PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The GSN ONLY accepts commissioned officers or service sponsored civilians in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, or Public Health Service with a Bachelor's or Master's Degree with a concentration in Nursing.
The DNP-RNA Program is dedicated to the graduate education of nurse anesthetists in the uniformed services. The uniformed services require that graduates independently provide quality anesthesia care in diverse settings throughout the world. The rigorous curriculum is designed to integrate scientific principles with anesthesia theory and practice, stressing unique aspects of the Federal Healthcare System. An emphasis is placed on operational readiness and administering anesthesia in the austere environment with limited resources. The primary goal of the program is to produce safe, competent, adaptable anesthetists who can meet the challenges of today's federal health care needs.
CURRICULUM
The DNP-RNA program is a two-phase, 36 month, full-time program with a front-loaded Phase I didactic design and a Phase II clinical design with reinforced didactic and simulation experiences and deliberately integrated using a life-span approach that supports all facets of nurse anesthesia training.
The Phase I didactic component, is a 15 month program of study conducted on the campus of USU that provides the student with the academic and professional education necessary for entrance into the clinical arena. All content areas identified in the Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs are introduced during Phase I.
The 21-month Phase II clinical component focuses on the application of science and evidence based practice to clinical anesthesia. Students are assigned to a federal medical treatment facility as their principal clinical training site. Phase II assignments are made during the first year of Phase I and may change (although rarely) if required for optimal student experience. Students also rotate to other clinical sites that may require funded travel outside of the local area. Individual clinical training sites may be eliminated or added as needed to assure quality clinical education. The clinical phase is designed to guide graduate students toward the goal of functional autonomy by demanding that students care for patients in a manner reflecting comprehensive integration of scientific principle and, anesthesia theory, as well as, maximal independent decision-making appropriate to each student’s level of experience.
REQUIRED NURSING CORE COURSES (23 CREDITS)
GSN 706 Healthcare Informatics 3
GSN 750A Global Perspectives Seminar in Complex Healthcare Systems I 3
GSN 750B Global Perspectives Seminar in Complex Healthcare Systems II 3
GSN 9XX Evidenced Based Practice and Scholarship 5
GSN 903 Translating Evidence into Practice 3
GSN 906 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project 6
REQUIRED ADVANCED PRACTICE CORE COURSES (21 CREDITS)
GSN 601 Advanced Anatomy 3
GSN 602 Advanced Health Assessment 3
GSN 603 Advanced Physiology 3
GSN 610 Advanced Pharmacology 4
GSN 611 Advanced Pathophysiology 4
GSN 710 Bedside Ultrasonography 1
GSN 711 Integrative Medicine Methodologies 1
GSN 809 Concepts in Operational Leadership & Readiness 2
GSN XXX Trauma & Combat Casualty Care X
ADVANCED PRACTICE CORE COURSES CREDITS (20 CREDITS)
GSN601 Advanced Anatomy 3
GSN602 Advanced Health Assessment 3
GSN603 Advanced Physiology for Advanced Nursing Practice 3
GSN606 Advanced Pathophysiology (Part 1) 2
GSN608 Advanced Pathophysiology (Part 2) 2
GSN607 Advanced Pharmacology (Part 1) 2
GSN609 Advanced Pharmacology (Part 2) 2
GSN710 Bedside Ultrasonography 1
GSN711 Integrative Medicine Methodologies 1
GSN723A Reflective Practice: Contextual Thinking 1
SPECIALTY SPECIFIC COURSES CREDITS (16 CREDITS)
RNA602 Applied Biochemistry for Nurse Anesthetists 3
RNA605 Principles of Anesthesia, pharmacology & coexisting disease in clinical anesthesia practice I 4
RNA606 Principles of Anesthesia, pharmacology & coexisting disease in clinical anesthesia practice II 5
RNA607 Principles of regional anesthesia & vascular access 1
RNA608 Principles of Anesthesia, pharmacology & coexisting disease in clinical anesthesia practice III 3
REQUIRED PRACTICUM COURSES (38 CREDITS)
RNA801 Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice I 1
RNA802 Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice II 8
RNA803 Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice III 8
RNA804 Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice IV 5
RNA805 Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice V 8
RNA806 Clinical Practicum and Seminar for Nurse Anesthesia Practice VI 8
ELECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES
GSN810 Operational Readiness Directed Study 3
GSN721 Interdisciplinary Health Policy 2
PDR4127 Media Communication in Health Care 2
DNP PROJECT (6 CREDITS)
GSN906 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project 6
The project translates research into practice in the form of a practice or system improvement. Students identify inconsistencies, inefficiencies, or other issues within the clinical setting and propose a solution based on existing research.
