Academic Policies

RRNA

The term "RRNA" (Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetist) refers to a student enrolled in the Texas Wesleyan University Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia. RRNA appears to be a more acceptable term than "student" when in a patient care setting. The term "Student" may be substituted at clinical training sites where a conflict over terms exists.

AANA ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Associate membership in the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists is required. Attendance at locally held meetings is STRONGLY recommended and may be required.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The student has the right to:

-Expect quality, appropriate education
-Be represented in the educational process
-Be regarded as a professional member of the health care community
-Receive fair, objective, confidential evaluations
-Exercise due process of appeal

In addition, the RRNA has the responsibility to:

-Demonstrate a professional manner at all times
-Adhere to regulations and policies as set forth in the policy manuals and student handbook of Texas Wesleyan University and affiliating clinical settings.

 

PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVES
Professionalism includes, but is not necessarily limited to the following. The RRNA demonstrates:

1. Courtesy
2. Honesty
3. Punctuality
4. Enthusiasm
5. Appropriate Language/Communication skills
6. Positive Attitude
7. Personal Cleanliness/Grooming
8. Analytical/Evaluation Skills
9. Willingness to Follow Instructions

10. Willingness to Learn/Work Hard
11. Proper Wearing of Operating Room Attire
12. Vigilance/Awareness
13. Organization/Neatness of Anesthesia Area

Failure to meet professionalism objectives may result in termination
from the program.

TIME COMMITMENT
The student's time commitment is approximately 64 hours during a seven-day week. This may vary from week-to-week and clinical site-to-clinical site. This time commitment includes study time. One hour of classroom time generates two hours or more of study time. The clinical day, on average, involves 10 to 12 hours in the hospital.

MINIMUM CASE AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia exceeds the general requirements as set forth by the Council on Accreditation as stated in the Standards and Guidelines for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs/Schools. Each RRNA is required to complete a minimum of 650 cases and 16 months of clinical training. The RRNA's level of preparation is a factor in determining case assignments.

GRADING

The graduate program at Texas Wesleyan University requires a minimum
overall GPA of 3.0 for graduation.

A course grade of “B” is required in the following courses:

HSC 6603 Principles of Anesthesia Practice I
HSC 6605 Principles of Anesthesia Practice II
HSC 6422 Medical Pharmacology II
HSC 6642 Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology II
All Clinical Didactics Courses during Phase II

A course grade of less than "B" in the above courses will result in dismissal from the program.

A course grade of less than “C” in any course will result in dismissal from
the program.

No more than a total of two course grades of “C” will be acceptable.

A grade of no less than “B” will be accepted in a course that is repeated.

A grade is assigned for each Phase II Clinical Practicum.
                 Grade                       Description                    Grade Points
                     P                                 Pass                                  0.0*
                     F                                   Fail                                    0.0
*Not counted in calculating grade point average (GPA).

READMITTED STUDENTS

It is the intent and hope of the administration of the Graduate Programs of
Nurse Anesthesia that all students are successful in their attempt to complete the program. However, history tells us that this is not the case and that we have, on average, an approximate 12% - 15% attrition rate during Phase I of the program. Students who are unsuccessful on their first attempt at completing Phase I are eligible to request readmission to the program. Those selected for readmission are given the opportunity to repeat the entire first year. To start the process, the unsuccessful student must submit a written request for readmission to and receive approval to reinterview from the Program Director. If the student’s failure to complete Phase I is due to academic performance, the student must also obtain approval from the instructor(s) in which grades less than “B” were made. Once approval for the reinterview has been granted, the student will be assigned a date and time to reinterview with the program’s Admissions Committee. The decision to readmit a student is that of the Admissions Committee. All committee decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

Once a student has been readmitted, he/she will take all of the Phase I
courses with the exception of the fall semester Professional Aspects course, and, the spring semester Research course – providing that the student had previously passed these courses, the student must attend all program courses. For all courses that the student received the grade of “B” or higher, the student must agree to maintain the same course average or better. For all courses in which the student did not receive the grade of “B” or higher, the student must obtain a course grade of at least a “B”. The readmitted student agreeing to the grade statements will sign a contract. The student will be assessed the current tuition and fees for each course that is being repeated if the student failed to achieve a grade of “B” or higher during the first attempt. The student will be assessed the current audit fees for each repeated course in which the student achieved a grade of “B” or higher during the first attempt. The success rate for repeating students is high.

Readmitted students are not guaranteed a specific clinical training location. Clinical assignments will be made based upon clinical site availability and will be made no earlier than the end of the spring semester.

All students readmitted into Phase I must agree to the terms and conditions identified in the Readmitted Students Policy stated above.

Students dismissed from the program during Phase II will not be
considered for readmission.

