This course comprises the three major subject areas of a traditional statistics course, namely, descriptive statistics, probability, and inferential statistics. As regards the first two areas, it primarily reviews and reinforces them, although extending them in certain selected respects. the focus of the course is twofold: in extending and deepening the students' knowledge of inferential techniques such as of comparing two means or two proportions, the chi-square test for two-way tables, inference for regression, two-way Analysis of Variance, nonparametric tests, and/or multiple and logistic regression; and in demonstrating relevance of the subject of statistics to the exploration of health and disease. The use of Microsoft Excel and/or statistical software will facilitate the study of practical problems in health and illness care. This course is a three-credit, one-semester (summer - hybrid) course required for DNAP students.
The course is designed to cover the core knowledge and skills involved in program evaluation, provide practical experience in evaluation design, and provide exposure to some of the ethical and philosophical issues current in evaluation research. Course activities will be focused on giving students direct experience in the specific research skills and tools required for effective program evaluation which is critical in the development and maintenance of evidence-based practice.
This course is designed to explore the concept of leadership within the health care system. Content will focus on the nursing leadership role in quality and safety initiatives, information management, patient outcome improvement, and fiscal management. Strategies for creating a culture of quality and safety; application of current technology in information management; and approaches for improvement in patient outcomes will be examined. An overview of health care fiscal management and issues will be investigated. The nursing leadership role in systems thinking and organizational management will be explored.
This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the development of health care policy in the United States. The role health professionals play in defining health policies and healthcare reform, and its impact on healthcare delivery systems is explored. The course offers an introduction to economics and policy factors that affect health care systems. A review of relevant economic concepts and topics such as demand for health services, health care provider behavior, implications of insurance strategies, cost containment, health technologies and government regulations will be covered. An overview of health care finance as it relates to health care systems/services is presented and strategies for influencing the regulatory process will be explored.
This graduate course focuses on communication, ethical/legal issues and advocacy as they are applied to complex health care situations. Principles of communication and relationships help the advanced practitioner be an effective team leader and team member in multidisciplinary groups. The exploration of pertinent ethical and legal dilemmas will provide a background for decision making with groups and individuals. Retrieval and synthesis of data insures a basis for evaluating individual and team goals. The transformation of electronic data bases further enrich patient advocacy by applying evidenced based practice to consumer health care information and aligning clinical systems to meet health care benchmarks.
The principles underlying the teaching of adult learners will be examined and applied to classroom and clinical settings. Emphasis will be on the application of practical strategies to plan, conduct, and evaluate educational experiences. Also, innovative teaching strategies, use of media, evaluation techniques, and test construction/evaluation will be addressed.
The first capstone course is designed to encourage students to use their critical thinking skills to identify a problem relevant to anesthesia practice, examine the available research evidence pertaining to the identified problem and implement and evaluate a project designed to incorporate the evidence-based theory into clinical practice.
This second capstone course builds on Capstone I. Collaboration assessment and planning strategies are utilized to support the proposal development process. The student is guided in the preparation of a project specific to a phenomena related to nurse anesthesia practice in the area of evidence based research.
During the final 2-credit capstone course, the results of this clinically – based scholarly work product will be disseminated through the submission of a written and oral presentation. A secondary gain of this project is to stimulate interest in future scholarly work intended to improve the anesthesia clinical milieu.
This course correlates the scientific principles necessary for the practice of nurse anesthesia. This course will discuss essential concepts and demonstrate how the scientific concepts relate directly to clinical application in anesthesia. Key topics will include the basics of physics, fluids and vapors, a concentration on gas laws, diffusion, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, fire, explosives and safety.
The foundation of practicum I will cover basic anesthesia skills in a simulation environment. The focus will be on airway management, positioning, induction, maintenance, and emergence of anesthesia. Other areas examined will include an introduction to the operating room with emphasize on safety, equipment checks, vigilance and prevention of complications.
This course will provide a comprehensive overview of the research process. Students will gain an understanding in methodology, experimental research design, qualitative & quantitative approaches to data analysis, and the interpretation and evaluation of nursing research. Students are expected to appraise, to identify useful, valid research that can be translated and implemented into evidenced-based practice in clinical nursing practice.
