Program Details

The mission of the nurse anesthesia specialty area of study at the University of Minnesota is to educate registered nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists with the highest degree of professional competency.

Goals

The University of Minnesota: Nurse Anesthesia Area of Study strives to educate professionals who:

  1. Integrate existing theoretical knowledge, current research, and clinical expertise into their practice.
  2. Display a commitment to public accountability, with emphasis on providing high-quality care to all who seek their services.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to contribute independently while working as a member of the anesthesia care team.

Recognize the responsibility to share their knowledge with patients, peers, and other professionals.

Purpose

The University of Minnesota Nurse Anesthesia Area of Study demonstrates devotion to the professional growth and development of the student registered nurse anesthetist (SRNA) and the promotion of safety, health and welfare in the care of patients. The University of Minnesota Nurse Anesthesia Area of Study faculty is dedicated to promoting clinical competence and independent decision-making among the students.

Philosophy

The University of Minnesota Nurse Anesthesia Area of Study seeks to prepare the graduate to function as a competent nurse anesthetist by active involvement as a member of the health care team. Through formal and informal guidance in the classroom, clinical and professional areas, the program seeks to demonstrate its concern for each student as an individual. By providing a Doctor of Nursing Practice, the University of Minnesota Nurse Anesthesia Area of Study strives to educate professionals who will become excellent clinical practitioners, as well as educators and leaders in the nursing community.

Get to know us

Watch a video of a day in the life of a nurse anesthesia student.

What's Nurse Anesthesia like?

Curriculum

3-Year Recommended Program Plan

Nurse Anesthesia Specialty Coursework

  • Introduction to Principles and Practice of Nurse Anesthesia
  • Holistic Health Assessment for Nurse Anesthesia
  • Basic Principles and Practice of Nurse Anesthesia
  • Nurse Anesthesia Care: Patients with Cardiothoracic Problems
  • Nurse Anesthesia Care: Advanced Principles for Special Populations
  • Nurse Anesthesia Practicum A
  • Nurse Anesthesia Practicum B
  • Nurse Anesthesia Practicum C
  • Advanced Clinical Physiology (3 courses)
  • Pharmacology (2 courses)

Doctorate of Nursing Practice Coursework

  • DNP Proseminar
  • Ethical and Moral Positions in Nursing
  • Science of Nursing Interventions
  • Statistics
  • Leadership Theory
  • Research in Nursing
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Program Evaluation
  • Epidemiology
  • Economics of Health Care
  • Teaching/Learning
  • DNP Seminar I, II, and III

Critical care experience

Minimum of 2 years critical care experience is required prior to first semester in the program.

Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area during which the registered professional nurse has had the opportunity to develop critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques.

A critical care area is defined as one where, on a daily basis, the registered professional nurse manages invasive hemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter; CVP; arterial), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive drips (such as norepinephrine; epinephrine; dobutamine;nicardipine; nitroglycerine).

Critical care areas include:

  • Surgical Intensive Care
  • Cardiothoracic Intensive Care
  • Coronary Intensive Care
  • Medical Intensive Care
  • Pediatric Intensive Care

Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology.

With the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and The University of Minnesota Hospitals serving as the primary clinical sites for the program, the University of Minnesota nurse anesthesia students rotate to several urban and rural clinical sites, which offer a broad spectrum of practice experiences.

Some of the clinical sites are required, and some are optional. Overnight housing is available at most rural sites.

All required clinical sites are within daily driving distance of the campus.

  • Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System (MVAHCS) (Minneapolis, MN)

  • University of Minnesota Masonic – Adult (West) (Minneapolis, MN)

  • University of Minnesota Masonic – Pediatric (Minneapolis, MN)

  • Fairview Southdale (Edina, MN)

  • University of Minnesota Medical Center (East) (Minneapolis, MN)

  • Hennepin Country Medical Center (HCMC) (Minneapolis, MN)

  • St. Johns (Maplewood, MN)

  • United (St. Paul, MN)

  • Regions (St. Paul, MN)

  • Abbott Northwestern (Minneapolis, MN)

  • St. Cloud Centracare (St. Cloud, MN)

  • Fairview Northland Medical Center (Princeton, MN)

  • Fairview Lakes Medical Center (Wyoming, MN)

  • Glencoe Regional Healthcare Services (Glencoe, MN)

  • Sanford Health Bemidji (Bemidji, MN)

  • Fairview Mesabi Range Medical Center (Hibbing, MN)

  • Westfields Hospital (Westfields, WI) Western Wisconsin Health (Baldwin, WI)

  • District One (Faribault, MN)

  • Hutchinson Health (Hutchinson, MN)