School of Anesthesia

Fall

• NSG 400: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 500: Physics and Chemistry of Anesthesia (6 qtr hours)
• NSG 554: Informatics & Technology Applications (4 qtr hours)

Winter

• NSG 501: Anatomy & Physiology I (6 qtr hours)
• NSG 522: Finance and Costing in Healthcare (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 540: Culture, Ethics, and Policy Analysis (4 qtr hours)

Spring

• NSG 502: Anatomy & Physiology II (6 qtr hours)
• NSG 509: Advanced Physical Assessment for Nurse Anesthetists (2 qtr hours)
• NSG 552: Program Evaluation (4 qtr hours)

Summer

NSG 503: Pathophysiology for Nurse Anesthetists (6 qtr hours)

NSG 508: Adjunctive Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthetists (4 qtr hours)

Fall

• NSG 504: Principles of Anesthesia (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 507: Anesthetic Pharmacology (6 qtr hours)

Winter

• NSG 580: Biostatistics & Research Methods for Advanced Practice (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 610: Anesthesia  Practicum I (4 qtr hours)

Spring

• NSG 600: Evidence-Based Practice Research I (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 611: Anesthesia Practicum II (4 qtr hours)

Summer

• NSG 550: Healthcare Economics (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 612: Anesthesia Practicum III (4 qtr hours)

Fall

• NSG 601: Evidence-Based Practice Research II (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 613: Advanced Anesthesia Practicum I (4 qtr hours)

Winter

• NSG 602: DNP Project Hours (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 614: Advanced Anesthesia Practicum  II (4 qtr hours)

Spring

• NSG 603: DNP Project Hours Cont. (0 qtr hours)
• NSG 551: Leadership and Organizational Behavior (4 qtr hours)
• NSG 615: Advanced Anesthesia Practicum III (4 qtr hours)

Summer

• NSG 616: Advanced Anesthesia Practicum  IV (4 qtr hours)

Clinical residency

The 20-month clinical residency consists of seven sequential practicums where the nurse anesthesia student works under the instruction/supervision of a CRNA or anesthesiologist. A progressive intensity of clinical experience provides the opportunity to demonstrate competencies in specific knowledge, skills and attitudes. The student will administer approximately 950 general and regional anesthesia to all patient populations and for all surgical and diagnostic procedures including but not limited to general surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, geriatrics, transplant, thoracic, open heart, neurosurgery, trauma, and office-based anesthesia.

The School utilizes the resources of a large selection of clinical sites (community hospitals, academic departments, research institutions, ambulatory surgeries and office-based practices) to provide a rich and intense clinical experience. Currently, the clinical residency is completed at 18 clinical sites:

• Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL
• Advocate South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest, IL
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
• Ascension Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove, IL
• Ascension St. Joseph Hospital, Elgin, IL
• Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center, Joliet, IL
• Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital, Evanston, IL
• Endeavor Health Glenbrook Cardiovascular Institute, Glenview, IL
• Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital, Highland Park, IL
• Endeavor Health Skokie Orthopedic and Spine Institute, Skokie, IL
• Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, Chicago, IL
• Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights, IL
• Franciscan Health, Hammond and Dyer, IN
• Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, IL
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Chicago, IL
• St Catherine Hospital, East Chicago, IN
• University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL
• University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Clinical assignments are dependent upon the length of time in the program, available resources at the site (cases and faculty), and the individual's ability to benefit from the rotation. The school reserves the right to select, revise, or terminate clinical affiliate sites at any time.

Time commitment

The program is designed for full-time study. During clinical residency, the time commitment to residency, lectures, and personal study average 60 hrs/week.

NSG 400: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice (4 credit hours). In this seminar, participants examine the nature, function and development of selected concepts, models and theories for their relevance to advanced nursing practice and nursing research. The structure of theory is analyzed according to the relationship between its components and the type of theoretical statements used. A process for developing a conceptual framework for inquiry and data-based nursing practice is presented.

