Course Information

for Nurse Anesthesia Department

Advanced Physiology with Anatomy (BIOL716)

This course includes advanced studies of human anatomy and physiology of the cell and muscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, hepatic, and endocrine systems. Emphasis is placed on feedback mechanisms, homeostasis, assessment, and intervention. Basic concepts in human genetics relevant to anesthesia practice are introduced. This serves as a basis for understanding the pathophysiology of these systems and associated implications for anesthesia practice. Experiences with virtual anatomy technology with the cadaver lab are included to integrate knowledge of specific anatomical structures in understanding the anatomical basis of selected procedures in the practice of nurse anesthesia.  

Advanced Pathophysiology (BIOL732)

Students will learn in-depth concepts of physiology as they relate to the etiology of disease. Students will learn principles of multisystem function and dysfunction at the cellular and molecular levels, especially as they relate to homeostatic function. This study will culminate in a better understanding of the pathophysiologic processes of the human body.

Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostics (DNAP700C)

Integration/Clinical Correlation I (DNAP701)

This course provides simulated anesthesia experiences related to the academic concepts presented in DNAP 735, DNAP 740, DNAP 740, and DNAP 750.

Integration/Clinical Correlation II (DNAP702)

This course promotes synthesis of current anesthesia topics and research through review and application of current anesthesia literature, as well as presentation and discussion of morbidity and mortality of clinical cases. This course focuses on patient safety during anesthesia and will include research and discussion of aspects of anesthesia related to the AANA Standards of Practice. The course will include student presentations on assigned topics and a written assignment. The AANA Professional Practice Manual is reviewed, to include the AANA Standards of Practice. This course also provides simulated anesthesia experiences related to the academic concepts presented in DNAP 755 (OB); DNAP 760 (Pediatrics); and DNAP 765 (Cardiac/Thoracic/Neuro).

Integration/Clinical Correlation III (DNAP703)

This course promotes synthesis of current anesthesia topics and research through review and application of current anesthesia literature as well as presentation and discussion of morbidity and mortality of clinical cases. This course also promotes application of healthcare as ministry through service to the community with a student-led Service Learning project. Also, students in this cohort may participate as co-instructors with the faculty in creating and activating simulation experiences where students in more junior cohorts are the learners. These students also may participate in simulation related to Crisis Resource Management.

Advanced Pharmacology I (DNAP720)

This course increases the student’s understanding of fundamental drug actions and their effects on human systems. Principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, receptor site physiology, toxicology, side effects, indications, and contra-indications are emphasized for each group of drugs.

Pharmacology II - Nurse Anesthesia Pharmacology (DNAP725)

This course examines the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of anesthetic and accessory drugs used in anesthesia practice. Receptor site physiology, mechanisms of action, factors modifying drug effects, toxicity, and indications and contraindications for use are emphasized. Principles of biochemistry are integrated.

Introduction to the Nurse Anesthesia Profession (DNAP730)

This course introduces students to basic principles of practice in the nurse anesthesia profession. Pre-operative patient assessment, anesthetic record keeping, informed consent, airway examination, anesthesia monitoring, patient positioning, ASA classification, and basic anesthesia techniques are explored. This course also introduces students to the AANA’s Code of Ethics for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Additionally, students will review concepts of wellness and develop a personalized wellness plan.

Basic Principles of Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP738C)

This course provides foundational knowledge for planning and administering anesthesia beginning with anesthesia workstation setup and machine checkout. Covered concepts include general principles of anesthesia, airway management, induction, maintenance, emergence, as well as management of complications across basic surgical procedures in abdominal, urologic, orthopedic, and ENT domains. Content integrates principles of chemistry and physics as they relate to anesthesia delivery systems and monitoring modalities. An in depth exploration of the anesthesia workstation and its components is conducted. Additionally, students will engage in simulation/lab experiences and observation days in the OR.

Clinical Orientation (DNAP741)

This course builds on the academic/didactic material from the first two trimesters directed toward participating in clinical anesthesia and prepares the student to take these principles and incorporate them into practice in the clinical area. This course includes presentations by NAP CRNA faculty, some clinical preceptor representatives, senior SRNA graduate teaching assistants, FH OR leaders, and a workshop with a certified mental health counselor regarding appropriate assertive perioperative communication techniques, as well as a workshop with FH IT personnel regarding use of the FH SurgiNet and Cerner systems. The course also requires students to reflect on the on-site orientations to various clinical sites that occurred during the Fall trimester. The classroom components are concentrated during the week following the Fall trimester final examinations.

Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP745c)

This course builds upon previous knowledge for students to plan and implement nurse anesthesia care for patients with moderate pathology or undergoing increasingly complex procedures. Topics include regional block insertion and management, landmarks and ultrasound-guided peripheral and central venous access, radiologic interpretation of central venous access, acute pain management, and chronic pain management.

Principles of Nurse Anesthesia for Patients with Co-Existing Diseases,Trauma,and Across the Lifespan (DNAP750)

This course builds upon previous knowledge for students to plan and implement nurse anesthesia care in patients with co-existing diseases. Topics include: anesthesia for patients with neuromuscular or skeletal muscle disease, cardiac disease (for non-cardiac surgery), hematologic disorders, with psychiatric/ mental disorders, renal dysfunction, hepatic disorders including liver transplant, and trauma management. Topics related to the special needs of geriatric patients are discussed.

Principles of Obstetrics and Pediatric Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP758)

This course builds upon previous course knowledge for care across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on the effects of age related physiology and the implications of anesthesia administration in the obstetric and pediatric population. Topics related to the special needs of the obstetric and pediatric population along with anesthesia management plans are discussed.

Directed Study (DNAP759)

This is a directed study course for the DNAP program

Principles of Nurse Anesthesia for Complex Patients and Procedures (DNAP765)

This course builds upon previous knowledge for students to plan and implement nurse anesthesia care for complex patients and procedures. Emphasis is placed on the effects of moderate to severe pathophysiology and their implications for anesthesia administration.

Professional Issues in Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP770)

This course explores issues related to nurse anesthetists in the roles of educator, business manager, consultant, researcher, entrepreneur, and influencer of public policy. This includes content regarding the business of nurse anesthesia practice management, such as basic reimbursement methodologies and payment policies specific to nurse anesthesia.

Evidence Based Practice: Appraisal and Synthesis (DNAP790)

Course code changed from RSCH790 to DNAP790 This course will develop the student’s ability to translate evidence into nurse anesthesia practice. Students will be required to formulate a clinical problem statement as well as locate, appraise, and synthesize existing evidence. Ethics for research with human subjects, principles of research design, measurement, data collection, sampling, and data analysis will also be explored.

Evidence Based Practice II: Design (DNAP791)

Based on scholarly project questions selected in Evidence Based Practice I: Appraisal and Synthesis, or on subsequent scholarly project questions formulated, students begin the process of scholarly project design. This includes a critical review of the literature, identification of scholarly project methods, instrumentation, and scholarly project designs appropriate for and applied to the selected PICOT question. Project evaluation strategies to include metrics and outcome measurements will also be developed.

Evidence Based Practice III: Literature Review (DNAP793)

Based on project questions developed in Evidence Based Practice I and II, students continue the process of scholarly project design, which includes a critical review of the literature, identification of scholarly project methods, instrumentation, and scholarly project designs appropriate for, and applied to the selected PICOT question. Students submit the required scholarly project proposal to the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval as necessary.

Integration/Clinical Correlation IV (DNAP804)

This course promotes synthesis of current anesthesia topics and research through review and application of current anesthesia literature, as well as presentation and discussion of morbidity and mortality of clinical cases. This course focuses on how human errors could affect patient safety during anesthesia and includes research and discussion of aspects of anesthesia related to the AANA Standards of Practice. The course also encourages the use of Root Cause Analysis as a tool for identifying prevention strategies. It is a process that is part of the effort to build a culture of safety and move beyond the culture of blame. This course also promotes application of healthcare as ministry through service to the community with a student-led Service-Learning project. 

Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum I (DNAP811)

During this practicum course, students are provided with introductory clinical experiences an average of three days per week, for patients undergoing routine surgical procedures. The objectives are to move from "Novice” in Clinical Practicum I to at least "Proficient" by Clinical Practical VI & VII.

Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum II (DNAP812)

During this practicum course, students continue to be provided with introductory clinical experiences an average of three days per week, for patients undergoing routine surgical procedures. Clinical experiences will also include anesthesia techniques specific to acute and chronic pain management, which may include administration of various regional anesthesia techniques. The objectives are to move from "Advanced Beginner” in Clinical Practicum II to at least "Proficient" by Clinical Practicum VI & VII.

Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum III (DNAP813)

During this practicum course, students are provided with clinical experiences an average of four days per week, for specialized populations, surgical specialties, and complex patients across the lifespan and critically ill populations. The objectives are to move from "Competent” in Clinical Practicum III to at least "Proficient" by Clinical Practicium VI & VII.

Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum IV (DNAP814)

During this practicum course, students continue to be provided with clinical experiences an average of four days per week, for specialized populations, surgical specialties, and complex patients across the lifespan and critically ill populations. These experiences build on those skills accomplished in previous Clinical Practicium. The objectives are to move from "Competent” in Clinical Practicum IV to at least "Proficient" by Clinical Practicum VI & VII.

Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum V (DNAP815)

During this practicum course, students are provided with clinical experiences an average of four days per week, for complex patients across the lifespan and critically ill populations. These experiences build on those skills accomplished in previous Clinical Practica. Additionally, to assist in the transition from the student role to that of a full contributing member of the anesthesia care team, students in good standing may also be provided with more independence in their clinical experiences, whereby they are supervised on a 1:2 preceptor to student ratio by preceptors who are immediately available in all clinical areas. At no time is the supervision ratio to exceed two students to one preceptor. Supervisory ratios are decided by the clinical preceptors and program faculty in light of the level of the student, complexity of the case, anesthetic plan, surgical procedure, and experience of the preceptor, and will represent a conservative approach when considering increasing the supervision ratios. The objectives are to move from "Competent” in Clinical Practicum V to at least "Proficient" by Clinical Practicicum VI & VII.

Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum VI (DNAP816)

During this practicum course, students are provided with clinical experiences an average of three days per week, to assist in the transition from student to full contributing member of the anesthesia care team. These experiences build on those skills accomplished in previous Clinical Practica. These students may also be provided with more independence in their clinical experiences, whereby they are supervised on a 1:2 preceptor to student ratio by preceptors who are immediately available in all clinical areas. At no time is the supervision ratio to exceed two students to one preceptor. Supervisory ratios are decided by the clinical preceptors and program faculty in light of the level of the student, complexity of the case, anesthetic plan, surgical procedure, and experience of the preceptor, and will represent a conservative approach when considering increasing the supervision ratios.

Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum VII (DNAP817)

During this practicum course, students are provided with clinical experiences an average of three days per week, to assist in the transition from student to full contributing member of the anesthesia care team. These experiences build on those skills accomplished in previous Clinical Practica. These advanced students may also be provided with more independence in their clinical experiences, whereby they are supervised on a 1:2 preceptor to student ratio by preceptors who are immediately available in all clinical areas. At no time is the supervision ratio to exceed two students to one preceptor. Supervisory ratios are decided by the clinical preceptors and program faculty in light of the level of the student, complexity of the case, anesthetic plan, surgical procedure, and experience of the preceptor, and will represent a conservative approach when considering increasing the supervision ratios.

Nurse Anesthesia Principles Review I (DNAP880)

This course provides students with a general overall review of anesthesia content to aid in preparation for taking the National Certification Examination. Content review is presented through some lecture but primarily through computerized practice examinations so that students may identify individualized content areas requiring additional review and study.

Nurse Anesthesia Principles Review II (DNAP881)

This course is a continuation of DNAP880, and continues to provide students with a general overall review of anesthesia content to aid in preparation for taking the National Certification Examination. Content review is presented through some lecture but primarily through computerized practice examinations so that students may identify individualized content areas requiring additional review and study.

Evidence Based Practice IV: Implementation (DNAP891a)

This course spans two trimesters (Spring 6/9 & Summer 7/9), with one credit awarded in each trimester. This course advances the development and completion of the selected scholarly project. Data collection and analysis are advanced under the direction of the project mentor, with periodic consultation from course coordinator.

Evidence Based Practice IV: Implementation (DNAP891b)

This course spans two trimesters (Spring 6/9 & Summer 7/9), with one credit awarded in each trimester. This course advances the development and completion of the selected scholarly project. Data collection and analysis are advanced under the direction of the project mentor, with periodic consultation from course coordinator.

Evidence Based Practice Va: Dissemination (DNAP893a)

This course spans two trimesters (Fall 8/9 & Spring 9/9), with one credit awarded in each trimester. This course is a culminating research experience that includes the completion of a scholarly project in a format suitable for dissemination in a selected peer-reviewed journal and a poster summarizing the scholarly project and its findings.

Evidence Based Practice Vb: Dissemination (DNAP893b)

This course spans two trimesters (Fall 8/9 & Spring 9/9), with one credit awarded in each trimester. This course is a culminating research experience that includes the completion of a scholarly project in a format suitable for dissemination in a selected peer-reviewed journal and a poster summarizing the scholarly project and its findings.