Anesthesia Resources

• American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• American Society of Anesthesiologists
• Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists 
• Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation
• Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
• Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States

BSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) Goals

The BSN to DNP NAP curriculum integrates didactic course work with hands on simulated activity for the students.  Students will start clinical during the fall of the second year.  Course objectives in each course guide the selection of learning activities and evaluation methods throughout the curriculum. Each course builds on the knowledge, skills, and abilities students developed in previous course work. Over the plan of study in the BSN to DNP NAP, students are expected to attain the following eight overarching goals:

1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and competence in nurse anesthesia practice in various health care setting for patients in all acuity levels.
2. Critically examine and demonstrate the ability to apply findings from the scientific literature as a basis for informed nurse anesthesia practice.
3. Formulate and implement physiologically sound anesthesia techniques tailored to patient physical status and age.
4. Identify researchable problems in nurse anesthesia practice and conduct systematic evaluation of evidence.
5. Contribute to new knowledge generation through participation in anesthesia research.
6. Participate in the development of clinical, administrative, and educational roles for advanced practice nurses through didactic and clinical coursework.
7. Develop collaborative working relationships with members of our community of interest including surgical and anesthesia teams to enhance patient safety.
8. Develop and make available faculty expertise for the benefit of the local, regional national and international communities.

Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) Expected Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program the graduate will be prepared to:

1. Perform a pre-anesthetic interview and physical assessment using patient history, physical examination, review of medical records, and appropriate laboratory data.
2. Develop an appropriate anesthesia care plan consistent with the overall medical and nursing regimen and established guidelines, utilizing appropriate principles of basic and behavioral sciences in protecting patients from iatrogenic complications.
3. Administer physiologically sound anesthetics to patients of all ages and physical status   categories, utilizing universal precautions and the principles of general and regional anesthesia as they apply to the diagnostic, operative and physiologic condition of the patient.
4. Perform comprehensive and appropriate equipment checks and position or supervise positioning of patients to assure optimal physiologic function and patient safety.
5. Recognize and evaluate physiologic responses to the anesthetic, implementing appropriate action that reflects the use of sound physiologic and pharmacologic principles, referring to a physician those responses beyond the nurse anesthetist’s ability to manage consistent with practice standards and policies.
6. Use and interpret a broad variety of monitoring modalities including electronic monitors, taking appropriate action based on sound principle of anesthesia management.
7. Evaluate the post-anesthetic course of the patient and recommend a course of action directed toward correcting any anesthesia-related complications.
8. Serve as a resource person, team leader or team member, in the areas of acute care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, respiratory therapy and fluid management and assist others to expand their knowledge in these areas.
9. Perform within appropriate medical, legal, and ethical standards of anesthesia practice, accepting responsibility and accountability for own practice, recognizing personal and professional strengths and limitations, and taking appropriate actions consistent with valid self-awareness.
10. Demonstrate active professional commitment and involvement in the state organization for nurse anesthetists, and, active commitment and involvement in quality management activities.