NSG 580: Biostatistics and Research Methods for Advanced Practice (4 credit hours). This course provides an overview of the logical and appropriate use of epidemiological statistics (rates, proportions, relative and absolute risk), descriptive statistics, and most parametric and nonparametric procedures, including correlational and repeated measures analyses in the health profession as applied to health and disease in diverse populations. The course will develop the student's ability to apply and understand statistical and epidemiological concepts to guide evidence-based practice in a dynamic health care environment.

NSG 522: Finance and Costing in Healthcare (4 credit hours). This course provides learning experiences that focus on fiscal management and budgetary practices in health care institutions. Budget preparation, cost-benefit analysis, product costing, reimbursement and analysis of financial status in organizations are emphasized. This course includes health care finance and accounting. Health care finance involves the major sources and uses of funds. Health care accounting addresses financial reporting and cost measurement. The understanding of finance, accounting, policy and administration enables professional nurses to understand the delivery of healthcare in a dynamic healthcare environment.

NSG 540: Culture, Ethics, And Policy Analysis (4 credit hours)
This seminar is designed to explore cultural and ethical perspectives and their relationships to health policy. Health disparities based on social and cultural difference are linked to major diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and stroke, as well as access to and outcomes of health services. Class discussions will focus on the past, current and future health policy needs of multicultural and multifaceted societies. The phenomena of cultural, ethnic, gender, class, and sexual variation in complex societies; notions of diversity and social justice; understandings of cultural conflicts and how cultural differences are managed in healthcare settings will be considered. Students will integrate concepts of all levels of prevention in health care, examine research in health ethics and health policy and discuss legislative processes for their potential to improve the health of the public.

NSG 550: Healthcare Economics (4 credit hours). This course focuses on application of supply and demand theory to the healthcare industry as well as analysis of financing and healthcare delivery in the United States and other countries. The principles and tools of microeconomics and macroeconomics will be applied to the healthcare market. Applications particularly pertinent in economic climates include the supply and demand of healthcare, practice incentives, managed care, malpractice and pharmaceutical economics.

NSG 551: Leadership and Organizational Behavior (4 credit hours). The course focuses on critical leadership characteristics that are necessary for transforming organizational behavior in healthcare organizations. Students will analyze leadership theories/styles and the interrelationship between leadership and management. Strategies for directing and managing successful change based upon an organization’s vision and mission will be explored. Students will have an opportunity to assess their personal leadership style and to develop effective strategic leadership skills.

NSG 552: Program Evaluation (4 credit hours). This course will familiarize the student in different types of program evaluation, including objectives oriented evaluation, management oriented evaluation, consumer oriented evaluation, expertise oriented evaluation adversary oriented evaluation, participant oriented evaluation and alternative evaluation approaches. Students gain practical experience through a series of exercises involving the design of a conceptual framework, development of indicators, analysis of computerized service statistics and development of an evaluation plan to measure impact.

NSG 554: Informatics and Technology Applications (4 credit hours). This course focuses on information systems technology and its application for the improvement and transformation of patient-centered health care. Implications of informatics for advanced practice nursing and health care in general are explored. Impact on consumer-provider relationships, ethical and legal issues, global/future informatics issues and electronic health record issues are being examined. The course prepares the student to become proficient at selecting and using technology for organizing, analyzing, managing, and evaluating information in nursing administration, education, and clinical practice settings. The use of technology as an adjunct to doctoral-level inquiry and how it supports clinical and professional decision-making is explained and demonstrated.

NSG 600: Evidence Based Practice Research I (4 credit hours). This course will focus on the evidence based practice process, theories, concepts, and methods. This will include the synthesis and application of scientific evidence to nursing and healthcare practice within a systems framework. Students will develop a proposal for an evidence-based, Scholarly Leadership Proposal, which will translate science into practice. In order to accomplish this, the student will focus on a specific aggregate population, and develop a program to make a positive impact on healthcare delivery. This proposal will be presented to a faculty committee for approval.

