DNP Nurse Anesthesia Course Requirements

Core Course Requirements for the DNP Nurse Anesthesia

• NAP 510 - Intro to Nurse Anesthesia Professn

  This course prepares the novice student with a practical foundation for a smooth transition into the practice of nurse anesthesia. Students are presented with an overview of the history of nurse anesthesia, nurse anesthesia professional organizations, and issues surrounding patient safety and the standards of care. Emphasis will be placed on ethical and legal considerations, economics, and the importance of wellness education.

• NAP 511 - Applied Chem BioChem and Physics

  This course serves as an introduction to the scientific basics necessary for the study and mastery of nurse anesthesia. It is designed to apply principles of chemistry, biochemistry, and physics as it relates to nurse anesthesia practice. The course demonstrates how the scientific concepts relate directly to clinical application in anesthesia.

• NAP 512 - General Principles of Anesthesia

  This course is an overview of the general principles of anesthesia. The student will gain a basic understanding of the continuum of anesthetic states from sedation to general anesthesia, including regional anesthesia and the standards of practice. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing anesthesia equipment, airway management, and a brief overview of anesthesia pharmacology. Students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on simulated experience to prepare for clinical practicums.

• NAP 620 - Adv Anatomy Physiology Pathophysio

  This course builds on the General Principles of Anesthesia and prior physiology and pathophysiology courses. The focus of this course is to review advanced physiology and pathophysiology which are elemental to the safe practice of anesthesia as related to culture, gender, race, age, and genetics. Normal physiology and how it impacts the individualized plan of care across the lifespan and the anesthetic implications of various comorbidities and common pathological conditions are explored in depth.

• NAP 621 - Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents

  This course provides the scientific principles and advanced pharmacotherapeutic knowledge necessary to plan, implement, and safely manage anesthesia-related pharmacologic interventions across the lifespan.

• NAP 622 - Adv Anatomy Physiology Pathophy II

  This second course in the series on advanced anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology builds on the knowledge gained from the General Principles of Anesthesia and prior physiology and pathophysiology courses. The focus of this course is to review advanced physiology and pathophysiology which are elemental to the safe practice of anesthesia as related to culture, gender, race, age, and genetics. The anesthetic implications of various comorbidities and common pathological conditions are explored in depth.

• NAP 623 - Adv Principles and Clinical Mngmt I

  This course is the first course that builds upon the scientific underpinnings and foundational knowledge of advanced anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, and applies it to the anesthetic management of patients undergoing common and uncommon surgical procedures across the lifespan. This course will prepare students for entry into clinical rotations in a variety of clinical settings. Students will develop evidence-supported; patient-centered anesthesia management plans for patients and apply knowledge to practice in ethically sound decision making and problem-solving.

• NAP 624 - Adv Principles and Clinical Mgmt II

  This course is the second course that builds upon the scientific underpinnings and foundational knowledge of advanced anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, and applies it to the anesthetic management of patients undergoing common and uncommon surgical procedures across the lifespan. Students will continue clinical rotations in a variety of clinical settings. Students will develop evidence-supported; patient-centered anesthesia management plans for patients and apply knowledge to practice in ethically sound decision making and problem-solving.

• NAP 630 - Professional Aspects of Leadership

  This course prepares the doctorly prepared nurse anesthesia students for the professional role they will assume as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The student will examine leadership theories and issues, with a particular focus on ethical decision-making. Leadership principles are applied to a variety of scenarios focusing on collaboration, accountability, advocacy, and health care reform.

• NAP 631 - Comprehensive Board Review

  This culminating course prepares the student for successful completion of the National Certification Examination for Nurse Anesthetists (NCE), and entry into advanced practice as a nurse anesthetist. Students will have the opportunity to teach their peers different NBCRNA topics to reinforce their level of understanding. Strategies for systematic preparation and healthy management of stress will be reinforced. Logistical details concerning certification, credentials, privileges, collaborative agreements, and practice protocols will be included.

• NAP 651 - Nurse Anesthesia Practicum I

  This first clinical practicum course is designed to develop clinical competencies of nurse anesthesia students by applying evidence-based knowledge and acquired skills in a supervised practicum for a diverse patient population across the lifespan. Students begin to develop the novice skills needed to safely administer anesthesia to patients undergoing a wide variety of surgical and diagnostic procedures.

• NAP 652 - Nurse Anesthesia Practicum II

  This second clinical practicum course challenges students to perform at an advanced beginner level to integrate evidence-based and patient-specific anesthetic management plans for a diverse patient population across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on implementing anesthetic care, analyzing patient response, evaluating outcomes, and revising management plans as indicated.

• NAP 653 - Nurse Anesthesia Practicum III

  The third clinical practicum course furthers the clinical learning process by introducing rotations in the anesthesia subspecialties of pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiovascular, or neurosurgery as well as expanding on more complex general cases as per the requirements of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Expectations for more independent decision-making and refined cognitive and technical skills increase.

