Nurse Anesthesia Program

The Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program is a thirty three month front-loaded, regionalized program consisting of two phases. Phase I consists of a twelve-month didactic program at Georgetown University and the Naval School of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD. Phase I provides the graduate student with the academic and professional education, including basic science and nursing core courses, statistics and research methodology, necessary for entrance into the clinical arena. All content areas identified in the Standards and Guidelines for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, with the exception of advanced principles of anesthesia nursing practice and clinical case conferences, are fulfilled during Phase I.

Phase II is an eighteen month program focusing on the application of science and research applied to clinical anesthesia. It include advanced principles of nurse anesthesia practice, nursing research, and the clinical practicum. The clinical phase is designed to build upon material presented in Phase I and satisfy the clinical requirements of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The clinical phase is designed to guide the graduate students toward the goal of functional autonomy by demanding the graduate be able to provide anesthesia planning that reflects a comprehensive integration of scientific principles, anesthesia theory, and maximal independence in decision making appropriate to the graduate student's level of experience.

Clinical Practicum

An eighteen month course over four semesters and one minimester conducted at Naval Medical Treatment facilities and affiliated hospitals. Working from the less complex to the more complex, the student evaluates patients, organizes and administers anesthesia, and follows the patient throughout hospitalization. Students will be evaluated daily on their clinical performance. Students will present orally and in writing on various anesthesia topics. Conferences and seminars will be included. The Clinical phase is designed to satisfy the clinical requirements of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Students will be supervised at a 1:1 ratio while working from the dependent towards the independent.

Clinical Practicum I

The student will be introduced to clinical anesthesia and supervised in the actual administration of anesthesia. Students will demonstrate internalization of theoretical concepts, techniques, and applications in anesthetic management. Emphasis will be placed on assuming greater responsibility for total anesthesia care.

Clinical Practicum II

The student will obtain intensive clinical experience in all clinical anesthesia areas. Greater emphasis will be placed on the development of independent clinical decision making. This course will include clinical rotations to various affiliate sites to gain experience in management of specialized anesthetic considerations.

Clinical Practicum III

The student will continue to obtain advanced clinical experience through a variety of clinical specialty rotations. Intensive clinical experiences will be provided to allow for increased clinical autonomy.

Clinical Practicum IV

The student will continue to obtain advanced clinical experience through a variety of clinical specialty rotations. Intensive clinical experiences will be provided to allow for increased clinical autonomy.

Minimester Clinical Pre-Fellowship

During this six week period, the student will obtain advanced clinical experience through a variety of clinical specialty areas. Such areas may include those of particular interest to the student or areas the student feels more experience would be of greater benefit.

Scholarly Project

All graduate students enrolled in the School of Nursing at Georgetown University are required to complete a scholarly project as an outcome measure of the entire program. Facilitation of this project will be a collaborative effort between Georgetown University School of Nursing and adjunct Naval faculty members. This project is a synthesis of the concepts and principles learned throughout the total program. Students will present their final paper in the final form of a publishable paper, research presentation or funded research proposal.

Return to Anesthesiology Home Page