NSG 601: Evidence-Based Practice Research II (4 credit hours). Students will submit individual objectives to the faculty advisor and committee who will guide the student through project implementation. Students will implement their evidence based DNP Project during this course

NSG 602: DNP Project Hours (2 credit hours) Work continues on the evidence-based DNP project. Students will complete implementation of their DNP Project, and perform a rigorous program evaluation. The results of this project will be presented to a faculty committee, and after committee approval, will be disseminated with an oral presentation and a manuscript deemed suitable for a peer-reviewed journal.

NSG 603: DNP Project Hours Cont. (0 credit hours) Work continues on the evidence-based DNP project. Students will complete implementation of their DNP Project, and perform a rigorous program evaluation. The results of this project will be presented to a faculty committee, and after committee approval, will be disseminated with an oral presentation and a manuscript deemed suitable for a peer-reviewed journal

NSG 500: Chemistry and Physics in Anesthesia (6 credit hours). Review of principles of physics with emphasis on their application in the clinical practice of anesthesia. Students will engage in a comprehensive analysis of cell physiology and biochemistry with emphasis upon metabolism, enzyme function and protein synthesis. Current research findings and their anesthetic implications will be discussed.

NSG 501: Anatomy & Physiology I (6 credit hours). An intensive 6qh course designed to provide the student with current knowledge of advanced anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal, nervous and endocrine systems. The course is divided into three sections with emphasis placed on the structural and functional role of each system in maintaining homeostasis. Clinical implications of current research findings will be stressed.

NSG 502: Anatomy & Physiology II (6 credit hours). This course is designed to provide students with current knowledge of advanced anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal systems. The course is divided into three sections with emphasis placed on the structural and functional role of each system in maintaining homeostasis. Clinical implications of current research findings will be stressed.

NSG 503: Pathophysiology (6 credit hours). This course is designed to provide students with current knowledge of diseases and disorders of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, GI/hepatic and musculoskeletal systems. Implications for the design and implementation of an appropriate anesthesia care plan for individuals with specific system disease/disorders will be discussed in detail. Emphasis will be placed on system-specific diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that require anesthesia services.

NSG 504: Principles of Anesthesia (4 credit hours). This course introduces the student to the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia. Emphasis is placed on peri-operative patient assessment, anesthesia equipment and technology, airway management and intra-operative management of patients undergoing general and regional anesthesia.

NSG 507: Anesthetic Pharmacology (6 credit hours). This course includes the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics of drugs used in the administration of general, local and regional anesthesia and provides the scientific basis for the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia. Also included are substance abuse and chemical dependence as occupational hazards of anesthesia.

NSG 508: Adjunctive Anesthetic Pharmacology (4 credit hours). This course includes the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics of drugs used in the treatment of a variety of disease states. Implications of current therapy with these agents and use of selected agents as adjunctive therapy in the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia will be stressed.

NSG 509: Advanced Physical Assessment for Nurse Anesthetists (2 credit hours). This course will provide strategies that promote effective history-taking along with cognitive and psychomotor skills needed for the advanced physical assessment of the neurological, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiac, circulatory and gastrointestinal systems across the lifespan. The assessment of body systems includes an overview of anatomy and physiology, techniques necessary to perform inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation; and interpretation of physical findings and laboratory testing relevant to the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia.

NSG 610: Anesthesia Practicum I (4 credit hours). An introduction to the clinical practice of nurse anesthesia with an emphasis on the principles introduced in NSG 500-504, 507, 508 and 509. Includes administration of anesthesia for select patient populations under direct instruction and supervision of a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or anesthesiologist. The course content on specific general surgical procedures, including intra-abdominal, gynecological, urologic, ear, nose and throat, orthopedic and endoscopic procedure. Content knowledge will be assessed through objective examinations. The preparation, implementation and evaluation of an appropriate nurse anesthesia care plan for these populations will be assessed through clinical performance evaluations and written care plans. Course includes Human Patient Simulation (HPS) assignments and advanced physical assessment.

