The course introduces the student to the scope and complexity of anesthesia management. Introduction to Principles and Pathophysiology of Anesthesia focuses on general principles, related to anesthesia equipment, monitoring, perioperative patient assessment, basic anesthesia care, documentation of care, airway management, regional anesthesia, and methods for pain management.

Credits: 2

This course affords students the opportunity to evaluate and analyze clinical or educational nurse anesthesia practice and determine strategies for improvement. Evidence derived from a substantive literature review forms the underpinnings for the improvement process for patients, populations, clinical or educational settings.

Credits: 4

This course examines organizational management of local and national healthcare delivery systems. Examination of systems analysis frames leadership influence in the modern, diverse healthcare environment. The course also explores health and illness, anesthesia providers and other members of the healthcare team with emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches.

Credits: 3

Political advocacy is highly valued in the nurse anesthesia profession. This course analyzes issues and policies that affect nurse anesthesia practice and healthcare at local, state, and national levels. Change theory and leadership models are examined in the context of how nurse anesthetists influence healthcare policy. The course includes interdisciplinary, intraprofessional and interprofessional models for examining healthcare policy. Leadership development to address and influence health policy development for patients and the profession is included.

Credits: 3

This course explores informatics and the use of technology including data identification, data collection, processing data that supports nurse anesthesia practice and nurse anesthesia education. Ethical and legal issues surrounding patient information in the digital world are explored.

Credits: 3

Statistical analysis of qualitative and quantitative research designs is explored.

Credits: 4

This course helps students analyze human error, patient safety and quality assurance using a collaborative model. The course also examines crisis resource management, simulation, and other aspects of anesthesia practice as related to risk management.

Credits: 3

This course provides strategies in teacher/learner communication and application of education concepts of curriculum, instruction, and evaluation as well as reflection. These fundamental concepts and principles will facilitate the student to become familiar with the educational concepts of a didactic and/or clinical educator in a nurse anesthesia program. Course content includes curriculum development, instruction, and evaluation.

Credits: 3

This course focuses on anesthesia as it pertains to the family units, the aging population and anesthesia as a contributor to the larger health system.

Credits: 3

This course provides a framework for starting and managing a business in the healthcare environment. It incorporates the preparation of a business plan including contract negotiation, legal considerations, financial planning and corporate structure, enabling the Nurse Anesthetist to successfully navigate the anesthesia marketplace.

Credits: 3

Biochemistry is concerned with the functioning of cellular constituents at the molecular level in health and how their functions are altered in disease. Biochemistry is fundamental to understanding all branches of the life sciences. Topics include cellular energy metabolism, signal transduction, cell biology, complete blood count, anemias, diabetes, and hemostasis tests.

Credits: 3

This course covers broad anatomical themes organized into four units: back and upper extremity, thorax and abdomen, pelvis and lower extremity, and head and neck. Students will develop three-dimensional anatomical knowledge that is required for allied health training. Case studies will be used to foster familiarity with typical clinical presentations, and how to approach diagnoses from a basic anatomical perspective. Curriculum delivery is through lectures, laboratory-based dissection workshops, ultrasound workshops, small group activities, and online resources. Student progress is evaluated through written and practical examinations.

Credits: 7

This course provides an overview of research designs used in basic science, applied, and descriptive research. The course is intended to teach research skills used in all of the health professions and to aid in the interpretation of published research reports.

Credits: 3

This course will present material concerning professional issues surrounding the practice of Nurse Anesthesia. The student will be introduced to the professional associations of the nurse anesthesia profession. Also included are the topics of wellness and cultural diversity.

Credits: 2

This course continues to present material concerning professional issues surrounding the practice of Nurse Anesthesia. Other topics addressed include the business practice of anesthesia, professional regulation and credentialing, healthcare policy, and wellness and addiction.

Prerequisites: NAPDG 1570 Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia I

Credits: 2.5

This course continues to build upon the scope and complexity of anesthesia management taught in the Introduction course. Advanced Principles and Pathophysiology of Anesthesia I focuses on general principles of basic and advanced airway management techniques, fluid and blood replacement therapy, EKG, basic cardiac and pulmonary physiology and pathophysiology, pain theory, radiology, and positioning.

Prerequisites: NAPDG 1500 Introduction to Principles & Pathophysiology of Anesthesia

Credits: 4

Scholarly Project I is the first of a 4-course sequence that includes the elements of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) scholarly project. This course introduces the student to the scholarly project. Students identify a clinical, educational, administrative, or professional problem that requires systematic inquiry to build a research utilization or quality improvement project. The problem and significance as well as the conceptual or theoretical framework and initial literature search to determine existing evidence are included. A proposal outline and timeline are developed. The research utilization and quality improvement processes is examined in this course.

Credits: 4

Students will begin the clinical practicum in the summer of their second year in the program. Students will rotate to a variety of hospitals in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Washington State. These rotations will include specialty rotations in cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics.

Prerequisites: Completion of all didactic course work through Spring quarter of second year; successful completion of previous clinical rotation.

