Program Objectives

Upon successful completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program-Nurse Anesthesia, the graduate should be able to:

• Conduct and document a comprehensive and systematic assessment of health and illness parameters in complex situations, incorporating diverse and culturally sensitive approaches.

• Design, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions based on scientific knowledge and emerging approaches to nurse anesthesia practice and healthcare delivery to promote optimal outcomes.

• Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical reasoning and judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.

• Develop and sustain therapeutic relationships and partnerships with patients (individual, family or group) and other professionals (e.g., transdisciplinary) to facilitate optimal care and patient outcomes.

• Guide, mentor, and support other nurses to achieve excellence in nursing practice.

• Educate and guide individuals and groups through complex health and situational transitions.

• Apply ethical principles to decision making in healthcare practices and systems.

• Use conceptual and analytical skills in evaluating the links among practice, organizational, population, fiscal, and policy issues.

• Advocate for anesthesia care and healthcare-practice change through active involvement in policy development and political processes.

• Obtain and document informed consent including risks, benefits, and anesthesia alternatives.

• Evaluate the patient's physical and psychological status identifying abnormalities that will have implications on the anesthesia care plan, including evaluation of all laboratory, radiographic, and other diagnostic test data.

• Develop and execute an appropriate anesthesia care plan based on the patient's condition and the surgical/diagnostic procedure, including effective utilization of fluids and blood products.

• Select, assemble, and maintain proper equipment, anesthetic agents, and accessories in preparation for sedation, general anesthesia, and/or regional anesthetic techniques.

• Demonstrate the ability to deliver individualized, safe and effective anesthesia care based on clinically relevant scientific principles.

• Perform physiologically sound sedation, general anesthesia and/or regional techniques compatible with patient condition and the surgical procedure in a safe, effective, and ethical fashion.

• Identify the need for insert/employ, interpret and integrate information from a variety of monitoring modalities including electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, capnography, noninvasive and invasive monitoring (e.g., arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure).

• Implement and supervise appropriate physical positioning of the patient to ensure safety for the patient and optimum working conditions for the surgical team.

• Function within appropriate legal requirements including those arising from licensing, certifying, or institutional entities.

• Exhibit expected role responsibilities, maintaining integrity and legal/ethical standards.

• Demonstrate responsibility for own actions through continuing personal and professional growth.

• Provide leadership in organizations and systems to assure quality care delivery models.

• Use information systems and technology to improve patient care and healthcare systems.

• Analyze business practices encountered in nurse anesthesia delivery systems.

• Disseminate research evidence.