GRADUATE STUDENT OF NURSE ANESTHESIA
CODE OF CONDUCT

Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia at Texas Wesleyan University is a community of faculty, clinical instructors, support staff, and students
involved in teaching, clinical training, and learning. Students are members of this community for the period of their registration in the program and as such assume the responsibilities that such registration entails. This program is dedicated to providing a quality comprehensive academic and technical education and considers the students as colleagues in the learning process. Nurse Anesthesia students are adults who are responsible for their own actions and who should be free to pursue their educational objectives in an environment that promotes learning and protects the integrity of academic process. The standards are designed to foster that environment.

The Code of Conduct defines standards of student behavior during their enrollment in Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia and should be seen as a supplement to the Academic Integrity Policy in the Texas Wesleyan University Graduate Catalog and the Code of Student Conduct in the Texas Wesleyan University Student Handbook. Disciplinary procedures are detailed in the Student Handbook. Clinical students will also be held to the standards of professional conduct defined by their licensure and clinical facility.

Graduate students are responsible for becoming familiar with the information included in the Texas Wesleyan Graduate Catalog, the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia Handbook of Didactic and Clinical Practice and Procedures, and the Texas Wesleyan University Student Handbook. These references will be issued during orientation with the Student Code of Conduct and receipt will be verified by student signature. Should conflict arise from the reference material, The Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia Handbook of Didactic and Clinical Practice and Procedures shall take precedence.

PROBATION
The Program Director may place a student in Phase I on probation for failure to comply with any Professionalism Objectives. The terms and length of the probation is at the discretion of the Program Director.

An RRNA may be placed on probation during Phase II if the student’s
performance is judged by the hospital Anesthesia clinical faculty to be
unsatisfactory. Probationary status is the decision of the Clinical Evaluation Committee (CEC), which will determine the specific objectives a student must meet in order to successfully complete the probationary period. The length of the probationary period is at the discretion of the CEC. Students who are unable to achieve probation objectives within the time allowed by the CEC are subject to dismissal from the program.

AN RRNA IS SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY PROBATION IF AT
ANY TIME THE STUDENT’S CONDUCT IS DOCUMENTED AS
“UNBECOMING TO A PROFESSIONAL.” However, a student is not
entitled to a probationary period prior to dismissal if the University’s
program director determines that immediate dismissal is warranted based on the nature of the student’s conduct. The Professionalism Objectives are outlined in the Texas Wesleyan University Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia Handbook of Didactic and Clinical Practice and Procedures.

DISMISSAL
An RRNA is subject to immediate dismissal from Graduate Programs of
Nurse Anesthesia if at any time the student’s conduct is documented as
“unbecoming to a professional.”

An RRNA may be dismissed from Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia for failure to:

• Satisfactorily complete Phase I within the allotted time frame as
outlined in the program's curriculum;
• Meet minimum grade requirements;
• Meet any Phase I or Phase II probation objectives;
• Meet professionalism objectives;
• Comply with hospital policies and procedures;
• Fulfill clinical expectations;
• Provide for patient safety.

Patient safety is a primary consideration for continuation in the program.
Therefore, an RRNA may be dismissed from the program following a single documented incident where patient safety is severely compromised. Based on the circumstances of the incident, the hospital Anesthesia clinical faculty may bypass the probationary process. When such an event occurs, dismissal from the clinical training site is at the discretion of the hospital Anesthesia Director of the Anesthesia Department or designee. Dismissal from the program is at the discretion of the University’s program director or designee.

RRNA’s shall adhere to affiliated hospital or clinic rules, regulations, policies, and procedures at all times during the period of instruction. The hospital or clinic may terminate an RRNA for flagrant or repeated violations of rules, regulations, policies, or procedures. The hospital reserves the right to take immediate action to remove an RRNA from the clinical setting when necessary to maintain the operation of its facilities free from interruption and/or to insure patient safety. The hospital and/or the hospital Anesthesia Department reserves the right to refuse to provide training to any RRNA..

If an RRNA is terminated from a hospital or clinical site for any reason, the
student is subject to dismissal from the program. Texas Wesleyan University is not responsible for placing the student at an alternative clinical site once dismissed from the program.

Students dismissed from the program will be informed in writing.

Additional grounds for probation or dismissal from the program may be
included in the Texas Wesleyan University Graduate Programs of Nurse
Anesthesia Handbook of Didactic and Clinical Practice and Procedures.

Texas Wesleyan University contracts with each clinical facility to provide
clinical training to the students. Additional avenues for student dismissal
may be included in the individual contracts. Where discrepancies exist
between this manual and the contract, the contract has precedence.

APPEAL
Appeal of academic or performance probation or dismissal will be managed according to the program’s policies and guidelines. All other student related matters are governed by the University’s Student Handbook and the Graduate Catalog in effect at the time the student entered the program. Any student wishing to use the appeals process regarding an academic or performance issue, including hospital or clinical probation or other CEC sanctions, must notify the University’s Director of the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia in writing within 30 days of official notification of the action in question. All decisions of the program director related to clinical probation, CEC determinations, or a student’s dismissal from the program are final and may not be appealed.

