Acting Department Chair: Lenore Litwin CRNA, MSN, BIO Phone: 847.578.3400 Department Fax: 847.775.6574
27 Month Full-Time Track
Term 1 – Spring HNAS 750 Physiology & Pathophysiology (6) HNAS 710 Chemistry & Physics in Anesthesia (3) HNAS 701 Principles of Anesthesia I (4) HNAS 711 Clinical Correlations I (1) 14 credits
Term 2 - Summer MCBA 501 Clinical Anatomy (10) HNAS 700 Professional Issues & Ethics (2) 12 credits
Term 3 – Autumn HMTD 500 Interprofessional Teams (1) HNAS 702 Principles of Anesthesia II (3) PBBS 601A Pharmacology I (4) HPAS 528 Research & Statistics (3) HNAS 712 Clinical Correlations II (1) 12 credits
Term 4 – Winter HNAS 703 Principles of Anesthesia III (4) PBBS 601B Pharmacology II (5) HNAS 720 Anesthesia Pharmacology (3) HNAS 713 Clinical Correlations III (1) 13 credits
Term 5 – Spring HNAS 706 Regional Anesthesia & Advanced Airway Management (3) HNAS 810 Clinical Practicum I (10) HNAS 714 Clinical Seminar I (1) 14 credits
Term 6 – Summer HNAS 820 Clinical Practicum II (12) HNAS 715 Clinical Seminar II (1) 13 credits
Term 7 – Autumn HNAS 830 Clinical Practicum III(12) HNAS 716 Clinical Seminar III (1) 13 credits
Term 8 – Winter HNAS 840 Clinical Practicum IV (12) HNAS 717 Clinical Seminar IV (1) 13 credits
Term 9 - Spring HNAS 850 Clinical Practicum V (12) HNAS 718 Clinical Seminar V (1) HNAS 806 Master’s Project (4) 17 credits
Content Area: Physiology & Pathophysiology (16 qh)
MCBA-501 Clinical Anatomy (10 qh) This course utilizes formal lecture and cadaver dissection to perform an in-depth study of the structure of the entire human body. This format is supplemented with several lectures specifically designed to correlate the anatomical findings with clinical applications for the medical practitioner. Prerequisite: Admission to the nurse anesthesia program. HNAS 750 Physiology & Pathophysiology (6 qh) In this course, physiology and pathophysiology for nurse anesthetists is presented through a web-supported platform that includes weekly quizzes and case discussions. Following an overview of cellular and neuronal physiology, the following body systems are emphasized: muscular-skeletal; cardiovascular; respiratory; renal, and endocrine. Prerequisite: Admission to the nurse anesthesia program
Content Area: Research
HPAS 528 Research & Statistics (3 qh) The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the utilization of research and statistics in health care. Topics include principles of research, ethics, information retrieval, the literature review and critical examination of articles. Students begin their work on group research projects and research competencies. In the statistics portion of the course, descriptive and inferential statistics are taught with relevance to health care research. Use of computer applications for statistical analysis is included. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in the nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 806 Master’s Project (4 qh) This is a major project including development of a problem statement, objectives for the experience and literature review. A significant outcome document, such as a research paper, course materials, or textbook chapter, is produced. Students will identify the topic of their master’s project at the completion of HPAS 528 or earlier and have quarterly meetings with the assistant program director thereafter to discuss progress on the project. A public presentation about the project is made during term 9, the final quarter of study. Another option for presentation is at the all-school research symposium which takes place in the spring. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of HPAS 528 and all other previous courses in the nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval.
Content Area: Professional Aspects of Practice
HNAS 700 Professional Issues and Ethics (2 qh) This course is designed to familiarize the student with the history and traditions of the nurse anesthesia profession. Students will learn about nurse anesthesia practice in various health care settings. This content will be complemented by a focused review of current philosophies, policies, and ethical issues in contemporary health care, emphasizing the perioperative setting. This course is COA approved as a distance course with no live review.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in the nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval.