Credits: 11

This course comprises the didactic component of NAPDG 1620 and NAPDG 1721 through NAPDG 1724. The student's retention of didactic information will be evaluated and a professional case report will be presented by the student.

Prerequisites: Completion of all didactic course work through Spring quarter of second year; successful completion of previous Clinical Rotation Didactic Component class.

Credits: 2

These laboratory courses accompany the Advanced Principles and Pathophysiology of Anesthesia I, II, and III course series. The content focuses on the application of skills and knowledge needed to conduct the administration of general, regional and MAC anesthesia. Application of the theoretical principles to individual patient scenarios is emphasized. Students complete the course series in the spring with weekly high-fidelity simulation to apply previous knowledge to simulated real-life scenarios to develop critical thinking skills. Students will also explore current research regarding anesthesia practice and novel anesthesia techniques.

Credits: 2

These courses continue to build upon the scope and complexity of anesthesia management over a wide range of patient ages, co-morbidities, procedures, and anesthesia techniques. Advanced Principles and Pathophysiology of Anesthesia II introduces the management of patients with coexisting disease that complicate anesthesia management, and the anesthetic management of specific types of procedures. The course also introduces the principles of regional anesthesia. The final course (NAPDG 1642) in this series focuses on more complex anesthesia management scenarios including the specialty practice of cardiac, neurologic, obstetric, and pediatric anesthesia.

Prerequisites: NAPDG 1500 Introduction to Advanced Principles & Pathophysiology of Anesthesia, NAPDG 1640 Advanced Principles & Pathophysiology of Anesthesia I

Credits: 6

These courses focus on drugs and delivery systems used for anesthesia. The major emphasis is on inhalational agents, local anesthetics, muscle relaxants and reversal agents, narcotics and induction agents. General principles of drug action, drug dynamics and kinetics, toxicities and therapeutic uses are included for all drug groups. Students are exposed to drugs affecting major organ systems of the body. Applications using real anesthesia scenarios are included to translate pharmacology theory to anesthesia practice. Drug calculations, conversion, preparing and administering medications, IV fluid management, documentation, and anesthetic planning are included.

Credits: 4 each course

The Interprofessional Healthcare courses involve the Colleges of Dental Medicine, Health Sciences, Optometry, Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine. These courses are designed to teach all clinically-based students about other clinical programs, and how the student might interact together as part of an interprofessional healthcare team, and the importance of an interprofessional approach to patient care. The classes consist primarily of online presentations that are delivered by interprofessional team members from each of the clinical programs. Associated quizzes will also be completed online. Occasional lectures, panel presentations, or group assignments may also be incorporated.

Credits: 0.5

This course is designed to teach the student the art and technique of physical assessment. Course content includes lectures and reading assignments covering normal and abnormal physical findings. In addition, there are weekly physical exam laboratory sessions designed to provide the student with hands-on practice in exam techniques. At the conclusion of the course the student will be expected to pass a written final exam and satisfactorily perform a complete physical examination.

Credits: 4

In this two-quarter series, students are introduced through didactic instruction and clinical case sessions to the basic physiologic principles that underline the normal function of the various organs and organ systems. These core principles provide the foundation through which the student develops an understanding of health in physiologic terms and appreciation of diverse regulatory processes that maintain the homeostasis of the human body.

Credits: 4

In this two-quarter series, students are introduced through didactic instruction and clinical case sessions to the basic physiologic principles that underline the normal function of the various organs and organ systems. These core principles provide the foundation through which the student develops an understanding of health in physiologic terms and appreciation of diverse regulatory processes that maintain the homeostasis of the human body.

Credits: 4

This scholarly project course focuses on a substantive literature review. The literature is organized, analyzed, and integrated to prepare for synthesis. The written literature review is submitted to the Scholarly Project Advisory Team for review. Following the review, the student completes revisions.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of NAPDG 1612 Scholarly Project I

Credits: 4

In this third scholarly project course, a proposed methodology that is consistent with the research utilization or quality improvement processes is developed. The course includes research study methodology consistent with the research question and/or aim of the scholarly project. Methodology addresses the specific type of study design and synthesis of the literature to explore the problem and develop solutions. An analysis and synthesis of the evidence is completed. A plan for evaluation of expected outcomes is also developed for the project. The written analysis and synthesis of the literature is submitted to the Scholarly Project Advisory Team for review. Following the review, the student completes revisions.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of NAPDG 1712 Scholarly Project II

Credits: 4

This is the final scholarly project course. The written research utilization or quality improvement project is revised and completed following approval of the Scholarly Project Advisory Team. Plans for dissemination of the project are formulated and shared with the communities of interest. A professional poster is completed based on the key elements of the research utilization or quality improvement project. Presentation of the final scholarly product to the faculty, DNAP degree nurse anesthesia students and invited guests is required. Students may submit the final product as a manuscript for publication, a poster at a local or national meeting, or as a platform presentation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of NAPDG 1732 Scholarly Project III

Credits: 4

This independent study course provides an opportunity for didactic, simulation, or clinical inquiry to supplement the required course of study.

Credits: 0.5 - 6