OPERATIONAL READINESS CURRICULA/EXPERIENCES
The GSNs Operational Curriculum is integrated throughout the RNA program to develop military providers capable of provide care in both traditional and operational settings. All the APRN students receive “core” operational content during the first year of the program to include Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Behavioral Health First Aid and battlefield principles taught through an immersive experience at the Antietam Battlefield.
In addition to these specific courses, operational content is woven throughout the RNA curriculum, and students are offered the opportunity to complete an operational elective such as Dive Medicine, Military Mountain Medicine and the Cold Weather Medicine which are conducted in austere settings.
CLINICAL ROTATIONS
The DNP-RNA program takes advantage of the extensive, global network of federal and military treatment facilities to provide students with the best clinical experience possible. Upon completion of Phase I training, Students transfer to one of 8 Phase II locations to complete the 21 month clinical portion of the program. Phase 2 sites are located across the Continental U.S.
During this time, they will apply the knowledge from Phase I into clinical practice where they will achieve proficiency in basic and advanced anesthesia principles, general and regional anesthesia, and patient specific anesthesia care areas such as pediatrics, adults, geriatrics, obstetrics, cardiac, and trauma to name a few. The number of hours mandated by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education are enforced in the RNA program, which stipulates that effective student learning should not exceed 64 hours per week averaged over four weeks. This time commitment includes time spent in class and in clinical, in-house clinical time, time spent in the operating room, averaged over a four week period. This should include a 10-hour rest period between scheduled clinical shifts and should not exceed more than 16 hours of continued patient care. Students are to notify clinical faculty prior to exceeding any clinical hour requirements, and under no circumstances can the total maximum hours be exceeded.
SELF-EVALUATION EXAMINATION
Students in the DNP-RNA Program will take the Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) at least three times while in the program. Students will receive a notice from the NBCRNA with instructions on how to schedule the exam with the testing site and must follow these directions. Recently the NBCRNA announced that a direct correlation exists between the SEE and the National Certifying Examination (NCE). A score of 400 was deemed to be a good predictor on students successfully passing the NCE. The students are expected to achieve at least a 400 on the SEE for their first two attempts. If unsuccessful, they will be placed on local plan of academic supervision to further prepare them for their final SEE. Prior to scheduling the NCE, the students are expected to achieve a 420 on their final SEE. If unsuccessful, the students must present a detailed study plan and are highly encouraged to take a review course before they are cleared to sit for the NCE.
LICENSURE
All nurse anesthesia students are required to obtain and maintain a valid, unrestricted nursing license. Licensure may be required in the state where out-rotations are completed. The cost of obtaining and maintaining licensure is the responsibility of the student. The student must provide the Program Director and Clinical Site Director/Coordinator with a copy of the current license and a copy of each renewal. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in immediate suspension and possible dismissal from the program.
ADMISSION
The GSN ONLY accepts commissioned Nurse Corps officers or service sponsored civilians in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, or Public Health Service. Applicants must have a Master's Degree in nursing or related field and hold a current unrestricted nursing license in any of the US states and territories.
For General Admission Requirements, read the Apply page
DEGREE SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Combined science GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, etc.)
- Grade of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better in a biochemistry science course from an accredited university within the past 5 years. Graduate level preferred, undergraduate courses considered
- Grade of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better in a statistics course from an accredited university. Graduate level preferred, undergraduate level courses will be considered
- Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Minimum one year of experience as a RN in a critical care setting in a military or civilian hospital. Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories, or a US military hospital outside of the United States.
- Critical Care Experience: developed critical decision-making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques.
- Critical Care Area: on a routine basis, manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter, CVP, arterial); cardiac assist devices; mechanical ventilation; and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care areas may include but are not limited to: Surgical Intensive Care, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Neonatal Intensive Care. Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with managing unstable patients, invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology.
- Ex.) A military nurse who worked in ICU at military hospital for 6 months and then deployed to Kandahar and worked critical care or trauma for 7 months may possess the necessary 1 year experience requirement to apply
- Shadow a CRNA for a minimum of 20 hours. Contact your chief nurse/senior nurse executive for guidance and direction if needed.
FINANCIALS
TUITION AND FEES
Tuition: $0
Fees: $0
Books: $0
Equipment: $0
Tuition and fees are waived for all students.
Students retain active duty benefits.
SERVICE OBLIGATION
Active-duty Uniformed Services personnel may incur an obligation for additional service in accordance with the applicable regulations governing sponsored graduate education.