Content Area: Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents & Adjuvant Drugs
PBBS 601A Pharmacology & Clinical Therapeutics I (4 qh) This course will explore general pharmacological principles, drug receptor sites, important drug interactions, and the effects of drugs on the nervous system. It will integrate the general pharmacological principles of pharmcodynamics, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of action, classes of therapeutic agents, recommended dosing, proper routes of administration, common side effects, drug indications and contraindications. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. PBBS 601B Pharmacology & Clinical Therapeutics II (5 qh) This course is a continuation of PBBS 601A, and covers drugs not previously covered in the first quarter. Prerequisite: PBBS 601A and satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 720 Advanced Nurse Anesthesia Pharmacology (3 qh) This course covers the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles of specific anesthetic and adjunct drugs in anesthesia practice. Information related to the selection, administration, dosage and side effects of these drugs is emphasized. Drug categories that will be covered include: intravenous induction agents/hypnotics; benzodiazepines; inhalation anesthetics; opioids, and muscle relaxants. A hybrid approach of web-supported didactics augmented with weekly live review and case discussion sessions will be utilized. Prerequisite: PBBS 601A and satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval.
Content Area: Anesthesia Practice
Physics, Equipment, Principles and Pain Management HNAS 710 Chemistry and Physics of Anesthesia (3 qh) This course provides basic science foundational to anesthesia practice, including: gas laws; the basics of chemistry; biological macromolecules; physics related to anesthesia and monitoring equipment; medical mathematics, and a review of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodyanmics are all presented. A hybrid approach of web-supported didactics augmented with weekly live review and case discussion sessions will be utilized. Prerequisite: Admission to the nurse anesthesia program. HNAS 701 Principles of Anesthesia I (4 qh) Basic principles of nurse anesthesia will be discussed, including: preoperative assessment; the anesthesia machine and breathing circuits; airway management; legal and historical aspects of nurse anesthesia practice. An overview of basic anesthesia pharmacology will be presented. A hybrid approach of web-supported didactics augmented with weekly live review and case discussion sessions will be utilized. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 702 Principles of Anesthesia II (3 qh) Building on content presented in HNAS 701, this course will provide an overview of advanced principles of anesthesia care. Anesthetic considerations for specialty surgical areas such as peripheral vascular, cardiovascular, neurological, thoracic, orthopedic, trauma and burns will be reviewed. A hybrid approach of web-supported didactics augmented with weekly live review and case discussion sessions will be utilized. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 703 Principles of Anesthesia III (4 qh) In this course, anesthetic considerations for obstetric and pediatric patients will be discussed. Unique anatomic, physiologic and pathophysiologic considerations related to these patient populations will be reviewed. A hybrid approach of web-supported didactics augmented with weekly live review and case discussion sessions will be utilized. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 706 Regional Anesthesia & Advanced Airway Management (3 qh) This course covers the anatomy and physiology of the peripheral nerves, spinal cord, upper and lower airways. The pharmacology of local anesthetics and administration and management of regional anesthesia (peripheral, neuraxial, inhaled, topical, local infiltration) is emphasized. Acute and chronic pain management will be discussed. A hybrid approach of web-supported didactics augmented with a weekend live seminar discussion led by field experts will be utilized. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. Content: Clinical Correlation Experiences HNAS 711 Clinical Correlations I (1 qh) This course provides initial clinical correlation with didactic content through use of the human patient simulator. Students will review the steps in preoperative assessment, basic airway management, anesthesia care planning, implementation and evaluation. Checkout and troubleshooting of the anesthesia machine will also be reviewed. Students will visit the North Chicago Veteran's Hospital for machine checkout in an operating room setting. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 712 Clinical Correlations II (1 qh) This course provides initial correlation through use of the human patient simulator and skill trainers. Students will spend a day rotating to the North Chicago Veteran's Hospital preoperative clinic. Arterial Line insertion and central line insertion training will take place via skill trainers. Simulation will focus on beginning surgical specialties.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 713 Clinical Correlations III (1 qh) During this experience, continued training with the human patient simulator and skill trainers for spinal/epidural, IC and advanced airway management and operating room set-up.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 714 Clinical Correlation IV (1 qh) This is the initial clinical correlation conference (first Mock Board Exam covering HNAS 701 and HNAS 710, case studies, key word presentations) during Term 5. Students will be on campus the 4th Friday of each month, unless otherwise noted.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 715 Clinical Seminar I (1 qh) During the clinical practicum, students will return to campus one day per month for key word presentations, case discussions, and the second Mock Board Exam covering HNAS 702. Students will critique assigned articles, and learn how to develop presentations. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 716 Clinical Seminar II (1 qh) During the clinical practicum, students will return to campus one day per month for key word presentations, case discussions, and the third Mock Board Exam covering HNAS 703. Students will critique assigned articles, and learn how to develop presentations. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 717 Clinical Seminar III (1 qh) During the clinical practicum, students will return to campus one day per month for key word presentations, case discussions, and the fourth Mock Board Exam covering HNAS 720 and HNAS 701. Students will critique assigned articles, and learn how to develop presentations. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 718 Clinical Seminar IV (1 qh) During the clinical practicum, students will return to campus one day per month for key word presentations, case discussions, and the comprehensive Mock Board Exam. Students will critique assigned articles, and learn how to develop presentations. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval.
