DNAP Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program, the resident will be able to:

1. Apply patient care principles that maintain patient safety while administering anesthesia.              
2. Provide effective entry-level care across the peri-anesthesia continuum.           
3. Construct an anesthesia care plan based on scientific principles unique to each individual’s healthcare needs.           
4. Employ effective interpersonal communication skills. 
5. Employ leadership skills that foster inter- and intra-professional collaboration.              
6. Display professional behavior consistent with the role of a nurse anesthesiologist.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will demonstrate the necessary attitude, knowledge, skills, and judgment for the safe and effective practice of nurse anesthesia by achieving competency in the following areas:

Patient Safety

1. Be vigilant in the delivery of patient care.
2. Refrain from engaging in extraneous activities that abandon or minimize vigilance while providing direct patient care.
3. Conduct a comprehensive equipment check.
4. Protect patients from iatrogenic complications.

Peri-Anesthesia Practice

5. Provide individualized care throughout the peri-anesthesia continuum.
6. Deliver culturally competent peri-anesthesia care.
7. Provide anesthesia services to all patients across the lifespan.
8. Perform a comprehensive history and physical assessment.
9. Administer general anesthesia to patients with a variety of physical conditions.
10. Administer general anesthesia for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
11. Administer and manage a variety of regional anesthetics.
12. Maintain current certification in ACLS and PALS.

Critical Thinking

13. Apply knowledge to practice in decision-making and problem-solving.
14. Provide nurse anesthesia services based on evidence-based principles.
15. Perform a pre-anesthetic assessment before providing anesthesia services.
16. Assume responsibility and accountability for diagnosis.
17. Formulate an anesthesia plan of care before providing anesthesia services.
18. Identify and take appropriate action when confronted with anesthetic equipment-related malfunctions.
19. Interpret and utilize data obtained from noninvasive and invasive monitoring modalities.
20. Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid and blood component therapy.
21. Recognize, evaluate, and manage the physiological responses coincident to the provision of anesthesia services.
22. Recognize and appropriately manage complications that occur during the provision of anesthesia services.
23. Use science-based theories and concepts to analyze new practice approaches.
24. Pass the national certification examination (NCE) administered by NBCRNA.

Communication

25. Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients and their families.
26. Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective inter-professional exchange of information and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
27. Respect the dignity and privacy of patients while maintaining confidentiality in the delivery of inter-professional care.
28. Maintain comprehensive, timely, accurate, and legible healthcare records.
29. Transfer the responsibility for care of the patient to other qualified providers in a manner that assures continuity of care and patient safety.
30. Teach others.

Leadership

31. Integrate critical and reflective thinking in his or her leadership approach.
32. Provide leadership that facilitates intra-professional and inter-professional collaboration. Professional Role
33. Adhere to the Code of Ethics for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
34. Interact on a professional level with integrity.
35. Apply ethically sound decision-making processes.
36. Function within legal and regulatory requirements.
37. Accept responsibility and accountability for his or her practice.
38. Provide anesthesia services to patients in a cost-effective manner.
39. Demonstrate knowledge of wellness and chemical dependency in the anesthesia profession through completion of content in wellness and chemical dependency.
40. Inform the public of the role and practice of the CRNA.
41. Evaluate how public policy-making strategies impact the financing and delivery of health care.
42. Advocate for health policy change to improve patient care.
43. Advocate for health policy change to advance the specialty of nurse anesthesia.
44. Analyze strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of care.
45. Analyze health outcomes in a variety of populations.
46. Analyze health outcomes in a variety of clinical settings.
47. Analyze health outcomes in a variety of systems.
48. Disseminate research evidence.
49. Use information systems/technology to support and improve patient care.
50. Use information systems/technology to support and improve healthcare systems.
51. Analyze business practices encountered in nurse anesthesia delivery settings.