Course Descriptions

FALL-I – Total 3-6 credits
BIO 740 Leadership in Nurse Anesthesia Education – 3 credits
Principles of teaching and learning applicable to the anesthesia didactic and clinical environment. Strategies in teacher/learner communication, presentation development and strategies, course and curriculum design, and methods of evaluation pertinent to nurse anesthesia education, multicultural healthcare, leadership, interpersonal communication, and inter-professional collaboration.

BIO 525 Advanced Physical Health Assessment for Nurse Anesthetist – 3 credits (if needed)
Lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, and simulations presenting advanced physical health assessments of all body systems. Includes principles of peri-anesthetic care of patients with emphasis on cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurologic, renal, and endocrine function; interpretation of lab data and selected specialty examinations such as pulmonary function studies, chest X-rays, 12-lead EKGs, and cardiology studies. Requires lab time at affiliated clinical sites.

SPRING-I – Total 3 credits
BIO 736 Evidence-based Practice and Biostatistics – 3 credits
Review of statistical techniques and their benefits and limitations for clinical research. Emphasis on reviewing anesthesia literature. Include translation of research into practice, evaluation of practice, and improvement and reliability of nurse anesthesia practice and outcomes.

SUMMER-I – Total 3 credits
ACP 743 Advanced Anesthesia Clinical Practicum I – 3 credits
Structured, supervised clinical training, and advanced experiences to organize, administer, and manage anesthesia in a general or specialty setting. Professional portfolio with written case studies of clinical experiences; focus on methods for determining best practices through identification of problems, review and systematic evaluation of current research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and consideration of economic and other factors that may impact patient outcomes. Conducted at affiliated hospital school of nurse anesthesia or other approved clinical sites.

FALL-II – Total 5 credits
BIO 725 Bioethics in Nurse Anesthesia – 3 credits
Ethical issues in biomedical research. Foundational knowledge and skills in responsible bioethical decision-making behavior to reflect upon, address, and resolve the ethical and socio-cultural issues they confronted during professional practice. Discussion of application of ethical decision-making to nurse anesthesia care. Reflection upon AANA Code of Ethics.

BIO 754 Advanced Specialization Doctoral Scholarly Project I—2 credits
Doctoral Scholarly Project (DSP) proposal, including the literature review and methodology. DSP is expected to be relevant to clinical practice, education, or leadership, and is to use evidence-based practice to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes. Students work with their DSP advisor and committee members both individually and in small group meetings.

SPRING-II – Total 5 credits
BIO 730 Human Factors and Patient Safety for Nurse Anesthetists – 3 credits
Explores human error and patient safety in anesthesia care. Introduces a systems approach to error investigation and analysis; use of multidisciplinary teamwork for prevention of errors and crisis management; and use of simulation and monitoring systems and other techniques in improving safety in anesthesia practice.

BIO 755 Advanced Specialization Doctoral Scholarly Project II – 2 credits
Doctoral Scholarly Project (DSP) proposal, including the literature review and methodology. DSP is expected to be relevant to clinical practice, education, or leadership, and is to use evidence-based practice to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes. Students work with their DSP advisor and committee members both individually and in small group meetings.

SUMMER-II – Total 3 credits
ACP 744 Advanced Anesthesia Clinical Practicum II – 3 credits
Structured, supervised clinical training, and advanced experiences to organize, administer, and manage anesthesia in a general or specialty setting. Professional portfolio with written case studies of clinical experiences; focus on methods for determining best practices through identification of problems, review and systematic evaluation of current research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and consideration of economic and other factors that may impact patient outcomes. Conducted at affiliated hospital school of nurse anesthesia or other approved clinical sites.

FALL-III – Total 5 credits
BIO 739 Advanced Topics in Pharmacology – 3 credits
Study of current topics in pharmacology and nurse anesthesia practice. Topics will vary and will include pharmacogenetics, and acute and chronic pain management.

BIO 756 Advanced Specialization Doctoral Scholarly Project III – 2 credits
Doctoral scholarly research, writing, and completion. Students work with their DSP advisor and committee members both individually and in small group meetings.

SPRING-III – Total 3-4 credits
BIO 742 Advanced Physical Health Assessment for Nurse Anesthetist – 3 credits
Lectures, demonstrations, group discussions and simulations presenting advanced assessment of all body systems Includes principles of peri-anesthetic care of patients with emphasis on cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, and endocrine function; interpretation of lab data and selected specialty examinations such as pulmonary function studies, chest X-rays, 12-lead EKGs, and cardiology studies. Requires lab time at affiliated clinical sites.

BIO 757 Advanced Specialization Doctoral Scholarly Project IV (1 credit if needed)
Continuation of BIO 756. Up to 5 additional credits to complete the Doctoral Scholarly Project requirement.