NSG 611: Anesthesia Practicum II (4 credit hours). Includes administration of general and regional anesthesia for patients undergoing a variety of elective and emergency surgical procedures and diagnostic procedures. Management of special populations, including pediatric, obstetric and geriatric patients is emphasized with a focus on the anatomical and physiological differences and pathological disorders that characterize each population. Content knowledge will be assessed through objective examinations. The preparation, implementation and evaluation of an appropriate nurse anesthesia care plan for these populations will be assessed through clinical performance evaluations and written care plans. Course includes Human Patient Simulation (HPS) assignments and advanced physical assessment.

NSG 612: Anesthesia Practicum III (4 credit hours). Includes administration of general and regional anesthesia for patients undergoing a variety of elective and emergency surgical procedures and diagnostic procedures. In addition to anesthetic management of the trauma patient, the course includes acute and chronic pain management, and advanced regional anesthetic techniques. Content knowledge will be assessed through objective examinations. The preparation, implementation and evaluation of an appropriate nurse anesthesia care plan for these populations will be assessed through clinical performance evaluations. Course includes Human Patient Simulation (HPS) assignments, and advanced physical assessment, and Self Evaluation Exam (SEE).

NSG 613: Advanced Anesthesia Practicum I (4 credit hours). The first in a series of advanced practicums that provides the third year DNP student with the opportunity to develop, implement and evaluate an anesthesia care plan for all patient populations with an emphasis on specialty surgical procedures, insertion of invasive monitoring and advanced airway management. Emphasis is placed on application, integration and synthesis of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are representative of the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia. This advanced practicum provides the opportunity to explore the professional aspects of nurse anesthesia practice, link policy making with clinical systems, and translate research into practice. Course includes seminar presentations on selected topics relative to the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia, crisis resource management in the human patient simulation (HPS), as well as directed preparation for the national certification exam (NCE).

NSG 614: Advanced Anesthesia Practicum II (4 credit hours). The second in a series of advanced practicums that provides the third year DNP student with the opportunity to develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive anesthesia care plan for all patient populations undergoing a wide variety of diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic procedures. This advanced practicum provides the opportunity to explore the professional aspects of nurse anesthesia practice, link policy making with clinical systems, and translate research into practice. Course includes seminar presentations on selected topics relative to the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia, crisis resource management in human patient simulation (HPS), as well as directed preparation for the national certification exam (NCE).

NSG 615: Advanced Anesthesia Practicum III (4 credit hours). The third advanced practicum for DNP students provides an opportunity to develop, implement and evaluate an anesthesia care plan for all patient populations undergoing a wide variety of surgical and therapeutic procedures. This advanced practicum provides the opportunity to opportunity to explore the professional aspects and link policy making with clinical systems, translate research into practice and serve as change agents for health care. Course includes seminar presentations on selected topics relative to the advanced practice of nurse anesthesia, crisis resource management in human patient simulation (HPS), as well as directed preparation for the national certification exam (NCE).

NSG 616: Advanced Anesthesia Practicum IV (4 credit hours). The final advanced practicum in which the third year nurse DNP student demonstrates the advanced knowledge and skills that comprise a foundation for nurse anesthesia practice, the ability to work independently or as a contributing member of the anesthesia care team, adherence to professional standards as well as ethical and moral principles while providing care to a multicultural patient population, analysis and synthesis of current research that support evidence based anesthesia practice, an awareness of limited healthcare resources and cost containment strategies, the ability to perform a comprehensive self evaluation; and display of a professional attitude toward lifelong learning. The practicum includes completion of NBCRNA Self Evaluation Exam (SEE), and presentation and dissemination of DNP Project.