Academic Requirements

Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia
PHASE I

PHASE II

These academic courses are accepted as Continuing Education by the Board of Nurse Examiners For the State of Texas for Type I credit (If audited, contact Program Director for instructions)

Master of Health Science
Requirements for Non-Traditional Students

*Approved elective may be substituted for those students pursuing the Master of Health Science degree but not enrolled in the Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia

**CRNA's may elect to test out of this course with permission of the Program Director

***Must be completed in five years.

PHASE I: DIDACTIC CURRICULUM & GRADUATION CRITERIA

Phase I begins each fall at Texas Wesleyan University and is completed the following August. During this period, students earn 40 graduate credit hours. In order to begin Phase II of the program, students must complete Phase I within 12 months of the beginning of their course work. A student must have completed a minimum of 40 semester hours of work (Phase I) with a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) overall grade point average.

LONG DISTANCE OPTION

The Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia offers two different, COA approved, long distance education options.

Option # 1:

Students assigned to Primary Clinical Sites outside of the Fort Worth-Dallas metropolitan area may have the option to take Phase I spring and summer courses at some assigned Primary Clinical Sites. This option requires permission of the Program Director and the Primary Clinical Site. Classes that are held at Texas Wesleyan are broadcast over video teleconferencing equipment. The broadcast is interactive (2-way audio and video). Arrangements are made to proctor tests at the distant site. A minimum number of 2-3 students per site must choose this option in order for it to be implemented at a particular clinical site. A Long Distance Fee of $80 per credit hour is charged. All students that choose this option are required to take Fall Semester courses on the Wesleyan campus in Fort Worth. If you are interested in this option, contact the Program Director.

Option # 2:

As of June 15, 2004, the Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia is approved to offer the entire didactic curriculum via the interactive video system to select primary training facilities at sites distant to the Fort Worth area. To participate in this option, the site chosen must be on the list of sites selected by the program director to offer this option. A minimum number of 2-3 students per site must choose this option in order for it to be implemented at a particular clinical site. A Long Distance Fee of $80 per credit hour is charged. Students selected to participate in this option must attend classes on campus in Fort Worth for the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters. If you are interested in this option, contact the Program Director.

Students not assigned to a Primary Training Site that offers the Long Distance Option will not be allowed to take the Long Distance Option at another Primary Training Site that offers this option.

Students who are completing their Phase I coursework on campus may request to visit his/her assigned Primary Training Site and participate in the long distance education for a short period of time. Permission must be obtained from the Program Director or Assistant Director and the Clinical Coordinator at the Primary Training Site. Stays in excess of three-weeks will result in the student being charged the Long Distance Education fee.

PHASE II: CLINICAL CURRICULUM & GRADUATION CRITERIA
Upon completion of Phase I, students must immediately enter Phase II. This phase of the program begins the third Monday in August and lasts approximately sixteen (16) months. During this time, the student's learning is built upon the material covered during the first phase of the program and is primarily a clinical practicum although the student also returns to the classroom on a weekly basis for extensive clinically related study (a 2-hour course).

Phase II consists of the actual administration of general and regional anesthesia with qualified clinical instructors (anesthesiologists and/or CRNAs). Weekly classroom sessions consist of clinical conferences; journal club; and seminars dealing with current topics including, but not necessarily limited to, respiratory, cardiovascular, thoracic, neurosurgical, regional, obstetrical, pediatric, and special areas of anesthesia. Various special projects and competency examinations are administered throughout this phase.

At the end of Phase II, the graduate receives a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia, a certificate in anesthesia, and becomes eligible to write the National Certifying Examination for Nurse Anesthetists given by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists. A graduate successfully completing this written exam becomes a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).

Requirements for graduation with a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia and an anesthesia certificate from Phase II include satisfactory completion of:

• all case and course requirements
• a professional paper
• all written and oral examinations
• all financial obligations to the program.

OUTCOME BASED NURSE ANESTHESIA EDUCATION
We accept the concept that learning produces a change in behavior and is a continuous process of relating new knowledge and skills to previous and concurrent experiences. It is the gradual internalization of book knowledge and the correlation of principles to clinical experience. Learning goes beyond knowing – to being able to do what one knows. We strive for the professional nurse anesthetist to be prepared to think critically and creatively, to exercise discriminative judgement in the application of principles they have learned, and to establish good interpersonal relationships for continued personal and professional growth. See graduate catalog for more details.

ANESTHESIA CARE PLANS

Each RRNA will complete either a verbal or written anesthesia care plan for each patient. The RRNA must submit a minimum of 50 written care plans must be submitted to the student’s Clinical Coordinator prior to Practicum IV. The Clinical Coordinator at each clinical site will determine the rate or set the schedule for which the care plans are completed and submitted. Failure to complete the required number of care plans prior to Practicum IV or failure to complete the care plans as directed by the Clinical Coordinator may result in administrative probation and dismissal from the program.

PRE OPERATIVE VISIT
A student must assess the patient pre-operatively before he/she can be actively involved with the management of the anesthetic. The pre-operative visit is made prior to developing an anesthetic care plan. Upon completion, the student must consult with an Anesthesiologist and/or CRNA before implementing the plan. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs requires that a student nurse anesthetist conduct a pre-anesthesia assessment on each patient that the student anesthetizes (01.15.02).

PROCEDURE/DOCUMENTATION
Before a patient is transferred to the operating room, the student must complete a pre-operative visit. The student must also develop an anesthetic care plan (verbal or written). A quality anesthetic plan must be designed to safely prepare the patient pre-operatively, to assure comfort for the patient intra-operatively, and to insure a complete recovery post-operatively.

POST ANESTHETIC VISIT
The student must complete post-operative evaluations on each patient he/she is actively involved with in anesthetic management. This visit is an evaluation in the immediate recovery phase and again in the post-recovery phase within twenty-four hours. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs requires that a student nurse anesthetist conduct a post-anesthesia assessment on each patient that the student anesthetize, except ambulatory care patients and early discharges (01.15.02).

DOCUMENTATION
The student should document the visit and assessment on the patient's anesthetic record. If any complications are noted, these should be brought to the attention of the Anesthesiologist/CRNA immediately.