Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia is a program offered by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus in affiliation with Abbott Northwestern Hospital. The qualified student is admitted to Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and is directed toward the goal of earning a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia.
This program is for qualified registered nurses who wish to earn a master of science degree while pursuing education as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). The objective of the program is to prepare nurses for positions of leadership on the health care team.
Saint Mary's University believes in building and developing on the baccalaureate base with emphasis on a strong scientific and technical background. Graduates will be prepared to practice in a wide variety of settings and in diverse methods of administering a safe anesthetic. The graduate is eligible to write the certification examination as offered by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists. Successful completion of the examination entitles the graduate to be known as a CRNA.
Program Outcomes
Patient safety is demonstrated by the ability of the student to:
- Be vigilant in the delivery of patient care.
- Protect patients from iatrogenic complications.
- Participate in the positioning of patients to prevent injury.
- Conduct a comprehensive and appropriate equipment check.
- Utilize standard precautions and appropriate infection control measures.
Individualized perianesthetic management is demonstrated by the ability of the student to:
- Provide care throughout the perianesthetic continuum.
- Use a variety of current anesthesia techniques, agents, adjunctive drugs, and equipment while providing anesthesia.
- Administer general anesthesia to patients of all ages and physical conditions for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
- Provide anesthesia services to all patients, including trauma and emergency cases.
- Administer and manage a variety of regional anesthetics.
- Function as a resource person for airway and ventilatory management of patients.
- Possess current advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) recognition.
- Possess current pediatric advanced life support (PALS) recognition.
- Deliver culturally competent perianesthetic care throughout the anesthesia experience.
Critical thinking is demonstrated by the student's ability to:
- Apply theory to practice in decision-making and problem solving.
- Provide nurse anesthesia care based on sound principles and research evidence.
- Perform a preanesthetic assessment and formulate an anesthesia care plan for patients to whom they are assigned to administer anesthesia.
- Identify and take appropriate action when confronted with anesthetic equipment-related malfunctions.
- Interpret and utilize data obtained from noninvasive and invasive monitoring modalities.
- Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid and blood component therapy.\
- Recognize and appropriately respond to anesthetic complications that occur during the perianesthetic period.
- Pass the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists' certification examination.
Communication skills are demonstrated by the student's ability to:
- Effectively communicate with all individuals influencing patient care.
- Utilize appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and written communication in the delivery of perianesthetic care.
Professional role is demonstrated by the student's ability to:
- Participate in activities that improve anesthesia care.
- Function within appropriate legal requirements as a registered professional nurse, accepting responsibility and accountability for his or her practice.
- Interact on a professional level with integrity.
- Teach others.
- Participate in continuing education activities to acquire new knowledge and improve his or her practice.
Program Philosophy
The Master of Science program in Nurse Anesthesia originated in response to the request of leaders in health care for graduate level education in the field of Nurse Anesthesia. With this need in mind, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota developed this program in affiliation with Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
With a focus on meeting the needs of adult learners, the program's goal is to provide a positive and supportive learning environment, preparing the professional nurse in the art and science of anesthesia, meeting the societal need for safe and competent anesthesia care.
The program provides the student with a curriculum that includes formal and informal instruction in scientific principles, clinical practice, and professional growth opportunities. A shared sense of responsibility exists between the faculty and the student to reach the goal of becoming a nurse anesthetist.
Program Accreditation
The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs:
222 South Prospect Avenue
Park Ridge, IL 60068-4010
847-692-7050
HOSPITAL AFFILIATION SITES
- Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN
- Amery Regional Medical Center, Amery, WI
- Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center, Marshall, MN
- Children's Hospital and Clinics, Minneapolis, MN
- Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, Saint Paul, MN
- Glencoe Regional Health Center, Glencoe, MN
- Hess Memorial Medical Center, Mauston, WI
- Lake City Medical Center, Lake City, MN
- Memorial Medical Center, Neilsville, WI
- Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids, MN
- Miller Dwan Hospital, Duluth, MN
- Northfield Hospital, Northfield, MN
- Owatonna Hospital, Owatonna, MN
- Phillips Eye Institute, Minneapolis, MN
- Queen of Peace Hospital, New Prague, MN
- Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Reedsburg, WI
- Regions Hospital, Saint Paul, MN
- Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar, MN
- Ridgeview Medical Center, Waconia, MN
- River Falls Hospital, River Falls, WI
- Riverwood Health Care Center, Aitkin, MN
- Saint Cloud Hospital, Saint Cloud, MN
- Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Wabasha, MN
- Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield, WI
- Saint Luke's Hospital, Duluth, MN
- Saint Mary's Medical Center, Duluth, MN
- Unity Hospital, Fridley, MN
Degree Requirements
Students earn 64 semester credits in a 28-month (seven semesters) program by integrating clinical and academic experiences.
CURRICULUM DESIGN
Curriculum Design - First Year
Semester I (Summer)
NA630 Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia 3 credits
NA640 Chemistry & Physics 4 credits
NA606 Research Design and Statistical 3 credits
Analysis
NA635 Professional Communication 3 credits
13 credits total
Semester II (Fall)
NA615 Principles of Anesthesia Practice I 6 credits
NA645 Anatomy & Physiology I 6 credits
NA651 Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthetists 3 credits
15 credits total
Semester III (Winter)
NA650 Anatomy & Physiology II 5 credits
NA661 Pharmacology 3 credits
NA620 Principles of Anesthesia Practice II 6 credits
NA770 Clinical Practicum I (150 hrs) 2 credits
16 credits total
Second Year
Semester IV (Summer)
NA781Synthesis Paper Proposal 2 credits
NA771 Clinical Practicum II (480 hrs) 2 credits
NA780 Clinical Integration I 2 credits
6 credits total
Semester V (Fall)
NA632 Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia
Department Management 1 credit
NA782 Clinical Integration II 2 credits
NA772 Clinical Practicum III (480 hrs) 2 credits
5 credits total
Semester VI (Winter)
NA783 Synthesis Paper and Presentation 3 credits
NA773 Clinical Practicum IV (600 hrs) 3 credits
6 credits total
Third Year
Semester VII (Summer)
NA774 Clinical Practicum V (600 hrs) 3 credits
64 credits total
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