans based on information systems to promote outcome improvement for the patient, organization and community.
Ethics
- Apply ethically sound decision-making.
- Inform the public of the role and practice of the doctoral-prepared CRNA and represents themselves in accordance with the Code of Ethics for CRNAs.
- Fulfill the obligation as a doctoral-educated professional to uphold the Code of Ethics for CRNAs.
CRNA Program Outcome Requirements
- Comply with the GSN requirements for graduation.
- 36 months of full time study
- Complete 107 program credits in the designated specialty
- Complete a DNP Project
- Successful completion of clinical practicum requirements
- Comply with program requirements for graduation.
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or above
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (B or better) in all letter-graded courses and passing grade in pass/fail courses
- Completion of all required case experiences Obtain a minimum of 1700 total clinical hours
- Successfully meets the GSN and RNA terminal competencies
- Receives recommendation for graduation by the RNA Program Director
- Meet or exceed National Board of Certification and Recertification (NBCRNA) and Council on Accreditation (COA)
Completion of all required case experiences
Degree Requirements
Summer 1st year
| NURS 5111 | Advanced Anatomy | 3 |
| NURS 5110 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 5112 | Advanced Physiology | 3 |
| OPMS 5000 | Leadership and Teamwork in the Health Professions: A Military Perspective I | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Fall 1st year
| NURS 7602 | Applied Biochemistry for Nurse Anesthetists | 3 |
| NURS 7605 | Principles of Anesthesia I | 4 |
| NURS 5122 | Advanced Pharmacology | 4 |
| NURS 5121 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NURS 5120 | Global Perspectives Seminar in Complex Healthcare Systems-I | 3 |
| OPMS 5001 | Leadership and Teamwork in the Health Professions: A Military Perspective II | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
Spring 1st year
| NURS 7606 | Principles of Anesthesia II | 5 |
| NURS 7607 | Principles of Regional Anesthesia and Vascular Access | 1 |
| NURS 5132 | Integrative Medicine Methodologies | 1 |
| NURS 5130 | Global Perspectives Seminar in Complex Healthcare Systems-II | 3 |
| NURS 5131 | Inquiry into Statistical Methods, Evidence Based Practice and Scholarship | 5 |
| NURS 5133 | Trauma & Combat Casualty Care | 3 |
| OPMS 5002 | Leadership and Teamwork in the Health Professions: A Military Perspective III | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
Summer 2nd year
| NURS 7608 | Principles of Anesthesia III | 3 |
| NURS 7801 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice I | 1 |
| NURS 7610 | Acute and Chronic Pain Science and Practice | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Fall 2nd year
| NURS 7802 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice II | 8 |
| NURS 5220 | Translation of Evidence for Health Care Practice, Policy, and Evaluation | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 11 |
Spring 2nd year
| NURS 5134 | Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 7803 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice III | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 11 |
Summer 3rd year
| NURS 7804 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice IV | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 5 |
Fall 3rd year
| NURS 7805 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice V | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Spring 3rd year
| NURS 5330 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Project | 6 |
| NURS 7806 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice VI | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Total Credit Hours: 103