• NAP 661 - Adv Nurse Anesthesia Cl Correlatn I

  The fourth clinical practicum course furthers the clinical learning process by continuing to challenge students as rotations in the anesthesia subspecialties of pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiovascular, and neurosurgery continue as per the requirements of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Expectations for independent decision-making and refined cognitive and technical skills continue to increase.

• NAP 662 - Adv Nurs Anesthesia Cl Correlatn II

  This is the fifth clinical practicum course that continues to challenge students to perform at a competent level as rotations in the anesthesia subspecialties of pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiovascular, and neurosurgery, as well as complex general surgical procedures, continue as per the requirements of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Expectations for independent decision-making and refined cognitive and technical skills continue to increase.

• NAP 663 - Adv Nur Anesthesia Cl Correlatn III

  This sixth clinical practicum course completes the learning process by continuing to challenge students to perform at autonomous levels as rotations are completed in the anesthesia subspecialties of pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiovascular, and neurosurgery. Expectations for independent decision-making and refined cognitive and technical skills are maximized.

• NR 540 - Adv Physio & Pathology

  This course explores underlying mechanisms of the pathogenesis of human disease as a consequence of aberrations at the cellular and molecular level.

• NR 541 - Adv Health Assmnt

  This course focuses on utilizing assessment skills necessary for advanced practice nursing appropriate to the age of the patient. Emphasis will be on integrating physical, psychosocial and health assessments to determine appropriate health promotion strategies, differential diagnoses and advanced practice nursing interventions across the life span. Critical decision making for the appropriate use of diagnostic testing will be stressed.

• NR 542 - Adv Pharmacology

  This course focuses on the advanced pharmacologic principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutics, and drug interactions. This course examines all broad categories of pharmacological agents. It will also include the analysis of the relationship between pharmacologic agents and the pathophysiologic response. Emphasis will be on the appropriate selection of pharmacologic agents for the treatment of common disorders. Patient variations in pharmacologic response will be considered.

• NR 700A - Scientific Wrting for Nurse Prof

  This course provides an introduction to scientific writing for nurses pursuing graduate education in nursing. Through the course students will learn skills for scientific writing in the dissemination of nursing research, implementation of evidence-based projects, project narratives, for the purpose of building nursing science in practice; other examples of scientific writing include articles for peer reviewed journals, grant proposals, and theses/dissertations/ Capstone projects in the science. (The DNP program emphasizes the need for doctorally prepared nurses to disseminate all work related to clinical research and evidence-based practice; therefore, writing skills are very important to the full education of the DNP studentsPrerequisite: Doctoral level or permission of graduate nursing program director

• NR 700B - Scientific Writing for Prof Nurses

  This course provides an introduction to scientific writing for nurses pursuing graduate education in nursing. Through the course students will learn skills for scientific writing in the dissemination of nursing research, implementation of evidence-based projects, project narratives, for the purpose of building nursing science in practice; other examples of scientific writing include articles for peer reviewed journals, grant proposals, and theses/dissertations/ Capstone projects in the science. (The DNP program emphasizes the need for doctorally prepared nurses to disseminate all work related to clinical research and evidence-based practice; therefore, writing skills are very important to the full education of the DNP studentsPrerequisite: Doctoral level or permission of graduate nursing program director

• NR 700C - Scientific Writing for Prof Nurses

  This course provides an introduction to scientific writing for nurses pursuing graduate education in nursing. Through the course students will learn skills for scientific writing in the dissemination of nursing research, implementation of evidence-based projects, project narratives, for the purpose of building nursing science in practice; other examples of scientific writing include articles for peer reviewed journals, grant proposals, and theses/dissertations/ Capstone projects in the science. (The DNP program emphasizes the need for doctorally prepared nurses to disseminate all work related to clinical research and evidence-based practice; therefore, writing skills are very important to the full education of the DNP studentsPrerequisite: Doctoral level or permission of graduate nursing program director

• NR 701 - Biostatistics for Outcomes Mgmt Evl

  This course is an introduction to biostatistics for students in nursing and the health sciences. The course is designed to provide knowledge for effective use of biostatistics in translational research to include: descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, probability theory, hypothesis testing, and measures of central tendency, parametric and nonparametric analyses. Skills acquired by the student will assist in the critical appraisal of research for evidence-based practice with a focus on comprehension of consistency between research designs and statistical tests (correlation, regression, t-tests, analysis of variance and nonparametric tests). Additional skills include use of statistical software packages to practice analysis and interpretation of statistical tests.

• NR 702 - Scientific & Theoretical Foundation

  This course focuses on the relationship between theory and methods of inquiry. Selected theories, concepts, and issues related to nursing and health are explored; application of theory to nursing practice is emphasized. Course content includes inquiry based on interaction of theory, research, and practice in the development of nursing knowledge and the improvement of clinical outcomes. Students also explore and examine the ways in which nursing philosophy and nursing knowledge impact professional nursing. The final project of this course involves a concept analysis linking theory to practice in areas related to the students?' advanced practices.