This course will build upon the student?s previous undergraduate learning for an in-depth survey of structure and function of the human body as an interrelated set of organ systems. Organ systems discussed include muscle, nervous and cardiovascular systems. The thorough investigation of these systems in the healthy body will enable the student to study the pathophysiology of the above systems and apply the knowledge to the field of nurse anesthesia.
This course will build upon basic pharmacological principles and expand knowledge of drug classifications with emphasis on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anesthetic agents and adjunct medications used perioperatively in clinical anesthesia practice. Various anesthetic techniques requiring pharmacologic intervention for patients across the lifespan will be incorporated throughout the course.
This is a one-semester course in organic chemistry organized around functional groups of compounds. Aspects of organic chemistry pertinent to health, environment, and biochemistry will be discussed. Students are expected to understand the classes of drug molecules and apply their knowledge to anesthetic agents. Other concepts covered will include spatial orientation and geometric, optical and conformational isomerism, which are essential in understanding drug actions in nurse anesthesia clinical practice.
This course appraises the chemistry of living organisms. Major topics will include cellular macromolecules; common metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids; energy transformation and respiratory mechanisms. The effects of anesthesia on body fluids, the function of major organs, and on the activity of specialized molecules will also be discussed. Students are expected to understand and apply the biochemical principles to clinical nurse anesthesia practice.
This course includes an introduction to ethics, legal aspects, psychology, and professional adjustments associated with a career in anesthesia. Wellness and stress management principles to assist the student anesthetist to transition into an advanced practice role will be covered. Topics such as substance abuse and multiculturalism will be analyzed through the lens of anesthesia practice.
This course presents the principles of performing an advanced comprehensive health assessment across the life span. Conducting a health history, physical exam, and non-invasive diagnostics relevant to nurse anesthesia will be emphasized.
This course examines the perioperative management of patients undergoing surgical, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This course includes: patient assessment, preparing the anesthetizing site, setting up routine and specialized monitoring equipment, analyzing fluid and electrolyte balance requirements and administering pharmacologic agents necessary for induction, maintenance, and emergence from anesthesia. Care planning and documentation is required for this course.
This first scholarly project course is an introduction to the eight essentials of the Doctor of Nursing practice in preparation for forthcoming application of evidenced-based practice and leadership. Students will utilize critical thinking skills to identify a problem, formulate a PICOT question, relate a supporting theoretical framework, conduct a literature search, and compose an appraisal and synthesis of existing evidence relevant to nurse anesthesia practice.
Practicum II introduces concepts of a variety of anesthesia procedures with an emphasis on patients with co-existing diseases and pain disorders. Regional anesthesia techniques including spinal and epidurals will be explored, practiced and implemented into nurse anesthesia clinical practice.
This second research course is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and skills derived from the first research course to the development of a thesis or an alternate research activity. The student is assisted in the preparation of a scholarly project specific to a phenomenon related to nursing practice. Particular emphasis is placed on responsibility of participation in scientific inquiry and on adhering to ethics in the design and conduct of research.
This course is a continuation of Advanced Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology I. Organ systems discussed include, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hepatic, and endocrine. Representative pathophysiology of each system will also be covered enabling the student to apply the knowledge to nurse anesthesia clinical practice.
This course is a continuation of Advanced Pharmacology I. It is a comprehensive study of drugs and adjuvant agents currently utilized in the clinical practice of anesthesia. All venues of anesthesia, from general anesthesia to local anesthesia will be discussed, incorporating dosage and administration for all patients across the lifespan. Scientific theory and critical thinking skills will be applied to case studies focusing on pharmacological agents to treat pathological conditions.
This course will develop and support the anesthesia student with the knowledge and skills to be successful in articulating concepts and ideas in a logical and scholarly manner without bias throughout their doctoral studies. This course begins by providing some general principles of expository writing, ensuring each student has a clear understanding of APA formatting. Development of strategies to use in achieving professional and effective communication through the written word will be enhanced.
This course examines co-existing diseases of patients undergoing abdominal, peritoneal, and musculoskeletal procedures. Other topics explored for effective care planning will include acute and chronic pain management, opioid sparing techniques, evidence-based concepts of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) procedures, and obesity.
