Overview
Mission
The Mission of the USU Nurse Anesthesia Program is to graduate uniformed nurse anesthetists that will independently provide the highest quality evidence-based anesthesia services to anyone, anywhere, and anytime.
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. 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 maintain an unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an APRN in the United States or its territories or protectorates. 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.
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements
| OPMS 5000 | Leadership and Teamwork in the Health Professions: A Military Perspective | 3 |
| NURS 5110 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 5111 | Advanced Anatomy | 3 |
| NURS 5112 | Advanced Physiology | 3 |
| NURS 5120 | Global Perspectives Seminar in Complex Healthcare Systems I | 3 |
| NURS 5121 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NURS 5122 | Advanced Pharmacology | 4 |
| NURS 5130 | Global Perspectives Seminar in Complex Healthcare Systems II | 3 |
| NURS 5131 | Inquiry into Statistical Methods, Evidence Based Practice and Scholarship | 5 |
| NURS 5132 | Integrative Medicine Methodologies | 1 |
| NURS 5133 | Trauma & Combat Casualty Care | 3 |
| NURS 5134 | Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 5220 | Translation of Evidence for Health Care Practice, Policy, and Evaluation | 3 |
| NURS 5330 | Doctor of Nursing Practice Project | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 47 |
Program Requirements
| NURS 7602 | Applied Biochemistry for Nurse Anesthetists | 3 |
| NURS 7605 | Principles of Anesthesia I | 4 |
| NURS 7606 | Principles of Anesthesia II | 5 |
| NURS 7607 | Principles of Regional Anesthesia and Vascular Access | 1 |
| NURS 7608 | Principles of Anesthesia III | 3 |
| NURS 7610 | Acute and Chronic Pain Science and Practice | 2 |
| NURS 7801 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice I | 1 |
| NURS 7802 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice II | 8 |
| NURS 7803 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice III | 8 |
| NURS 7804 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice IV | 5 |
| NURS 7805 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice V | 8 |
| NURS 7806 | DNP-Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice VI | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 56 |
Total Required Credits: 103
Electives
| NURS 5400 | Operational Readiness: Dive Medicine and Water Rescue | 1 |
| NURS 5401 | Operational Readiness: Military Mountain Medicine (M3C) | 1 |
| NURS 5402 | Operational Readiness: Military Cold Weather/Avalanche | 1 |
| NURS 5403 | Operational Readiness: Directed Study | 1 |
| NURS 5404 | Operational Readiness: Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) | 1 |
| NURS 5405 | Operational Readiness: Transitions of Care | 1 |
| NURS 5406 | Operational Readiness: Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties (MMCBC) | 1 |
| NURS 5407 | Operational Readiness: Military Humanitarian and Civic Assistance | 1 |
| NURS 5408 | Interdisciplinary Health Policy | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
These courses are electives and may be taken in addition to Core and Program requirements.