• NR 703 - Epidemiology for Population Health

  This course introduces students to the principles and methods of epidemiological investigations. Infectious and noninfectious disease examples are utilized. The focus involves epidemiological research methods and their practical applications to the study of determinants and distributions of disease.

• NR 704 - Analysis of Evidence for ANP

  This course assists the student in learning principles and processes of evidence-based practice (EBP) for analyzing research and other forms of evidence. The evidence is then validated and selected for use in advanced nursing practice. Evidence-based nursing models are reviewed and students learn how to ask and develop practice-related questions. Computerized literature searches form the basis for finding, critically assessing, and selecting the best available evidence for implementation and evaluation in practice. This foundational course provides students with the skills necessary to synthesize evidence relevant to their practice and to propose an EBP implementation project with a plan for evaluating patient outcomes.

• NR 705 - Methods for Conducting Evid Based

  This course focuses on the analysis and adaptation of research methods relevant to evidence based practice (EBP) projects. The course will include a review of qualitative research designs and quantitative research designs with associated statistics and corresponding levels of evidence. Additional research methods content will include: samples and sampling techniques, measurement principles and instrument psychometrics, intervention protocols, data collection procedures, human subjects review, and scientific integrity. Students will analyze the cohesion of their EBP clinical questions with methods used to collect, enter, and analyze to augment their project evaluation. The course prepares students to build upon principles learned in the previous course, NR 704: Analysis of Evidence for Advanced Nursing Practice; and this course supplements NR 709: Evaluation Strategies for Quality Improvement.

• NR 706 - Advanced Health Care Mgmt

  This course provides students with the advanced skills and knowledge to analyze and evaluate current health policies and contribute to the development of new policy using evidence and research. Budgetary planning and management as well as the general fiscal analysis of health care projects, programs, and systems are also addressed. Finally, legal aspects of management and legislation in healthcare, including the interrelationships among policy, financing, legal issues, and legislation are analyzed.

• NR 707 - Interdisciplinary Org Leadership

  This course will prepare nursing students for intraprofessional and interprofessional leadership through an interdisciplinary perspective that includes leadership psychology, an understanding of organization behavior and politics, as well as reflective practice to appreciate the impact of personal spirituality, ethics, and values on leadership roles and effectiveness. Students will examine the psychology of leadership by studying the personal qualities of successful leaders and the inner drive for power. Particular attention will be given to the ways in which culture and gender influence individuals and groups and their identities and dynamics. Throughout the semester, students will integrate values, cultural sensitivity, and spirituality into health leadership and ethical decisions to promote comprehensive, holistic care as the foundation of a just society.

• NR 708 - Advanced Health Care Informatics

  This course provides DNP students with the knowledge and skills to use information technology for augmenting the evaluation of nursing practice and healthcare outcomes. Students will learn to design databases for the collection and analysis of data, especially for the examination of patterns/trends; determination of variances in practice, and the evaluation of research, programs, and practices using national benchmarks.

• NR 709 - Evaluation Strategies for Quality

  This course will prepare DNP students to evaluate patient outcomes through quality improvement methodologies emphasizing the promotion of safe, effective, and efficient patient-centered care. Each student will learn to design and implement an evaluation plan involving data extraction from practice, information systems, and databases for the monitoring and evaluation of quality patient outcomes.

• NR 801 - Capstone Project Proposal DNP

  This course guides DNP students in developing the proposal for their capstone projects to include: EBP question/purpose/specific aims, review of literature, project framework, methods (sample, instruments, measures, intervention, data collection procedures), and an evaluation plan. At the completion of the course, students will be prepared to defend their proposals to their appropriate capstone project committees, and seek institutional review board approval. In addition, students will continue with their DNP Residencies. Progress must be documented toward completion of the required 1000 DNP residency hours.

• NR 802 - Capstone Proj Implementation DNP

  This course guides DNP students with the implementation of their capstone projects. At the completion of the course, students will have implemented the project and collected data for evaluating the project. Writing for dissemination will progress. Students will continue their DNP Residencies with progression toward completing the required 1000 residency hours.

• NR 803 - Capstone Project Dissemination

  This course guides DNP students with the evaluation and dissemination of their capstone projects. At the completion of the course, students will have evaluated the projects based on their evaluation plans and complete the writing of a publishable paper for dissemination of the projects?' outcomes. Students will bring their DNP Residencies to termination. At a minimum, the student must have completed a total of 1000 residency hours. Prerequisite: Completion of NR 802 *DNP Residency clinical hours required by each individual student will be determined based on previous education and experience in conjunction with the selected specialty practice requirements. NR 803 will remain incomplete until the final DNP project presentation and scholarly paper is completed.