Content: Clinical Experience
HNAS 810 Clinical Practicum I (10 qh) This is the first clinical practicum that will occur during Term 5. Students will be in the clinical area five days per week . Students will be supervised by CRNAs and anesthesiologists at their clinical sites and have opportunities to synthesize and apply previous learning. Students must maintain professionalism and be open to various teaching style learning experiences. Students are assigned 3 care plans per week to be in the course shell (D2L) dropbox by each Friday evening for review and feedback from faculty. It is expected that the student will remain with cases in progress through their conclusion. There will be a monthly clinical correlation conference (HNAS 714) to review clinical experiences, present key words, and conduct case discussions. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 820 Clinical Practicum II (12 qh) During this quarter, students will continue rotations at various clinical sites. Students will be in the clinical area 5 days per week. Students will be supervised by CRNAs and anesthesiologists and will have opportunities to synthesize and apply previous learning. Students must maintain professionalism and be open to various teaching styles and learning experiences. It is expected that the student will remain with cases in progress through their conclusion. There will be a monthly clinical correlation conference (HNAS 715) to review clinical experiences, critique journal articles, present key words, conduct case discussions, and review progress on master’s projects. Speciality care plans (pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiothoracic and neurology) will be written and dropped into the D2L dropbox. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 830 Clinical Practicum III (12 qh) Students will continue rotations at the clinical sites contingent on documented progress in daily clinical evaluations. Students will be in the clinical area 5 days per week. Students will be supervised by CRNAs and anesthesiologists and will have opportunities to synthesize and apply previous learning. Students must maintain professionalism and be open to various teaching styles and learning experiences. It is expected that the student will remain with cases in progress through their conclusion. There will be a monthly clinical correlation conference (HNAS 716) to review clinical experiences, critique journal articles, present key words, conduct case discussions, and review progress on master’s projects. Speciality care plans (pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiothoracic and neurology) will be written and dropped into the D2L dropbox. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 840 Clinical Practicum IV (12 qh) Students will continue rotations at the clinical sites contingent on documented progress in daily clinical evaluations. Students will be in the clinical area 5 days per week. Students will be supervised by CRNAs and anesthesiologists and will have opportunities to synthesize and apply previous learning. Students must maintain professionalism and be open to various teaching styles and learning experiences. It is expected that the student will remain with cases in progress through their conclusion. There will be a monthly clinical correlation conference (HNAS 717) to review clinical experiences, critique journal articles, present key words, conduct case discussions, and review progress on master’s projects. Speciality care plans (pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiothoracic and neurology) will be written and dropped into the D2L dropbox. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. HNAS 850 Clinical Practicum V (12 qh) Students will continue rotations at the clinical sites contingent on documented progress in daily clinical evaluations. Students will be in the clinical area 5 days per week. Students will be supervised by CRNAs and anesthesiologists and will have opportunities to synthesize and apply previous learning. Students must maintain professionalism and be open to various teaching styles and learning experiences. It is expected that the student will remain with cases in progress through their conclusion. There will be a monthly clinical correlation conference (HNAS 718) to review clinical experiences, critique journal articles, present key words, conduct case discussions, and review progress on master’s projects. The first week of June is reserved for presentation of Master's Projects (if not participatory in research symposium in March) review of clinical experiences and to finalize graduation related processes.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all previous courses in nurse anesthesia program or faculty approval. Other Required Courses HMTD 500 Interprofessional Healthcare Teams (1 qh) This is an experiential learning opportunity for all students at RFUMS to learn about the collaborative care model. Students will interact in health care teams focused on patient-centered care, emphasizing evidence-based practice, quality improvement strategies and informatics.