Students retain the right to file a written student complaint with the Provost
Office according to the procedure provided in this Graduate Catalog.
However, the Provost Office cannot make any determination regarding
competency or clinical performance.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Students must notify the Director of the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia in writing if a leave of absence becomes necessary. Documentation for the need of the leave of absence may be required for approval. Granting of the leave of absence is at the discretion of the Director. Regardless of the length of the leave of absence, the student must submit a written request for reinstatement to the Director. Documentation supporting the student’s request for reinstatement may be required for approval.
Reinstatement is at the discretion of the Director.

During Phase I, the student must conform to policies set by Texas Wesleyan University (see Class Attendance in this catalog). During Phase II, a request for leave of absence is subject to approval by the Director. If the student is on probation or otherwise not in good standing in the program at the time the leave of absence is requested, the leave of absence may be denied. The Director will set the conditions required for reinstatement into training. At the discretions of the Director, these conditions may include requiring the reinstated student to review, retake, or audit selected didactic courses.

Return to Phase II clinical training is contingent upon willingness of a clinical site to accept the reinstated student. A leave of absence in excess of the student’s allowed vacation time may result in an extension of clinical training for the student to meet program completion requirements. Reinstatement into the program following a leave of absence in excess of six months may require the student to repeat all of Phase II training. Reinstatement into the program following a leave of absence in excess of one year may require the student to repeat some or all of Phase I coursework. All students required to repeat Phase I of the program upon reinstatement do so as a readmitted student and are subject to the Readmitted Student policy as published in this catalog. Regardless of the length of absence, the student must demonstrate the clinical and academic proficiency expected of a graduate nurse anesthesia student, as determined by the program and clinical staff, before the student will be allowed to officially complete the program and become eligible to take the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists’ Certification Examination to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Students will have their leave of absence revoked and will be terminated from the program when their leave of absence extends to 18 months.

SICK LEAVE
Texas Wesleyan class attendance policy states that regular and punctual attendance at all scheduled classes is expected of all students.

University regulations authorize necessary absences with the instructor's prior approval. Unauthorized absences may be excused when caused by illness or other emergencies and should be reported as soon as possible to the instructor and school office. At the discretion of the Director or Assistant Director, any student taking an unauthorized sick day may be required to provide a physician's excuse. The student is responsible for all class assignments missed because of absences.

During Phase I, when a student has a number of unauthorized absences equal to the number of hours the class meets per week, the instructor of the class may drop the student from the class roll. A student dropped by the instructor for excessive unauthorized absences will receive the grade of “DP” (dropped).

A student may be reinstated in the class with the consent of the instructor and the Director of the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia. A student who has been absent from any regular examination and has satisfied the instructor that the absence was due to serious illness or other unavoidable cause may take a special examination at the discretion of the
instructor concerned.

Each RRNA is allowed 16 “absent days” during Phase II. From this 16-day allotment the RRNA subtracts her/his sick and vacation days. Absence from a clinical class will be counted as a sick/vacation day. If 16 days is exceeded, then the RRNA may be held past graduation on a day-for-day payback basis. Individual cases involving unusual circumstances may be taken under consideration by the Program Director.

HOLIDAYS

VACATION
During Phase I, there are appropriate semester/summer session breaks, and these are recognized as vacation time. For Phase II, please refer to the section concerning "Sick Leave."

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation to and from the hospital/university is to be provided at the student's own expense.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND STUDENT HEALTH
Each student must be in good physical and mental health, may not have any communicable disease when involved in patient care, and must have a medical questionnaire and physician's certificate on file at the University
with proof of tuberculin testing and immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and rubella and all items listed in the Medical Requirement section of this catalog.

If any student contracts a communicable disease, the student shall notify the Director, Associate Director, or Assistant Director of the program as soon as possible after learning of same and shall be suspended immediately and indefinitely from the program until such time as the student is no longer infected with any communicable disease.

HEALTH CARE INSURANCE
During Phase I, students are advised to purchase their own health insurance as the University provides only minimal health care. During Phase II, students must provide their own health insurance. Proof of coverage will be required. Failure to provide proof of health insurance will result in the removal of the student from the clinical area until proof is provided.

The student is not an employee of the University or the hospital where the clinical training is provided. The student is not covered by Workman's Compensation insurance and must use her/his individual health insurance to cover training related injuries (e.g. needle sticks, lifting injuries, etc.).

EMPLOYMENT
Although it is not recommended, students may be employed during their
enrollment with the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia as long as there is no conflict in time between employment and program responsibilities. RRNA’s may not work the shift prior to anesthesia-committed time during Phase II. Under no circumstance may an RRNA be employed to practice anesthesia in either title or function.