This second scholarly project course designed to expand on existing evidenced-based practice in nurse anesthesia by utilizing a collaboration assessment with planning strategies to support the proposal development process. Each student is directed in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of a scholarly project specific to a phenomenon related to nurse anesthesia practice relating to evidence-based research. The proposal will be submitted to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of both the university and appropriate clinical facility.
Practicum III will introduce concepts of complex patients undergoing urgent and emergency procedures in advanced settings such as bronchoscopy, gastroenterology, electrophysiology and cardiac catheterization Labs.
This course examines the perioperative plan for patients undergoing head and neck, pulmonary, and cardiovascular procedures. Other topics covered will include advanced airway management and monitoring techniques.
The third scholarly project course is designed for implementation of the evidenced-based proposal. Data is collected, analyzed, and implemented in a written report submitted to their committee for approval.
Practicum IV will advance into specialty rotations for patients across the lifespan, which include pediatric, obstetrical, cardiothoracic, neurosurgery and trauma populations. Simulation will be utilized to explore, practice and implement complex situations and regional techniques nurse anesthesia practice.
This course examines the advanced perioperative plan of patients across the life span: including obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric populations. Regional anesthesia including epidural and spinal techniques will be explored, practiced, and implemented into nurse anesthesia clinical practice.
The final scholarly project course will expand on the evidenced-based research with an analysis of results, discussion of conclusions, and compose suggestions for future research. The students will disseminate their findings in an oral defense and a poster presentation to peer and colleagues.
Practicum V will continue with specialty rotations for patients across the lifespan, which include pediatric, obstetrical, cardiothoracic, neurosurgery and trauma populations.
This course will introduce concepts on the complex patients undergoing advanced procedures such as neurological, trauma, burns and transplants.
This final advanced practicum course will allow students to implement and, if needed, modify the anesthesia plan of care by continuously assessing the patient?s response to the anesthetic and surgical or procedural intervention for patients across the life span. In addition, students are expected to practice with increasing independence in order to transition into the professional role.
This final advanced didactic course will provide a comprehensive review of program concepts in preparation for the National Certification Exam (NCE). Crisis management simulations will be utilized to explore, practice and implement complex situations into nurse anesthesia practice.
This course introduces students to the fundamental techniques of photography, including composition, lighting, and exposure. The course will cover the basic functions of smart phones & tablets and software. Images and issues in the History of Photography as well as in contemporary fine-art photographic practice will be explored. Aspects of black-and- white photography and printing will be included but, this is a digital photography course and working in a darkroom is not included. The course culminates in a final project which requires students to display their technical knowledge while creating a visually coherent group of images. Students must provide their own smart phone or tablet or DSLR camera and portable drive to take the course. (SLAE)
As an element of design, color defines the world around us. We react to it both physically and emotionally throughout our lives. This course will provide students with a broad understanding of color, encourage color awareness, and provide a basis for the creative and confident use of color. (SLAE)
The creative process is the process of change, of development, of evolution in the organization of subjective life — whether individually or within a community/society. This course provides students with an interactive educational journey toward the understanding that creative thinking is not an option in today’s world, but a survival skill — regardless of academic discipline or career path. Through identiï¬cation, investigation, application, and analysis of various creative thinking tech-niques, students will gain the knowledge and conï¬dence required to actively engage in positive approaches for solving problems. (COMM)
Students explore visual art as expressed in forms that impact our daily lives. Students will have an appreciation of aesthetic elements in functional form, various design principles, underlying visual communication, and cultural identities as manifested in visual art. The course will enable students to understand that--rather than being an isolated category of objects in a museum-- art exists as a meaningful reality in what we see, read, and use.
This course consists of directed studio art experiences with a variety of medium/technique, specifically designed for non-art and non-design majors. Students use a range of conceptual approaches for evolution of creativity and artistic skill. (SLAE)
This course provides an exploration into digital image creation and manipulation. This is an introductory course with no prior design experience necessary. Students will learn and explore the elements and principles of design and the design process. Computer design software (rastor and vector) will be introduced and explored. Students will experience the studio process of creating digital art and design (meeting them at their own level), explore relevant software, use cameras to generate their own imagery, manipulate images, and learn about composition, printing and presenting their work.