Post-Graduate Certificate: Nurse Anesthesiology (CRNA) Specialization

The post-graduate certificate specialization of Nurse Anesthesiology (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: CRNA) is a practice-focused program for nurse anesthesiology. The program prepares advance practice registered nurses (APRN) with a practice doctorate degree for the specialty of nurse anesthesiology. This is a residency designed program, where students complete more than 1000 hours of didactic or classroom instruction and approximately 2,500 hours of clinical instruction at Barry University's clinical affiliations in five geographical regions of Florida. Students graduate with the specialized knowledge, skills, and judgement needed to administer anesthesia in a variety of settings to patients of all ages after passing the National Certification Examination (NCE) for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA). The Program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, 10275 W. Higgins Rd. Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018, and 224-275-9130. [e-mail] or https://www.coacrna.org/.
The program is also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Philosophy and Mission

The Graduate Nursing programs embrace the core commitments and values expressed in the University Mission, which includes providing the highest academic standards in graduate and professional education. The programs provide educational experiences which are transformative and inclusive by building on the knowledge, skills and values of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse. The faculty support a scholarly approach to the discipline and a commitment to advancing the profession. The programs seek to educate advance practice nurses and scholar/scientists who honor and respect human dignity and who are prepared to serve as senior level nurses in key leadership positions that influence health care delivery locally, nationally and globally.

Mission for the Anesthesiology Program

The Anesthesiology Programs additionally seek to provide curricula that prepare advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to deliver safe, competent, and ethical anesthesia and anesthesia-related care to patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical procedures. The curricula are designed to cover the full scope of nurse anesthesia practice with the following focal areas: patient safety, perianesthesia care, critical thinking, communication and leadership, and the professional role of the certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).

General Goals

The goals of the post-graduate certificate specialization of Nurse Anesthesiology (CRNA) support the Mission and Core Commitments of Barry University and the Mission and Goals of the School of Nursing and College of Health and Wellness.

Program Goals

1. Create a practice environment for entry into practice as nurse anesthesia professionals at the practice-doctoral level to provide safe, competent and ethical care to patients within the full scope of practice.
2. Prepare graduates to engage in scholarship and life-long learning in order to improve the quality of therapeutic and anesthetic care and to advance the specialty of nurse anesthesia.
3. Engage graduates to assume leadership roles in the healthcare policy making and advocacy process in order to promote social justice and to improve access to quality healthcare.

Student Learning Outcomes

The terminal objectives of the DNP in Anesthesiology Program correlate with the six domains of the Graduate Standards as set forth by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs as follows:

1. Patient Safety
2. Perianesthesia
3. Critical Thinking
4. Communication
5. Leadership
6. Professional Role

Upon successful completion of the post-graduate certificate specialization of Nurse Anesthesiology (CRNA), the graduate shall have acquired the knowledge, skills and competence in these domains as evidenced by the ability to:

1. Patient Safety

a. Incorporate measures into therapeutic and anesthetic plans of care that promote patient safety and prevent iatrogenic complications, including comprehensive equipment check.
b. Remain vigilant in the delivery of therapeutic and anesthetic care.
c. Refrain from engaging in activities that abandon or minimize vigilance while delivering direct therapeutic and anesthetic care.

       2. Perianesthesia

a. Deliver individualized and culturally competent care to patients across the lifespan and throughout the therapeutic and perianesthetic continuum.
b. Perform a comprehensive history and physical assessment and incorporate differential diagnoses into therapeutic and anesthetic plans of care.
c. Administer and manage therapeutic and anesthetic care to patients with a variety of physical conditions and for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
d. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in resuscitative care as evidenced by BCLS, ACLS and PALS recognition by the American Heart Association.

      3. Critical Thinking

a. Apply scientific knowledge and evidence-based principles to decision-making and problem-solving processes in the delivery of therapeutic and anesthetic care.
b. Perform an assessment and formulate a plan of care prior to providing therapeutic and anesthetic care.
c. Formulate diagnoses based on the interpretation and utilization of data, including data from noninvasive and invasive monitoring modalities, during the delivery of therapeutic and anesthetic care.
d. Recognize, evaluate, and appropriately manage physiological responses and complications that occur during the delivery of therapeutic and anesthetic care.
e. Recognize and appropriately manage anesthetic equipment-related malfunctions.
f. Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid and blood component therapy for patients across the lifespan undergoing a variety of surgical and therapeutic procedures.
g. Incorporate new practice approaches to therapeutic and anesthetic care through the analysis of science-based theories and concepts.
h. Pass the national certification exam for nurse anesthesia professionals in accordance to the policies and procedures of the certifying entity.

      4. Communication

a. Utilize interpersonal and communications skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with other healthcare professionals, including comprehensive, timely, accurate, and legible healthcare records.
b. Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients and their families.
c. Provide therapeutic and anesthetic care in a manner that maintains the dignity and privacy of patients while maintaining confidentiality in the delivery of inter-professional care.
d. Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that ensures continuity of care and patient safety during the transfer of responsibility for care of the patient to other qualified providers.
e. Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that effectively educate and guide patients through complex health and situational transitions.

      5. Leadership

a. Provide leadership in a manner that integrates critical and reflective thinking that facilitates inter- and intra-professional collaboration.

      6. Professional Role

a. Interact on a professional level with integrity and in accordance with the ANA Code of Ethics and the Code of Ethics for the CRNA.
b. Apply ethical principles to the decision-making process in the delivery of therapeutic and anesthetic care.
c. Function within legal and regulatory requirements in the delivery of therapeutic and anesthetic care.
d. Incorporate knowledge of wellness and chemical dependency into practice, including the duty to be appropriately rested and fit to provide therapeutic and anesthetic care
e. Accept responsibility and accountability for practice.
f. Utilize information systems and current technology to support and improve patient care and integration in healthcare delivery.
g. Utilize sound and ethical business practices in the delivery of therapeutic and anesthesia services.
h. Analyze, evaluate and advocate for healthcare policy changes to promote social justice and improve access to quality patient care to the under-served.
i. Participate in education and training of student nurse anesthesia professionals that promote the advancement of the nurse anesthesia specialty.
j. Participate in scholarship and professional activities that promote the advancement of the nursing profession.
k. Function as a role model to mentor and support other Registered Nurses to uphold excellence in nursing practice.

The post-graduate certificate specialization in Nurse Anesthesiology (CRNA) curricula reflects the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials (2021) competency-based learning objectives for advanced-level nursing.